Designing a house in the country is not just about size or materials. It’s about making sure the home works with your way of living, how you move through your day, how you rest, and how you connect to the outdoors. In rural New South Wales and across Australia, features like wide verandahs, open breezeways, and clever use of natural light are more than just design choices. They’re essential for comfort, function and longevity.

Michael Bell Architects Sydney understands this better than most. Their projects across city, coast and countryside show a deep appreciation for Australian conditions and lifestyle. In one recent country build, the team combined traditional rural features with contemporary thinking to create a home that feels grounded, breathable and tailored to its owners.

Designing With the Environment in Mind

Why Orientation Matters

In rural areas, climate and landscape are the most powerful design factors. A poorly placed house can overheat in summer or lose warmth in winter. The right design makes the most of what nature offers breezes, sun angles, shade, and views.

Michael Bell and his team approach every country project by first studying the site. Where are the prevailing winds? What time does sun reach each corner? How does water move after rain? Only after answering those questions does the planning begin.

For one homestead in inland NSW, the team used a U-shaped plan with open sides to create cross-ventilation through a breezeway. This allowed air to move freely through the house and cooled it naturally during hot months. Living areas were placed to capture soft morning light while bedrooms remained shaded and calm through the afternoon.

Integrating the Outdoors

Many rural homeowners want a connection to the land. That’s where verandahs come in. Far from being just decorative, verandahs serve a functional purpose offering shade, extending living space, and creating a buffer between the house and the outdoors.

The Michael Bell Architects team designed deep, covered verandahs on all sides of the home, each with a slightly different purpose. A north-facing verandah caught the sun in winter, making it ideal for morning coffee. A western verandah was screened and used in the evenings. Overhangs were measured to protect windows during summer and allow light during cooler months.

This balance between exposure and protection makes a big difference. It also brings year-round comfort without needing to rely heavily on air conditioning or heaters a must for those wanting to live off-grid or sustainably.

Space That Supports Daily Living

Breezeways That Do More Than Cool

Breezeways are hallways with openings on either side, often linking different wings of a home. In rural homes, they’re often overlooked but serve multiple purposes.

In the country house designed by Michael Bell Architects, the breezeway not only allowed airflow but also acted as a functional transition space. Muddy boots, wet dogs, or work clothes from the farm could be left here before entering the main living zone. It helped keep the home clean and organised without creating extra rooms or walls.

This space was also used as an informal sitting area during summer, furnished simply with seating and stone floors that stayed cool underfoot.

When the best architects in Sydney design these features, they look beyond trend and instead focus on how each space will actually be used day-to-day.

Natural Light Without Glare

Letting in light is essential, but too much sunlight can make rooms too bright or too hot. The right architects know how to get this balance just right. In this case, skylights, clerestory windows and carefully placed openings brought in soft, filtered light through the day.

Michael Bell Architects used high windows in the kitchen and living spaces to bring in sunshine without harsh glare. These same openings helped hot air escape during warmer months. Bedrooms were designed with smaller openings and external shading so they stayed quiet and dark when needed.

The result was a home that felt alive with natural rhythms bright in the day, calm in the evening all without sacrificing comfort.

Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

Flexibility and Flow

Families grow and change. Homes in the country often stay in one family for generations, which means flexibility is important. Rooms may become offices, guest rooms or studios over time. Open-plan living combined with defined zones means that the home can adjust without major changes.

In this build, Michael Bell Architects designed wide corridors, generous room sizes and simple layouts that could shift with family needs. The kitchen, living and dining zones were placed centrally, with quieter spaces flowing off to the sides. This layout suited family life now and offered options for the future.

Practical Choices That Don’t Sacrifice Style

Good design means choosing materials and features that last without losing their visual appeal. This house was finished with stone, timber and steel. Not only did these materials hold up to the rural climate, but they also aged beautifully with time.

The team avoided gimmicks and focused instead on lasting appeal. As some of the best architects in Sydney, they are known for homes that feel just as relevant 10 years on as they did the day they were built.

Thinking Beyond the Build

City Experience Meets Country Understanding

Although the firm is based in Sydney, Michael Bell Architects has worked on numerous rural projects. Their city-based precision, combined with local knowledge and builder coordination, results in smooth delivery. They work directly with regional trades, manage local council needs and stay involved during construction.

For this client, that meant the house was completed on time and within budget something many rural builds struggle to achieve. The clients were involved at every stage, from material choices to fine design details.

With their experience and process, the best architects in Sydney brought city-level service to a rural setting and delivered a house that felt both grand and personal.

Client Testimonial

Linda Monds

We couldn’t be happier with the work Michael and Michele Bell have done, the finished product is incredible,” Linda adds. “In my entire life I never dreamed I would have a home like I do now. The difference that they have made to my functionality is unbelievable. When you live at your workplace, it can be difficult to switch off. But now I can go into the house and look around and know that I have chosen every single thing in it with the special guidance of Michael and Michele, I feel such a sense of refuge and distance from the business. It’s still right there on the doorstep, but it feels much more removed. They have created our haven.

Final Thoughts

A well-designed country home doesn’t just look good. It works beautifully for the people who live in it. By focusing on how spaces breathe, connect and support everyday life, architects can make even the largest homes feel calm and personal.

Michael Bell Architects Sydney, located at c3/372 Wattle St, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia, continues to lead the way in designing homes that bring together practical thinking and lasting style. Through thoughtful design of verandahs, breezeways and natural light, they’ve shown how great architecture always starts with lifestyle.