Inside an architect’s final masterpiece built between two mountains, Saddle House is shaped by a rare rural setting and a deeply personal architectural legacy. Tucked into a secluded valley in New South Wales, the home sits against rainforest and looks north across the landscape, occupying a site selected after its owners, Brett and Debbie Ditchfield, had lived on the wider property for several years. Once part of a working cattle farm and horse stud, the land offered the peace and tranquillity that would come to define the home.
The brief to architect Dylan Wood centred on creating an easy-to-live-in, low-maintenance residence that responded carefully to its surroundings. Northern views, seasonal comfort and protection from stronger coastal winds informed its position, allowing Saddle House to settle naturally into the landscape. Inside an architect’s final masterpiece built between two mountains, the architecture balances this pragmatic approach with moments designed simply for enjoying the setting.
Organised across three wings, the house separates the garage, bedrooms and primary living spaces while maintaining a strong relationship with the land. The eastern wing accommodates the kitchen, dining area and main bedroom, which cantilevers above a natural waterway. On the northern side, a curved architectural envelope frames a large sliding window and recessed sitting area, creating a quiet place from which to take in the outlook.
The restrained material palette further grounds inside an architect’s final masterpiece built between two mountains. Brick, timber, concrete and glass are assembled with an emphasis on honesty, while different timber species introduce subtle variations in colour, tone and grain. The simplicity reinforces the clarity of Wood’s architectural language without competing with the surrounding landscape.
Saddle House also carries the story of an important collaboration. After Wood was diagnosed with cancer, he entrusted the completion of the project to architects Russell and Carolyn McFarlane of Austin McFarlane Architects, former colleagues who understood his approach and shared familiarity with his material palette. With the exterior form and much of the detailing already established, their work focused largely on resolving the interiors and extending Wood’s original ideas throughout the home.
The process of completing inside an architect’s final masterpiece built between two mountains required both sensitivity and interpretation. Decisions were approached through an understanding of Wood’s drawings, model and design intent, while also allowing the owners and new architectural team to contribute to the final resolution. Builder Joss McNamara of JM Builder, who had worked with Wood for almost a decade, brought another layer of continuity to the process.
The result is a home defined as much by relationships as architecture. Inside an architect’s final masterpiece built between two mountains, the considered arrival, curved glazing, cantilevered spaces and tactile materiality preserve Wood’s vision while reflecting the collective knowledge of those who knew him and his work. Saddle House stands as a peaceful rural retreat and a lasting expression of collaboration, friendship and architectural continuity.
0:00 – Introduction To Saddle House By Dylan Wood & Austin McFarlane Architects
2:45 – Continuing An Architectural Legacy
5:12 – Reimagining The Interiors With A New Perspective
6:57 – A House Shaped Around Three Distinct Wings
8:21 – Timber As The Heart Of The Material Palette
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Photography by Pablo Veiga.
Architecture by Dylan Wood and Austin McFarlane Architects.
Build by JM Builder.
Landscape design by Cooke Landscape Architecture.
Filmed and edited by The Local Production.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: New South Wales, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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