Down to Earth
Architecture Residential Brunswick, Australia
24 Images
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1. communal courtyard 1 view of your old house from the new extension 3302 px 4950 px 4 MB A4 print |
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2. communal courtyard 2 view of the new extension from your old house 6273 px 4336 px 7 MB A3 print |
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3. hall 1 view from the passage into study and kitchen all spaces are connected 5792 px 8688 px 9 MB A3 print |
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4. dining view from kitchen into dining, living and towards backyard timber colums were widened to allow people to lean against 8688 px 5792 px 8 MB A3 print |
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5. bathroom 1 dad and son competing for a zip of water from the tap 5792 px 8688 px 8 MB A3 print |
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6. bathroom 2 the bench was designed for small children to climb on and reach the basin 5792 px 8688 px 8 MB A3 print |
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7. bathroom 3 a sliding window next to shower and bath allow you to enjoy fresh air 8688 px 5792 px 8 MB A3 print |
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8. study view from the kitchen into study and hallway 6326 px 4152 px 6 MB A3 print |
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9. entry hall 1 charred timber seat 5792 px 8688 px 7 MB A3 print |
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10. entry hall 2 charred timber seat with inbuilt storage 5792 px 8688 px 7 MB A3 print |
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11. play room view through baywindow into courtyard 8688 px 5792 px 8 MB A3 print |
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12. kitchen supervision into study nook is possible from the kitchen 3277 px 4916 px 2 MB A4 print |
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13. lounge 1 sunlight warms the rammed earth wall 8688 px 5792 px 9 MB A3 print |
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14. lounge 2 5153 px 7729 px 13 MB A3 print |
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15. spaces connected view into study and access into backyard from dining 5792 px 8688 px 10 MB A3 print |
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16. communal courtyard 3 7820 px 5213 px 9 MB A3 print |
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17. communal courtyard 3 columns provide a focal point 1590 px 1000 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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18. frontyard californian bungalow opened up to frontyard engaging with the neighbourhood 8688 px 5792 px 16 MB A3 print |
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19. hall 2 walls were angles to create a funnel effect 5792 px 8688 px 9 MB A3 print |
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20. floor plan the new extension curves to create a communal outdoor space 1191 px 842 px 555 KB Print - Low res only |
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21. section juxtaposition of old and new 1191 px 842 px 2 MB Print - Low res only |
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22. ESD diagram passive solar design principles applied 1191 px 842 px 2 MB Print - Low res only |
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23. section through study kitchen and study are separated by a window allowing separation and supervision 1191 px 842 px 20 MB Print - Low res only |
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24. section trhough bathroom the bench allows children to climb up, the bathroom was designed to be a social space 1191 px 842 px 9 MB Print - Low res only |
Description
I have always valued the everyday over the spectacular.
This design for a rammed earth extension to a Californian Bungalow goes back to personal key experiences of places. However, I was less interested in a building itself but the interaction it generated and asked why.
That was our starting point. For this we wanted the design to take a backseat and stay unnoticed.
Paradoxically, the building then becomes active: spaces are connected to allow supervision or stimulate conversation, bathrooms become social, pockets were inserted to accommodate and make daily activities enjoyable.
Materials and details were chosen and developed for what they can offer: solar heat radiating from walls, natural ventilation to feel the breeze, timber posts you can lean and benches you can jump on.
And hopefully unnoticed.
Questions and Answers
What was the brief?
The brief was for a long term home for a family with 2-3 kids and ability to accommodate guests over longer periods of time.
We added low cost operation, current and future functionality, evolving privacy needs and future accessibility to the brief.
The new home is divided into four zones: children and guests, parents, communal and transitional areas. Every zone has its own outdoor space.
Joinery is located, considered and detailed to accommodate daily activities for both children and adults from storage of clothes, schoolbags, sports gear to electronic devices.
What are the sustainability features?
To be sustainable, a building needs to minimize embodied and operational energy over its lifetime.
We take a methodical approach and break our ESD down into components:
- design for future flexibility and changing use without needing alterations
- passive solar design principles take precedence over anything else: zoning, layout, planning, building form, material selection, solar control and details that reduce thermal bridging
- choice of materials with low embodied energy (rammed earth)
- single glazing is banned
The house (including the old) achieves an energy rating 3 stars (6) above target.
It requires consumer acceptance to be successful. Please refer to above client's comments.
How is the project unique?
A well performing house extension facing south on a small inner city block built in rammed earth is not easy to achieve.
However, in this challenge was our opportunity: we decided that our extension will curl around to capture the sun, creating a communal courtyard and allowing the occupants to look at their own house rather than a paling fence.
The building uses the formal language of a Californian Bungalow with the combination of heavy and light materials and generous roofs without copying it. Rammed earth walls appear free standing and separated from a floating roof with wide overhangs providing shade in summer but letting winter sun inside.
Details
| Project size | 193 m2 |
| Site size | 445 m2 |
| Project Budget | USD 820,000 |
| Completion date | 2018 |
| Building levels | 1 |
Project team
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Steffen Welsch | |
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Steffen Welsch Architects | Architect |