The Red Vineyard house is named after a painting by van Gogh which was selected from a book to serve as a basis for the colour scheme. Even though the four hectare block is large, there is no vineyard in sight!

 

The design is nearly twice as energy efficient as a Five Star rating, having a long plan, good orientation a concrete slab, rammed earth internal walls, two layers of R2.5 insulation batts in the ceiling, double glazing, cedar doors and windows, excellent summer shading and cross ventilation. The whole house is heated with one gas heater whenever the sun disappears for a few days.

 

The design is one of a number of houses and extensions designed by Simon in the early 1990's which explored the aesthetics of hand-carved objects found in pre-industrial cultures, and a similar production process found in European culture, in the works of certain artists. This work was influenced by the publication of Edward Said's 'Orientalism' and other texts of post-colonial theory during the preceding decade.