Bush Haven

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday June 26, 2008

Stephen Crafti

Stone and timber shape an architectural response to the rugged landscape.

FORTY metres of concrete block wall doesn't exactly qualify as a wonder of the modern world but the monumental southern perimeter of this rural house constitutes one architect's "great wall".

It also helps to create a house that looks private - impenetrable almost - from the gravel driveway, until you discover the "crack" in the wall.

There, a triangular mud room (a first port of call to remove muddy boots and wet clothes) gives way to the timber front door. Open that and the dramatic Yarra Valley landscape unfolds from every angle.

"We're not interested in 'touching the earth lightly'," says Simon Knott, one of three directors of BKK Architects. "The Australian landscape is powerful. It requires a strong response."

Knott camped overnight on the 20-hectare Warburton site to ensure he had the right position to build a home for the owner and his two young sons.

"With most of our projects, we try to get a feel of the place. It's important to see how the sun moves across the property during the day," he says.

"The previous owners cleared this part of the property. We could have explored other locations but it was the right choice to locate a new house. We wanted to frame the bush but we also wanted to use the great wall as a thermal mass to store heat. The concrete wall also acts as an anchoring device."

The irregularly shaped vestibule is a key component in BKK's design and a timber-lined cathedral ceiling accentuates the arrival.

Knott says that walking in "you're literally thrown into the view". A picture window at the end of a passage captures the Yarra Valley and Mount Donna Buang.

"[The vestibule is] a visual link to the swimming pool and deck," he says, "but it also separates the main bedroom wing from the living areas and children's bedrooms."

The house is linear - only one room wide. The rooms, including bathrooms that feature floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors, benefit from the northern light. "The rear facade is quite transparent," Knott says.

The house is single level, with different ceiling and floor levels articulating the rooms. The main bedroom, ensuite and study, for example, are a couple of steps above the vestibule. And the kitchen and living areas are a few steps below.

"The design responds to the contours of the land. But it was also important to create a variety of spatial qualities in the house," he says.

Many of the materials used on the home's exterior are carried through to the interior. Silver ash, used to clad the northern facade, also appears in the kitchen; the flue is clad in the same timber as a feature wall.

"Our client wanted a contemporary house. But he also used the words 'texture' and 'warmth'," Knott says.

To that end, he incorporated a dry stone wall between the dining and living areas. Made from Castlemaine slate, it includes a fireplace to heat both living spaces.

And to add texture, the architects incorporated Blackheart Sassafras timber bookshelves. These are built into the slate wall and form open bookshelves in the living area.

Beyond the living areas are two children's bedrooms and a shared bathroom.

There is also another room, at the end of the children's wing, designed as a guest bedroom or rumpus room.

"The house was designed to allow the children's bedrooms to be closed off when not being used," Knott says.

And while the house is firmly anchored to the site, the guest bedroom is cantilevered three metres above the ground. Unlike the other rooms, with their floor-to-ceiling glass, this room features waist-height windows. "You feel as though you're suspended in the trees."

A deck overlooks the swimming pool and has views to a mountain in the distance.

"A veranda has always been prominent in Australian architecture. It's a transition between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

"The veranda also creates a great viewing platform, as well as providing a quick entry into the pool."

The house is relatively modest in size - about 220 square metres. Knott makes comparisons between BKK's Warburton house and project homes built in the 1970s and set in native gardens.

"It's a relatively simple plan and the budget was fairly modest," he says. "It's about the landscape as much as the house."

1 The guest bedroom at the home's eastern end is cantilevered three metres above the ground.

2 A dry stone wall of Castlemaine slate houses an open fire.

3 The veranda provides views and easy access

to the pool.

4 The rear facade is transparent - even bathrooms have

floor-to-ceiling windows.

5 A 40-metre wall is broken by a "crack'' that provides entry to the mud room and the rest of the house.

The aim

A house that would engage with the landscape.

How long

Nine months to design, 12 months to build.

Favourite features

The slate fireplace and feature wall.

Insider's tip

Spend time on the site to get an understanding of the property.

Green points

Six-star energy rating.

Recycled materials used.

No finishes that require maintenance.

Northern orientation.

Solar hot water.

Architect

BKK Architecture, (03) 9671 4555.

Builder

Overend Constructions, (03) 5962 1837.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home