H O U S E A S A N E N V I R O N M E N T A L F I L T E R :
The notion of a 'house as a verandah' may seem impractical in a majority of climates, but in Queensland, you won't be considered a 'red-neck' if you decide to spend the majority of your leisurely days outside on your deck in a good old chair. It's because the climate outside is near perfect - inside the air is stagnant and still by comparison in conventional households... true to the philosophy of Gold Coast House; Kelvin Grove Cabin blurs the boundaries between outside and inside using the same pivoted door technology. A refined solution for spending your days inside and outside all at once and with the comforts of both worlds. It also has however, several design aspects that are entirely unique and further improve the ventilation of key areas within the Cabin.
Any quick glance at the drawings below (click to enlarge) and it is evident that there is a 'shadowy gap' beneath the floors of the studio area. This is a hollow space - a void in which the floor glides over two landscaped mounds. It not only serves to enhance the users experience with a sensation of floating, but acts as a cooling mechanism for the studio areas, which is particularly useful in summer. In a semi-tropic climate, it is said that a fully elevated house is still not quite as ideal as a grounded house all year around; so this concept of a 'semi-elevated' Cabin attempts to blend the two elements of elevated and grounded aprropriately the local climate. The void is faced perfectly to the direction of the prevailing winds as to maximize the cooling of the floors and surrounding shaded earth, perpetuating this effect further.
The roof is also a unique feature, reminiscent of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in it's texture, it simply slices into the sky; however it also serves a unique purpose as an intelligent light-filter. In summer the angle of the sun prevents almost all of the light from shining into the structure, and its low heat absorbing aluminium properties ensures minimal heat is retained. In winter however, the roof's angling is keyed to allow as much light in as possible - and this opportunity for heat is also maximised by the polarised glass ceiling seen of the studio which can be clearly seen in the interior perspective sketch. The underside of the roof is a deep ceramic texture, which, similar in appearance to the aluminium on the top, serves to absorb as much heat as possible so that the structure can be heated in the coldest times of winter. Between the two layers is a thin layer of fireproof insulation, to prevent heat transfer between the two halves.
As i had no reference to exactly where light would fall from my site analysis and sketches - i used a rough model in Autodesk Revit to determine exactly where the light would fall on my structure; dependant of the time of day and year. By doing this, (and although this project was strictly drawing based) i had no need to speculate what angle my roof was required to be or where the light would fall, giving me comfort and confidence in the design solution and accurately portraying light shadows in my drawings.
Gold Coast House did very little to 'blend' or incorporate the environment, as was the wish of the particular clients to have a home which felt as if it was actually from Gold Coast central itself rather than embracing it's actual location in the Hinterlands. For Innovarchi however, i have devised a crisp style, true to Gold Coast House in manner, however it cut's and slices into it's environment. The gaps and voids between the ceiling and the roof, the floor and the ground - all serve to give the house a crisp transparency which helps to blend and accentuate the surrounding landscape by framing and dividing specific scenes. In this respect, i used Louis Kahn's philosophies on 'nature and architecture' as my driving inspiration for the way the house interacts spatially with its surrounding site.
H O U S E A S A C O N T A I N E R F O R H U M A N A C T I V I T I E S :
Gold Coast House can readily be described as a 'Fishbowl with controllable amounts of privacy" (Innovarchi, 2002). Kelvin Grove Cabin is a fishbowl to a lesser extent, however the description is still applicable to this design. All the room's on both levels seem to suggest a unitary space. The bedroom is the most secure area within the house, offering a positive space in which to dwell (Fujimoto, 2010).
Gold Coast House also not only used the separation of two pavilions to privatise the clients from their mother, who also lived on the site, but also to help divide their own realms of privacy. In this situation the particular design solution is less viable as both partners practise in the same profession, however there is still a primary message that Innovarchi's solution presents to us: the separation of work and play.
If you remember from the previous exemplar analysis, i discussed how the home separated commercial and residential by using almost entirely independent circulation realms on the lower levels as to the upper levels. With the Cabin solution I also attempted to completely separate commercial from residential - it was taken into consideration that the building needed to appear at first to be entirely commercial - as to make its visiting clients feel as if they have a defined purpose to be there. The lower studio level is also complete with a display cabinet, lobby and bathroom - making it an entirely independent entity from the upper residential floor. Even the way the staircase to the upper floors is positioned when compared to the staircase for the studio level suggests to the client that upstairs may be private offices.
Beneath the main staircase is a small storage room worthy of mention; this houses furniture for dining, which can also be carried out on the lower level within the studio itself, to maximise the key location and charismatic nature of the room. The height of the ceiling in the room is quite low - that of an ordinary room to restrict and frame local views and provide clients and workers with a sense of encapsulation which calms the nerve for work and study.
Upstairs there is a delicate use of open spaces that combine the laundry, kitchen and bedroom into two barely defined spaces. The Laundry can be completely concealed in the same manner as Gold Coast House, and the Kitchen has a small space where a table and chair can be placed and the clients can enjoy their meals with greater privacy than otherwise downstairs. The upper floor is also almost entirely openable, but benefits from greater privacy than the lower floors.
H O U S E A S A D E L I G H T F U L E X P E R I E N C E :
The parti for this Cabin was 'light pathways' in which the careful placing of unusual and interesting architectural elements amidst a seemingly crisp environment provide a sense of clarity and purpose that aids the houses purpose as an architects studio. The 'open' philosophy serves to relax and free the mind of the inhabitants, calming those who attempt to work or reflect within.
Subtle plays in level, appropriateness of room dimensions, orientation and texture help to give the Cabin an almost automatic circulation and use, which makes living in the structure feel natural and human. When work is done and it is time for rest, the house transforms it's purpose clearly, with the transition from downstairs to upstairs. Upstairs we find a homely area - more secluded from the outside world yet maintaining the free philosophy of pivoted windows seen on the lower floor. In the bedroom can be found the securest of spaces - the nesting area to keep us safe during the night. This was achieved by following A Pattern Language (Alexander et. Al., 1976), a book i believe to be of great help to any amateur-student-architect and professional alike.
A key element to the delightful journey in the Cabin is the way the house dissects the local landscape and directs the eye to key locations; then again draws your eye elsewhere in a rhythmic, jagged, yet un-intimidating fashion. By looking at the interior perspective of the studio level you can see how the light pathway combined with the morning sun creates drama and chaos with shadow and light; and yet the main studio areas where work will be conducted in is conveniently lit - calmly and cooly aired - framed and composed. This is how the structure attempts to play with light, by where appropriately, creating geometric interest and detail.
The textures on both levels are comprised of crisp whites, metallic greys, exotic wood detailing and timber floors. The choice of materials is the least similar aspect of the Cabin when directly compared to the exemplar house; this is because the materials chosen for Gold Coast House were mainly decided by the clients rather than the architects. For the choice of materials for Innovarchi's own Cabin, i referenced another piece of their architecture in which Innovarchi had total control; Mod House - the 'Timber House of the Future'.
The materials palette from 'Mod House' i found to be perfect for the surrounding area as it neatly matched and fitted with the existing materials chosen in the recent developments surrounding the site. For example, the opaque orange textures on the apartment buildings blend neatly with the choice of orange tinted Walnut floors and detailing, the grey sheen of the aluminiums and Cabin roof outshine the flat greys of the paint seen on the majority of the surrounding apartments and the crisp whites tie them all together. The goal was not to 'blend' the structure with the apartments.. it was to 'exceed'; each of the textures is simply more refined and exotic by comparison; this means that although the Cabin is small and quaint, it has an outstanding characteristic that reveals it as being the finest piece of architecture on the coherent surrounding landscape - accentuating it's functionality and purpose through the final aspect of delight.
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| F R O N T P E R S P E C T I V E S K E T C H [ V I E W F R O M R O A D ] |
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| E N T R A N C E & D I S P L A Y P E R S P E C T I V E S K E T C H [ V I E W F R O M I N N E R P A R K ] |
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| S T U D I O I N T E R I O R P E R S P E C T I V E [ V I E W F R O M L O B B Y ] |
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| W E S T E R N E L E V A T I O N |
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| E A S T E R N E L E V A T I O N |
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| N O R T H E R N E L E V A T I O N [ P R I M A R Y F A C I N G ] |
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| S O U T H E R N E L E V A T I O N [ T R E E S R E M O V E D F O R V I E W I N G ] |
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  O R I G I N A L R O U G H S I T E A N A L Y S I S [ W I T H N O T E S B E L O W ] Site Details & Nearby Facilities: Parklands located just south of the QUT Kelvin Grove campus. Block incorporates 'Northern Facing'. Public Transport readily available due to University nearby. All necessities for shopping and living are locally obtainable (walking distance). Between two hill's: Wind can thusly be affected by terrain contours. Known Developments: A new shade area has been recently installed. 'Urban Village' apartments are springing up in several surrounding sites. 10 Storey High Rise to the direct western site: (Impacts on afternoon light severely). Sun: The northern facing of the site means that the sun will be very controllable by design. An analysis of sun path's can be seen above. Traffic: Many students on weekdays, moderate pedestrian activity otherwise. Pedestrian activity will likely increase upon completion of apartment buildings. Privacy: Near several large developments and at the edge of a block, privacy can be considered minimal. Existing tree's aid heavily to cover the site area. |
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| S I T E M E A S U R E M E N T & S E T B A C K S |
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| C L I C K T O E N L A R G E |
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R E F E R E N C E :
Alexander C., Ishikawa S., Silverstein M., Jacobson M., Fiksdahl-King I., Angel S. 1977. A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction.
Fujimoto S., 2010. "Life In This House Resembles Living Among the Clouds". Monument Issue 95, 2010.
