![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Image 1 of 16](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/eb92/284d/d130/3000/05c2/newsletter/_R7M1621_copy.jpg?1551625082)
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Architects: Utz Sanby Architects
- Area: 250 m²
- Year: 2017
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Photographs:Marian Riabic
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Manufacturers: Brio, Colorbond, Halliday+Baillie, Jetmaster, Legrand
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Lead Architects: Duncan Sanby Project Director, Laura Chadwick Project Architect
![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Exterior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/ed7c/284d/d130/3000/05c8/newsletter/_DSC9907_copy.jpg?1551625578)
Text description provided by the architects. This rural retreat sits on the crown of a hill overlooking the Valleys beyond the Kangaroo River and is surrounded by state forest. The house has been designed as a series of pavilions that interconnect to form a protected entrance courtyard on the southern side and open up to the dramatic views across the surrounding landscape to the north.
![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Sink, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/ecdb/284d/d1e0/d300/0176/medium_jpg/_R7M1460_copy.jpg?1551625414)
The house is designed to be low-maintenance and robust and uses passive environmental controls, such as solar boosted hydronic heating in the floor, cross ventilation assisted by ceiling fans, an abundance of natural light, LED lighting throughout, as well as 150 000 litres of water storage and photo voltaic panels capable of generating 5 kilowatt hours of electricity and on-site waste treatment.
![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Chair](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/ebeb/284d/d130/3000/05c3/newsletter/_R7M1539_copy.jpg?1551625172)
![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Image 15 of 16](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/edc5/284d/d130/3000/05c9/newsletter/Rural_Retreat_-__Plan.jpg?1551625657)
![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Interior Photography, Living Room](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/ebad/284d/d1e0/d300/0174/newsletter/_R7M1580_copy.jpg?1551625111)
The siting of the house allows each room to capture views and aspect and is linked around the centrally-positioned open-plan living room, with open fire, high ceilings and views across the pool to the valley beyond.
![Rural Retreat / Utz Sanby Architects - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5c7b/eb77/284d/d1e0/d300/0173/medium_jpg/_R7M1791_copy.jpg?1551625055)