On a semi-rural farm lot one hour from Melbourne, the project site is directly adjacent to the Coolart homestead and wetlands. Its environment is formed from a collection of various shapes, sizes and uses of constructed object: house, sheds, dam, trees, carport, tennis court.

The new building - a parents' retreat - 'extends' the house by adding another independent object to this ensemble. The addition borrows from existing outbuildings, shed and bird-hide type construction to make an enclosure which opens up to and contains the exterior in different ways.