Residential

Hovea Residence
Northcliffe Residence
Beverley Studio
Martin Residence
Gidgegannup Residence

Martin Residence

Designed along and east west axis, this house takes advantage of the bush environment with a large suspended deck and an indoor-outdoor room both facing north overlooking the Jarrah and Marri forest. The owners of this house wanted an informal layout with easy access from the carport into the living area via a sheltered deck which has its own cloak cupboard and store room. This store has solid rammed earth walls and is built to be fireproof and can be used as a shelter from potential bush fires. The floor is a combination of a relatively small raised concrete slab area with the remainder of the building suspended off the slab. On this slab sits rammed earth walls that act as heat banks storing winter warmth from the northern sun. A large high level window provides direct sun to this wall in winter and natural light to the living area throughout the day. The suspended part of the building has timber frame walls clad externally with custom orb colorbond metal. This building has excellent cross ventilation for cooling in summer being only 2 rooms deep with strategically placed openings and the ability to open the living space to the indoor /outdoor room which has 3 walls of security mesh open to the cooling breezes. This is a 4 bedroom house with a small study and 2 large bathrooms. Click on photos to enlarge.   Return to Top

Gidgegannup Residence

This is a long rectangular building with the longer side facing north to capture winter sun and control summer sun. The owners had particular design ideas such as incorporating a large living space that could be opened to the outdoors. This space could be seen as a large breezeway between two wings of the house. It is a focal point of the house with a polished coloured concrete floor and raking ceilings with high level windows and large double sliding doors both ends opening out to a deck area on the north end. A solar pergola is over the north facing deck providing shelter from summer sun but allowing winter sun through onto the polished concrete floor. An interesting construction feature is the reverse brick veneer external walls. Lightweight framed walls to the external leaf wall and solid brick walls to the internal leaf. This provides high thermal mass walls internally to moderate internal temperatures. A brick plinth runs around the perimeter of the building anchoring it to the site. This is only a 2 room deep building allowing for good cross ventilation. Spaces can be zoned for heating in winter. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large study, lounge room, living, kitchen / dining, and carport. Click on photos to enlarge. Return to Top

Return to Top