Living three hours south of Sydney Australia, Kerry Schott and Lindie Clark already nailed their sleeping and living areas in two separate metal-clad pavilions. They turned to Pyrmont, Sydney-based architectural practice Benn and Penna Architecture when they decided to expand their living space to incorporate a further free-standing pavilion, this time for work. Their Southern Highlands house is a home office, as well as a relaxing retreat from the main house.

“A tiny house, like a tiny temple, can be a perfect work of art,” said Marion Mahony Griffin.
The Southern Highlands, south of Sydney, can get very, very hot. So hot, in fact, that the region is prone to fires. The metal cladding of the Southern Highlands house (as well as the other two buildings in the complex) is aesthetically pleasing and appropriate for a rural outbuilding, and crucially, it is also highly practical. Metal can resist high temperatures; it’s weatherproof; and it can withstand the onslaught of dust and hot winds.
Shortlisted for Australia’s ‘Small Projects’ Architectural Awards in 2014, the home office sits happily and sleekly in its agricultural landscape. There’s not a lot inside – minimalist and functional, there’s a wood-burning stove, an elegant chair with matching footstool and a small table.

A curved shelving system gives a nod to office functionality and storage, while the lack of a desk suggests a more relaxed vibe ? or the use of a ...