Throsby House | Curious Practice
Throsby House is a reinterpretation of the original cottages which define the neighbourhood’s built character with exaggerated weatherboards stacked into a familiar but novel stratum on the site for a young family of four. In comparison to the existing cottages however, this project reappraises its connection to place and ground: negotiating a dramatic change of level on the site to ground the living spaces in garden and the landscape of Throsby Creek beyond.
Watsons Bay House | IAN MOORE ARCHITECTS
Located within the Watsons Bay Heritage Conservation Area, this new 3 level house adopts a traditional gable roof form, with front verandah, weatherboard cladding and metal roofing in accordance with the development controls. The site falls from front to back, allowing a semibasement level to address the rear yard, while an attic storey within the pitched roof accommodates the two bedrooms and glass roofed
bathroom. Living spaces on the middle level open fully to the verandah and front yard and at the rear to an elevated balcony, with significant views into the tree tops of Camp Cove Reserve.
While adopting a traditional building form, the house is in all other ways a contemporary interpretation of the cottages of the original fishing village, with greater connection between inside and out and access to significant views of the national park at the front and public reserve at the rear.
Ozone Ofuro | Incidental Architecture
Ozone Ofuro is a small private bath house and retreat in the garden of a previous project by Incidental Architecture (then Matt Elkan Architect), the Ozone House (see AIA Awards 2014).
It was conceived as a means of inhabiting this garden.
Materially, Ozone Ofuro is built on an exposed rock shelf with walls made out of rocks gathered entirely from the site. The intention is that the structure grows loosely out of what was already there.
Functionally, it is a two room semi enclosed screened space housing a bath and associated ante room that can be shut down completely for privacy or opened fully to engage with the landscape and surrounding decks. More significantly though, it is also a place of quietness and solitude.
It is a structure that could be seen as unnecessary. Yet, perhaps this extension beyond the pragmatic into the poetic is what actually makes it necessary.
Nungalinya | Incidental Architecture
The Nungalinya project involved the staged replacement of five free standing 8-10 bed student accommodation ‘units’ over a period of five years.
The core idea of the project was to improve the capacity and appeal of the college by expanding its accommodation capacity in a climatically, culturally and economically responsible way .
Each unit sits on the site of a pre-exsiting 40 year old 2 bed unit and connects to existing services.
The new units allow for double the student capacity, with improved privacy, amenity thermal performance and site planning.
Climate was a very big consideration. Accessibility and cultural sensitivity were also key drivers.
Nungalinya operates on a very low level of funding, and therefore required these units to be built economically.
Fundamentally, success is determined from a student perspective. The new units are very popular and have had almost universal acceptance from students and staff.
Kidman Lane | Plus Minus Design
Briefs are rarely this demanding on a small site in a heritage controlled inner suburb and with a modest budget, create a functional home with additional bedrooms and off street parking. A garden too, please. And don’t upset the neighbours!
Our elegant, efficient and flexible plan delivers generous living spaces connecting to a landscaped garden, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and off street parking. The sawtooth roof (inspired by a nearby warehouse) provides high ceilings without overshadowing plus abundant light/ventilation.
The courtyard garden extends the living/dining areas and transforms into parking. Upstairs, 3 rooms interchangeable as bedrooms, offices or living areas plus a spacious bathroom.
Detailing is direct thoughtful arrangement of standard components rather than high-end craftsmanship while vibrant colour design animates and amplifies spatial character.
Although different, the home fits the suburb. Not only did Council approve a potentially controversial design, it has been enthusiastically welcomed by neighbours you’ve renovated the whole street!
Irrawaddy | Incidental Architecture
Irrawaddy is on Cammeraygal land, within suburban Chatswood. Although a larger house (271m2), Irrawaddy incorporates the fine grain to nurture a family of eight.
The clients, having grown up in what was Burma, shared stories of the Irrawaddy river being synonymous with the lifeblood of Burmese culture and fundamental to every aspect commerce, transport, spirituality, and not least, shelter.
Taking inspiration from the vernacular of Burmese delta houses on stilts, the branch like steel structure of Irrawaddy is expressed inside and out, straddling the ground floor footprint. Living spaces spill outside as the first floor floats overhead.
Motivated by their six children, playful elements are scattered throughout. A loft space is accessed by a rolling ladder through high level joinery. Monkey bars span between pavilions. Pivoting screens steal views between levels.
Kids bedrooms are deliberately tiny, only 2.3mx1.9m, with built in joinery allowing maximum function.
A house to gather yet retreat, work yet play.
Fish River House | Incidental Architecture
Fish River House is on Gundungurra land, on a fertile strip of granite country adjacent to the Fish River; a capillary river flowing from the Blue Mountains.
The clients are second generation custodians of the site, with the intention to support the continuity of the gathering of four (living) generations of family.
Being near Oberon, the site is characterised by hot dry days in summer, and regular snow in winter. The house is required to provide a reasonable level of comfort, whilst balancing passive and active systems. orientation and solar access is deeply considered.
Spatially and emotionally, there is an intentional dialogue between prospect and refuge. View and protection are equally important.
One of the most satisfying aspects of this project is the way it helped encourage capacity within the local building community. The builder, certifier and most consultants were drawn locally from Oberon.
Culburra Beach House | Virginia Kerridge Architect
The site was a never built upon piece of land situated beachfront at Culburra. The landscape is windswept, with low native foliage with a large setback to the beach consisting of planted sand dunes.
The shapes of the trees are bent over and distorted by constant winds along the coast. The design of the house responds to this with a roof shape that gracefully ascends and flattens towards the beach. It is a house that becomes a safe retreat and a place of serenity amidst the storm.
The landscape design is by Jane Irwin Landscape Architects.
Blue Mountains House | Anthony Gill Architects
The project involved the substantial renovation of an existing 70’s kit home and the construction of a guest house adjacent.
The site is environmentally sensitive and classified as flame zone.
The existing house is modified to suit the client, becoming the family’s second home.
The guest house, excluded from the family’s regular use, is conceived as an extension of the site’s existing landscape. Acting as a large boulder or mass, it encourages the external traversing of the structure connecting its three separate external stairs with an original network of pathways on the site. This helps to absorb the building into the family’s realm.
This new structure enabled the site to be reorganised providing a buffer from the street and a new private, north facing entry courtyard that is the centre of the new home. It provides a place to gather, protected from the near constant southwesterly wind.
Arcadia | Plus Minus Design
With no interest in architecture, our clients intended to commission a project home builder. Fortunately, their son convinced them otherwise.
The approach balanced heritage and reality, with original features restored when possible and no Pinterest driven gimmickry.
Skylight shafts were placed between original plaster details. An extension and new laneway structure provide parking and new accommodation.
A new roof sits behind the existing tiled roof and houses a new attic with perforated screens for shade, privacy and security.
An unexpected gift was the discovery of sandstone bedrock which was flooded to create a calming pond.
Ground level includes comfortable/accessible accommodation while additional multi function bedrooms accommodate frequent family visits.
The design also accommodates a lifetime’s accumulation of bric-a-brac and the home is now truly lived in.
From the overall scheme to the finest detail, our team has successfully negotiated 100 year old materials with contemporary amenity to see Arcadia into its next chapter.
