Archives: Projects

Hackett Extension

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

Hackett Mid-century Modern House - purple pathway to entry to renovated house - plywood panels-

HACKETT EXTENSION

The original building owes a lot to the architectural legacy left by Californian Architect, Richard Neutra who was famous for the attention he gave to defining the real needs of his clients, regardless of the size of the project, in contrast to other architects eager to impose their artistic vision on a client. His domestic architecture was a blend of art, landscape, and practical comfort.

The client was very keen that a significant aspect of the design philosophy should respect the character of the original modernist building.

This is characterized by materials at 90 degrees to each other, visual expression of the concept of “Truth to materials“, meaning that the true nature or natural appearance of a material ought to be seen rather than concealed or altered to represent something else and with a visual emphasis on horizontal and vertical lines.

The design of this major extension/alteration attempts to balance these ideas and making the outcome a family friendly house with good relationships to external spaces whilst maximizing solar orientation.

McGlade House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

MCGLADE HOUSE

This project is located in the well-established suburban area of Campbell in the ACT and characterised by large blocks offering the potential of vistas over both the city and the mountains.

The existing dwelling has had iterative renovation and development work carried out over its lifetime; some substantial. The endeavour in this particular exercise was to retain much of the flavour of the original which is characteristic of the architectural language of Richard Neutra and the early Californian modernists. This style involves a layering of horizontal elements, good inside and outside relationships, understated colour schemes and large areas of glass.

These underlying themes have been accepted and developed. They have however been adapted in such a manner to respond to key sustainability principles such as the respect for a long east-west axis for good solar gain and liveability issues that relate to a modern family.

The resultant home represents a subtly nuanced response to the existing architecture and site conditions. It is also a demonstration of an innovatively creative response to construction in the face of significant complexity.

Energy Efficient Rammed Earth House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

ENERGY EFFICIENT RAMMED EARTH HOUSE

8.4 Star Energy Efficient Modern Home with Traditional Japanese Architecture

Built to suit the Canberra climate, this house was a pleasure to bring to life. Sustainability and energy efficiency were the major drivers for this rammed earth house with strong guidance from the clients to ensure their vision was realised.

This project is proof that differing experiences, aesthetics and sustainability requirements can result in an exceptional home.

Rosedale House

Post author By ttrobe
Post date 31st March 2024

Rosedale House

This architectural home in Rosedale, NSW is a holiday retreat designed to blend seamlessly into its bushland setting while offering impressive views of the beach and ocean to the south. Facing the sun to the north, the main living areas are carefully crafted for optimal solar gain and cross-flow ventilation, with a gently curving Colorbond roof adding to its strong architectural expression.
Despite challenges posed by bushfire zoning, our design incorporates BAL 40 fire-rated construction techniques for safety and peace of mind. This home caters to three families, each enjoying their own living and outdoor spaces strategically designed to take advantage of the surrounding natural beauty. Embracing the steep slope and featuring aluminium cladding in colours mirroring the gum trees, the design blends with the landscape. With a focus on energy efficiency and meticulous attention to detail, this home offers a luxurious yet sustainable retreat for its inhabitants.

Mugga Way House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

MUGGA WAY HOUSE

This project is all about the resolution of the plan in the context of a difficult site. The client expressed a desire to create a residence with timeless themes unpolluted by idioms that often characterise contemporary greenfield development. In this case the design references relate back to the good manners of the Prairie Style, quintessentially epitomised in the past by the work of such architects as Frank Lloyd Wright. This Prairie Style is characterised by low pitched roofs with spreading eaves, the articulation of the various horizontal elements of the building into bands of differing and contrasting materials, the use of timber, simple building forms, the obvious expression the plan elements and close connections of inside spaces to the adjacent ones outside.

To some, Mugga Way is one of the dress circle addresses of Canberra where scale, context and street elevation all play an important part in informing its character. This building expresses three simple understated and balanced pavilion structures as its public face. Despite the extreme slope of the block that imposes strictures on the site (and to a large tip extent determines the overall response of the building form) the front elevation nestles into the street in a simple low-key linear fashion. This is a relatively sophisticated yet understated presentation of what is essentially a residence of significant scale.

Despite showing a face the street which has a problematic western orientation the main axis of the building is set up to relate to the solar aspects crucial for good sustainable design. In this case significant viewing corridors across the centre of Canberra serendipitously come together with an optimal solar aspect; this is a bonus. The main casual living areas are organised onto the carefully contrived long east-west axis and flow out onto private, protected and cantilevered external patios

Crackenback House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

CRACKENBACK HOUSE

Located on the border of Kosciuszko National Park, Lake Crackenback community is a natural and well-conceived development clustered around a scenic lake. It is nestled in the Thredbo Valley surrounded by the spectacular snowy Mountains.

Sydney-based clients sought a retreat and wished to see a house that responded sensitively to the natural environment. This entailed organising the main living areas to take best advantage of great views whilst optimising the solar gain potential; an important factor in an alpine environment. Easy flow from inside to outside is catered for by a large entertaining deck making a strong aesthetic statement. Judicious use of stone, timber and steel elements combine to make up a soft and regionally appropriate palate which when combined with cantilevered structural components provide both drama and architectural merit.

The steep site slope provided both a constraint and an opportunity, the resolution of which resulted in a home that shows both respect to its neighbours and good manners to the street.

Carey House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

CAREY HOUSE

“Modern, contemporary residence of premium quality using materials not normally used in residential construction – steel, glass, metal cladding etc. Understated but brave. Edgy without being pretentious”.

In expressing the Brief requirements the form has been interpreted as a collective of elements massing themselves towards the centre and being expressed as a formal interplay of planes. Not only are the horizontal and vertical set against each other but form strong cantilevers intending to give the sense of solid elements ‘floating’ over lighter ones. This floating aspect is inherent in the cantilevered decks and bay windows and the substantial roof overhangs.

The clients comments after moving in were “ the design meets our requirements perfectly,… in regard to its function as a family home. It provides the perfect mix of privacy and connection, allowing the children their own space without being disconnected in another room. The flow of the internal spaces and visual connection between the inside and outside spaces is outstanding. We could not recommend you or your team’s work more highly”

Kingston Foreshore House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

White House Kingston - cantilevered flat roofs - blade wall

KINGSTON FORESHORE HOUSE

This project has been designed in response to a very clear and precise brief from clients literate in both design and environmental issues. They were a pleasure to work with.

The site is located adjacent to Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra in an area set aside by the local Government as an experiment investigating a different planning mode in an effort to increase urban density in the Territory.

Although located on a relatively small block the bones of this site facilitate a building design characterised by an elongated east-west axis. This configuration promotes good solar access which is appropriate for a continental climate and enables the key living areas to be clustered around a private north facing courtyard.

A two-storey void linking the upper and lower levels provides spatial interest especially when combined with the broad connections from the primary living areas to the outdoor room. The resultant configuration provides for a very liveable house.

The palate of neutral, simple colours and modern semi-commercial materials are successfully gathered up into a simple linear and modernist planar external aesthetic.

Illabunda House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

ILLABUNDA HOUSE

This new home was designed for an empty plot of land facing the foreshore at Malua Bay on the south coast of New South Wales. The main considerations for the design of the dwelling relate to streetscape, views of the ocean and foreshore reserve, the inside/outside relationship, privacy, solar orientation and slope.

Effort was made to ensure that this infill development had an appropriate scale to reflect the existing streetscape and retain some views for neighbours on the adjacent side of the street. The building adopts a single-storey approach with an articulated building form which demonstrates good manners in plugging a ‘long-time’ empty gap in the street. The building is appropriate in form and scale to its context.

Pyang Beach House

Post author By Ellie Trobe
Post date 24th September 2020

Pyang Coast House -view from street evening

PYANG BEACH HOUSE

This edgy cliff top home on the NSW South Coast arose from the synergy of four families who set themselves a vision of creating a home away from home.

Strong lines dominate the exterior and make a bold statement from the street, while accents of timber add warmth to the design. Many commercial and recycled materials were used to build the homes, deviating from the palette of materials usually used in coastal homes.

One of the features of the project is its curved roof, sweeping upward from one side and over the adjoining residence. The volumes created by the roof along with the added height and expansive windows provide a stunning sense of space and light for the owners of these homes.

The relationship to the view is a defining aspect of the living spaces perched over the Pacific Ocean. The inclusion of large floor-to-ceiling windows capitalises on an active ocean; dolphins, whales and crashing surf are all players on the stage. The dramatic gazing also enables the home to be flooded with natural light and be warmed by the winter sun.

The themes of the interior complement the exterior well, with clean lines and the very limited use of strong colour. Rich recycled Red Gum flooring contrasts with the limited palette of colour elsewhere. The simple and sculptural kitchen cabinetry makes a lively counterpoint and focus to the minimalist expression of the rest of the interior.

A centrally located in-wall fireplace is emphasised by a subtle curve in the wall. The crisp rectangular forms of the ‘in-wall’ up lights spaced regularly throughout the main living and circulation spaces provide drama and individuality to the design.

The simple plan form caters equally well for an intimate weekend for a couple or for a family gathering.

This duplex has been recognised for its style and functionality by the HIA and MBA in winning the ‘Coastal Home of the Year’ and ‘Dual Occupancy of the Year’.