Zinc House
Architecture Residential Victoria, Australia
17 Images
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1. Zinc House North deck An inviting timber deck to a metal-clad house which follows the site slope and has been built around existing trees Drew Echberg 5652 px 3768 px 6 MB A3 print |
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2. Zinc House Entry A dramatic shape and dark cladding and timber battens mark the entry of a modern metal-clad house Drew Echberg 3840 px 5760 px 6 MB A3 print |
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3. Zinc House front door Black walls and narrow timber steps create drama in the approach to the front door of this house Peter Nevett 3840 px 5760 px 3 MB A3 print |
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4. Zinc House South deck A metal-clad wall with small central deck overlooking a beautiful native garden Drew Echberg 5644 px 3763 px 7 MB A3 print |
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5. Zinc House corner window Timber framed windows with timber batten shading open away from the corner of this house and extend out to timber decking Peter Nevett 3840 px 5760 px 5 MB A3 print |
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6. Zinc House front vertical A zinc clad wall extends beyond the front door of this becah house and screens an external shower area Peter Nevett 3840 px 5760 px 6 MB A3 print |
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7. Zinc House deck A house with a daybed in the hallway overlooking a large outdoor deck with a tree growing through it. Peter Nevett 5760 px 3840 px 5 MB A3 print |
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8. Zinc House metal cladding A standing seam metal-clad wall with window and sunshade viewed through coastal trees Drew Echberg 3828 px 5742 px 9 MB A3 print |
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9. Zinc House rear facade Drew Echberg 5750 px 3833 px 7 MB A3 print |
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10. Zinc House Dining room Folded concrete forms reminiscent of a rockface create a nook in a dining room with a window and views to the beach Drew Echberg 3816 px 5724 px 4 MB A3 print |
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11. Zinc House living-dining An open plan living-dining room with a fireplace and opening to an external deck. Concrete and timber floors Peter Nevett 5760 px 3840 px 4 MB A3 print |
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12. Zinc House living A sunny, open plan living-dining room overlooking the ocean Peter Nevett 5760 px 3840 px 3 MB A3 print |
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13. Zinc House kitchen An open plan white kitchen with concrete benchtops and a photographic image of flowers as the splashback Peter Nevett 5760 px 3840 px 3 MB A3 print |
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14. Zinc House front A zinc clad house set into a bushy slope with a dramatic dark entrance Peter Nevett 5760 px 3840 px 5 MB A3 print |
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15. Zinc House south facade Walls of a beach house clad in zinc for durability Peter Nevett 5760 px 3840 px 6 MB A3 print |
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16. Zinc House plan Ground floor plan of the beach house 1191 px 842 px 229 KB Print - Low res only |
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17. Zinc House elevations 1191 px 842 px 108 KB Print - Low res only |
Description
Tardis in the trees
This new beach house on a clifftop site has been designed to sit within the slope and the tree canopy. It is scarcely visible from the adjoining beach. The house has a tiny footprint and has been designed with sustainability principles in mind. Despite being only 120m2 it can comfortably accommodate just the single occupant or sleep twelve! A double daybed area off the hallway has a wall of bookshelves and creates a cosy breakout space, extra accommodation, and a great play space for children.
The building forms angle and rotate to move around the existing trees on site. There is a fun manipulation with perspective and perception when moving through the home. For example the front of the house looks large upon approach, but it’s not; the central north-facing deck has a wall that is almost half height, giving a sense of containment and protection but allowing distant views; and the Living room is positively tardis-like – while looking small and intimate it functions equally well when the entire extended family clan are staying.
Varying ceiling heights in the house create intimacy, open up views and provide space for a hidden rooftop viewing deck. And around the house a number of other outdoor rooms have been created: from an east terrace set into the hill, a north entertaining deck, a private southern deck with space for 1 or 2 and, atop the hill, a sculptured firepit.
The clients love the location on the site, nestled in but with access to the views of the ocean. Being a boating family they especially like being able to watch the yachts sailing past. They say that at different times of the year different parts of the house come into their own. No matter what time of the year there is always the opportunity to sit outside but still have connection to the interior and they enjoy being able to extend rooms to the outdoors.
One of the nice features they have commented on is the level of thought that has gone into the joinery such as space for espies & food boxes below the kitchen island bench. Thought has really been given to how a holiday house is used and what is required. Small details such as this make a massive impact on the ease of staying in the house and make it highly functional in such a small space.
No-one wants to spend their holiday doing maintenance so the house has been designed to be extremely durable, especially the exterior that has to cope with the harsh coastal environment. Finishes have been selected for extreme longevity such as the zinc wall cladding with a 60 year+ lifespan, durable Australian hardwood timber and the composite timber decking is rot-free. All that is required is to sit back and relax and enjoy the break..
Questions and Answers
What was the brief?
A small, durable, beach house that could comfortably fit one or two guests, or 12 guests over three generations. Having camped in the site for decades the family wanted to be able to keep the bush feel and have a house that nestled comfortably amongst the trees.
What were the solutions?
The back of the house is embedded into the site and all primary living areas and the main bedroom and bathroom are at this level to minimise stairs. The rest of the house is a half level below and the front entry another half level down again. Ramped access to the back of the house is available via the garden slope.
There was only one flattish section of the site which the clients had initially thought should be the house site but it made more sense to shift the house further back where it could get more views and use the flatter area for vehicular circulation.
The dining room has a window seat with views to the adjacent beach but the best view is from the rooftop deck which gives a lovely perspective of the trees all around.
What were the key challenges?
Unusually for a house right next the the beach, this site had a steep slope to the back that leads to cliffs. Trying to minimise floor level changes to suit accessibility for older occupants was a challenge, as was minimising the amount of space taken up by cars and turning circle requirements. The house is also in an area at high risk of bushfires and right next to the coast so safety and durability were key issues.
Although right on the coast there weren't many opportunities to view the beach especially as most of the trees on site had to be retained
Key products used:
As the project name indicates, the primary external cladding material is standing seam zinc sheeting. This was selected for its durability to coastal extremes, fireproofing and 60+ year lifespan. The owners did not want to spend their holidays doing maintenance!
Other external materials are AWS double glazed aluminium framed windows, recycled Spotted Gum external timber for bushfire resistance.
Timberlast reconstituted timber boards were used for external decks and Rig River Oak engineered timber floorboards.
Light fittings by Mlight, Archilux, 'Arum' pendant by ilan.el, and 'Chrysalis' by Adam Cruickshank
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
The clients are incredibly private and so wanted a house that was not visible from outside the site and had the feeling of being in the bush rather than in the middle of a very popular beachside area.
What are the sustainability features?
The house has a small footprint and achieved a 7.5 star energy rating. Key sustainability features are:
- all electric with 100% Greenpower
- solar hot water (Apricus evacuated tube)
- solar air heater (Solar Source Snail unit) continuously recycles fresh air through the house so no musty smell
- high levels on insulation and building sealing
- ceiling fans to bedrooms
- reverse cycle airconditioning to Living area and Bedroom 1
Details
| Project size | 120 m2 |
| Site size | 600 m2 |
| Completion date | 2015 |
| Building levels | 1 |
Project team
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Ande Bunbury Architects | Architect |
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Ande Bunbury | Director |
| Karen Abernethy | Architect | |
| James Wong | Architecture graduate | |
| Keith Patrick & Associates | Engineer | |
| Koorool Constructions | Builder |