Tag Archives: modern architecture

The Stonehawke House (a post from Habitus Living)

August 22, 2010 By in Architecture, Interior design Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

The Stonehawke House

Stephanie Madison explores architect Shawn Godwin’s award-winning Brisbane home.

Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones

A sloping block at north-west Brisbane’s 29-lot Stonehawke development at The Gap captured the design eye of Base Architecture director Shawn Godwin and his interior designer wife Natalie as the ideal site for their future family home.

“(We) wanted a house that would become our family home for the next 15 years and to be very much designed for our lifestyle with our two young daughters,” Godwin says.

“From the start it was going to be a tough project as the site is very steep but I knew that once we resolved the levels the planning (would) evolve quite well and now we get the best of all worlds in the views, the elevation, the openness, the nestling with the bush and wildlife which enables us to open the house up on to privacy.”

The end result is a geometric “charred box” wedged into a hillside that wraps around an “out of ground, off-form concrete pool” while a fusion of organic, raw materials such as sandstone rockwork, various species of native tall trees and swathes of spotted gum in flooring, joinery, windows and doors reflects the materiality of the house’s aesthetic.

Earthy hues echo the landscape and a mixture of rough sawn, stained plywood, galvanised steel and horizontal and vertical sections mimic surrounding tree forms.

The duo’s design of the Stonehawke House/Lot 16 has won a host of awards including the 2010 AIA Brisbane Regional House of the Year, Regional Commendation, Brisbane – Residential Architecture – Houses and the 2010 AIA Queensland State Housing Award.

As part of his practice Godwin also offers information sessions on building and renovating, the first of which, Houses – Renovating and New Builds, will discuss examples, construction costs, consultants and timeframes with a town planner and engineer also on hand to answer questions.

Base Architecture
basearchitecture.com.au

Source [ full article with images from http://www.habitusliving.com/live/the-stonehawk-house ]

The Wilson House: house atop a vineyard

December 19, 2009 By in Architecture Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

A project by Melbourne’s Denton Corker Marshall, architects

Images and description via Denton Corker Marshall

Project: The Wilson House, Melbourne

Two thin rectangular plates – roof and floor – lay into a gentle rise above the vineyard stretching down to the main road.  The black metal floor plate is supported by a series of parallel black pigmented concrete walls set at right angles to it. One end rests on the hillside; the other cantilevers 11 metres beyond the supporting wall.  The identical roof plate floats above, separated by full height glazing on the front and ends, and on the back by two vine green sticks laid longitudinally between the plates.  Each plate is 50m long and 11m wide. Their singularity and clarity is reinforced by deep setbacks –2 m on the front and rear and 5 metres on the cantilevered projection – to the external wall.  The roof plate is supported by internal steel columns.

The lower lever, defined by the black concrete walls, contains entry, carparking, wine cellar, study and guest bedrooms.  The upper level – conceptually a single space – contains master bedroom, second bedroom, living, dining, and kitchen.  A floor to ceiling glass wall with sliding external doors extends the full length of the house, and opens onto an upper level terrace stepping down to an outdoor swimming pool.  Floors are honed mid grey pigmented concrete, and ceilings white plasterboard.  Internal spaces are defined by sycamore panelled volumes inserted into the space, and held free of the ceiling and the long glazed wall.

All credits [Denton Corker Marshall]

Emma House – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

March 6, 2009 By in Architecture, Inspiration, Interior design Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

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This project was the first by Fota Design , Australia.  Projects like these are why us creatives do what we do.   To do truly good work there is a point we reach when we stop thinking and start feeling.  There will always be innumerable designs for any given project.  No limit to the subtle variances that are all within the realm of acceptable and practical for the scope.  There comes a point however, when the pencil seems to take itself through to the end.  I often look down at a layout once complete and think, wow, that’s it.  I can articulate the many reasons why it’s the one, but it is that final 10% that I simply could not begin to explain that makes it perfect. 

The Emma house by Lisa Foo, may not be your taste.  Some may question how anyone could live amongst the concrete and white walls, however seeing the completed project and family moving through the space undoubtedly shows us how very perfect it is for them. 

Her attention to detail was unwavering.  Subtleties such as the use of Merbau wood at the base of the double height doors to prevent damage with the inevitable moisture.  The living areas need not be air conditioned.  She has simply taken advantage of the concrete’s thermal insulating properties on the east and west facades.  The pool’s placement on the western side of the house allows the evaporating waters to cool the severity of afternoon sun. 

Throughout the space she’s played the light and dark off each other.  Simplistic perfect balance of material and tone.  Japanese elements and principles show themselves throughout the project.  One space dissolves into another.  The landscape is “borrowed” by creating large openings from the interior to the exterior.   The article sites the fact the architect and client have met weekly for over a year and no decision is made without thoughtful consideration by them both.  Our Western sensibilities tend to prefer a more streamlined, hands-off approach.   I try to balance my desire to fulfill both.  Lisa has offered me a bit of food for thought…

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[Source: Habitus Magazine, Issue 01]

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