Matthew Woodward｜A Tribute to Mies Van Dro, Sydney Resort Village Villas

Pokolbin House, a trio of interconnecting pavilions, balances the demands of a working estate in one of Australia's most mature wine regions with the exquisite convenience of a Sydney family country resort. The project pays homage to the principles of medieval modernism, in particular the Farnsworth residence of Mies Van Dro and its connection to the landscape, providing a cohesive and powerful result through subtle and elegant design expression.

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“Connecting with the place at a slower pace enhances the experience here,” says Matthew Woodward, chief architect of his eponymous firm. “It's a home away from home,” says Tammy Miconi, interior designer at Lot 1 Design. “A place (for customers) to reconnect with nature and also a place to reconnect with themselves.” This is Tammy's fourth project in the past 15 years working with her clients. “We have become friends and I have a clear understanding of who they are and how they love life,” she said.

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After buying a country property for their new holiday home, clients seek Tammy for an architect's recommendation. “After looking at Matthew's Wirra-Willa Pavilion, I loved it and thought it had the right infrastructure elements customers were looking for and they got Matt and his team to collaborate on the project.” “Having studied at the University of Newcastle, I learned a lot about Hunter Valley and the Bogolbin area,” says Matthew.

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The site contains the remains of an early 20th century winery and the ruins of an original base built in 1865, once belonging to the area's founding brewers. “These ruins, viticultural backgrounds, Mediterranean influences and Australia's natural bush backdrop are important sources of inspiration,” says Matthew. “When it comes to interior design, it's all about keeping the space light and natural and using textures and intricate details to enhance the experience,” explains Tammy. “We want to stay connected to the landscape of the surrounding Barrington Peak, the Broken Ridge, Bogorbin Mountains and Port Stephens.” The exterior finish is durable and can withstand extreme inclement weather, and the interior has some continuity, such as white sand rendering.

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To respond to customers' love of medieval architecture, Tammy chose a variety of classic designs, such as Cassina's Charlotte Perriand's Rio coffee table, CH23 dining chair by Hans J. Wegner by Carl Hansen & Son, Womb chair and footstool by Eero Saarinen at Knoll, and Roattino floor lamp from ClassIcon's Eileen Gray. These Australian-made products include select Armadillo & Co living room rugs, Nau's Adam Goodrum's Nest Side Tables and Tait's Breeze outdoor range. Custom furniture includes a 14-seater dining table and the rest of the custom-designed bathroom basins made by Onyx's stonemasons in agate and oak.

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