Jeremy and Scott of Eldridge and Anderson architects both grew up in rural Victoria. They share a love for the natural landscape and making things from scratch. Jeremy outlines how the pair met at university – driven by their shared interest in ‘the power of good design, its effects on people, and how they see the world’… an architectural partnership was born.

The duo was interested in pursuing work that allowed them to explore their complementary skills, so when Jeremy’s parents were building a house in Ballarat, the pair jumped at the opportunity.

Jeremy describes the location of the Ballarat House as ‘in a suburban housing estate, surrounded by off-the-plan project homes’. The client’s brief was simply for a ‘comfortable place to live’ and the architects carefully developed plans for a low maintenance, refined and flexible house design.

The home unfolds from a humble entry into a generous sun-lit living space. The architect describes a ‘calmness’ here, achieved via a utilitarian design using simple, robust materials, and a focus on quality craftsmanship. Cypress cladding and plywood joinery are functional and lend a warmth to the rooms. ‘The materials are both durable and refined, and the intention was to create a calm space that achieved a sophisticated outcome within a modest budget,’ Jeremy emphasises.

The Ballarat House also offers an excellent example of what can be accomplished with a small budget. Despite initial uncertainty about how far the budget may stretch, in the end, it was this precise limitation that inspired simplicity and refinement through the design process.

For Jeremy, there’s a certain pride in achieving such an elegant solution, especially in a location where architect-designed homes are not the norm. ‘We feel our response contributes to an optimistic and disciplined possibility for the suburban estate,’ Jeremy concludes. We hope so!