Crackenback House
Location: Snowy Monaro Region / Ngarigo Country
Project Stage: Completed 2020
Architecture: Casey Brown Architecture
Role: Project Architect (Caroline Kite)
Structural Engineer: Ken Murtagh
Builder: Bellevarde Constructions
Photography: Michael Nicholson, Caroline Kite
‘The brief was to build a practical farmhouse in a simple form, using corrugated steel, rusted steel and concrete: all inexpensive materials yet beautifully detailed and executed’ (The Local Project)
Crackenback House is the principal dwelling in a trio of sculptural steel pavilions designed by Rob Brown of Casey Brown Architecture for John Fielding, founder and director of Bellevarde Constructions. Tucked into the rugged alpine terrain just outside Thredbo Valley, the house emerges as a robust and poetic response to place.
Drawing from a palette of galvanised corrugated steel, concrete, and timber, the building is conceived to weather gracefully, evolving with the seasons and acquiring a patina that reflects its exposure to the harsh mountain environment. The materials were selected not only for durability but for their ability to tell a story over time, reinforcing the idea of architecture as a lasting intervention in the landscape.
Caroline Kite, in the role of Project Architect, played a pivotal role in the project’s design development and construction phases. Collaborating closely with Rob Brown and John Fielding, and working alongside the Bellevarde site team, Caroline helped to refine both the detailing and execution of the design vision. Her experience working on Crackenback House deepened a personal and professional commitment to legacy projects; buildings that are enduring and align with a client’s long-term vision.
