Ben Robertson & The Ceres Gable House

Ceres Gable House was a particularly special project to Tecture for several reasons. Firstly, when Ben won this project with a simple sketch to convey his unique vision to the clients, only two short months had passed since first opening the doors at Tecture in December of 2015. It was the first project in the first new year of starting his own company, and the experience of connecting so naturally with the project and the clients means Ben describes the house as “close to my heart”. Ceres Gable House was also the first rural project for the firm, which allowed for a very different style of design. The connection to the site and its history defined every decision that was made, and lent a great deal of significance to the interior, which was a major focus of the project.

The original house was built back in the Nineties by the clients as their first home, when they were in their twenties. It was a rambling farmhouse at the time and remained that way until the decision was finally made to update the property. Regardless of their desire to modernise, there was an undeniable emotional attachment to the original home that required sincere consideration in the remodeling. This was not simply a matter of adding some oversized extension as other designers had suggested, but required honouring the existing structure and evolving it into a more functional place to live. This is where Tecture came in. Ben listened to the clients speak so fondly of their home on the stud farm and the surrounding countryside, that it was clear to him that those two things were the inspiration for this project.

Tetcure‘s vision for the interior is a subtle narrative of the history of the property. The relationship between humans and horses triggered ideas of iron horse shoes and leather saddles. An example of this is the stunning 3.5m custom Volker Haug chandelier of interlocked bronze arches in the stairwell. Equine references of strength and masculinity are balanced with a sleek elegance, using tanned leather in the furniture and iron detailing to tie together every space.

Ultimately, the major focus of the interior spaces is the relationship created with the landscape beyond. The ability to open the glazed windows creates ventilation and gives the owners a feeling of connection with the environment around them. The layout of the home is modest in many ways and completely suitable for their family and lifestyle. Describing the emotional response to being inside the house, Ben says “my favorite part of the final product would have to be that feeling when you turn the corner and see the view. The spaces aren’t ‘ginormous’, but when you walk in and see a glimpse of that view – it’s just right in its scale.”