I teach. That kind of literature of architecture is the bane of my life.

On the rare occasions that one comes across a little bit of candour, a client ruefully admitting underperformance of the building, but speaking of it kindly and not even hinting at shafting the architect who was a partner in the experiment, my students get a glimpse into both reality and the ideal.

Keep up the good work.

My point is, when receiving or purchasing “clapped out bushland” we are all faced with the question of how to be an eco- custodian of that land whilst living on it. Many people today think the most eco-appropriate thing to do is to allow the land to regenerate, instead of further disturbing and already disturbed ecosystem. The Aus environment is remarkably resilient in many places (where there is adequate rainfall). Bush Heritage Australia’s property near Bredbo, Scottsdale, has all the history you described of Marr Grounds’ property. Yet it is being actively and passionately regenerated…so it will again become a place of enormous indigenous significance. I would also like to acknowledge that there are many people actively involved in Holistic Grazing, including at Scottsdale, as a way of actually making money from the land as well as improving the health of the entire ecosystem.

I mentioned the water tank installation at Lerida Estate Winery, Lake George, as the bank of 13 or 14 large tall-thin (rather than fat- wide) are installed under the eave of the large roof, against the outer wall of the production shed/tasting room. They form a beautiful architectural feature, keep the wine production/storage room cool in summer, as well as providing enough stored rainwater to produce one season’s wine production. The architect, Glen Murcutt researched the annual rainfall of Lake George, and from other vineyard records was able to work out how much water was needed for one season’s wine production (alot), then worked out how much water the roof he could design could distribute. I will send you a snap.

With such a huge roof, the other idea that comes to mind is an installation of a large but elegant banks of water tanks to hold rain water. Surely this is better for the land than creating artificial dams, or am I being too idealistic. Glen Mercutt’s installation of tall narrow water tanks at Lerida Estate, Lake George sets a precedent for contemporary Australian architecture, both rural and urban.

Marr Grounds is to be heartily congratulated for his ecominimalist quest in this building, but this is hardly a recent development in Australian architecture. I recall being shown about 27 years ago a most beautiful home at Mangrove Mountain, on a piece of rugged Hawkesbury sandstone with its marvellous flora and fauna. The building was clad in corrugated iron, and had a steel frame with floating timber floors, sited on an east-west axis to retain winter sun, and so on. I had never seen a home like this – one that seemed to address its superb natural site more than any other I had ever encountered. Perhaps it was designed by Glen Mercutt? In any case, it certainly succeeded in “touching the earth lightly”. The earth beneath the home was allowed to continue to live, instead of being covered over by a slab of concrete.