The Two-Storey Retreat is a strong move away from conventional housing to a form of living that encapsulates the evolution towards lifestyle design and innovative construction materials.

The home reflects the design capabilities of The Rural Building Company.

The plan evolved from the request for a two-storey home to provide outlook and views, and to be able to capture these from different living spaces rather than relegate the best views to sleeping zones, as with most two-storey designs.

The building commands a powerful presence with its high side gables, front glass walls to the upstairs and entry, and the use of alternative materials. The blend of Colorbond and Hardies Weather Boarding, steel and glass provides a synergy to the vertical and horizontal elements.

The front foyer entry to the home is partially screened from the rear living space by a steel staircase that defines the 4 zones of the home. This allows the full use of the site from the front outlook to the rear relationship with conventional rear yard while providing privacy to the sleeping spaces.

The upstairs presents a real point of difference. The kitchen, lounge and dining are positioned on the opposite axis to the ground floor living space. This wide room captures all the views equally. A wall of glass presents a covered deck that is more than adequate for a barbeque and for sitting outside to enjoy the ambience of the surroundings.

The kitchen is very well appointed, as one would expect in a home such as this, and includes Corian benchtops as well the best Westinghouse wall oven and cook top. There is also the convenience of an upstairs powder room.

In the lower area there are two separate wings running either side of the living space.

An office and master suite on one side and two more large bedrooms separated by the laundry and split bathroom on the other. Nestled in an alcove on one side there is snack making facilities for the use of those downstairs.

The high raked ceilings in the rear living space lead onto a rear deck that emulates the pstairs windows and deck but at ground level. The home has 280m2 of covered living space. The construction methods and detail are architecturally inspired. The fit-out, whether it be doors or accessories, are well above the industry standard. Price was not a consideration when presenting this home. The Two-Storey Retreat is an living example of what The Rural Building Company could do for you.