Cabin

My exemplar cabin focuses on the design principles of Bligh Voller Nield’s Gully House.
The house is built over three levels just like Gully House. As the cabin can only be 75sqm, the three levels have been used as split levels rather than stacking them. This segregates the living areas just like BVN intended with Gully House.
The use of lightweight construction juxtaposed with the thick masonry blade walls, is supposed to create the same visual effect of Gully House, with it’s block work walls on level one, and lightweight clad walls on the upper levels.

A house is an Environmental Filter

The use of bi-fold doors that open onto a deck, work the same way as in Gully House as they promote the use of outdoor living.
The use of bi-fold doors allows for cross flow ventilation and allows the occupant to open and close them as they desire, to allow for cooling and purging.

A House Is A Container of Human Activities

The house is segregated into three main zones. The living area, sleeping quarters, and the study area. This allows for three different uses, even though the cabin is fairly small, it can still be utilised in different ways at the same time while having a relatively small impact on other in the cabin.
The use of the decks promotes the use of these spaces for family gatherings. This is also the space for reflection.

A House Is a Delightful Experience

The framing of views to the north and the use of blade walls to lead the eye are key design factors with the cabin. By framing the views, it is allowing the occupant to be able to view specific views in the landscape, yet the blade walls block most of the views to the west. The blade wall is also intended to work as thermal mass, absorbing the afternoon sun, and radiating it out throughout the night hours. This creates a warm climate through the night. During the day, the doors and operable windows can be opened to allow for cross flow ventilation which is designed to create the stack effect, in which the hot air will be drawn into the upper bedroom part of the house, and forced out via operable windows close to the ceiling. This same affect was designed by BVN for Gully House, as it uses the height of the house to its advantage by using the stack effect.

The cabin is set on the river with a heavily sloping block, like Gully House. It also takes advantage of a from timber deck, which is similar to the raised board walk over the gully which leads to the front entrance in Gully House.
The views are primarily to the north, and use the Northern aspect to maximise solar gains. The use of window shading devices would be essential to minimise heat gains during the summer, while still allowing the winter sun in. The cabin has been raised off the ground to allow for ventilation to come up from under the floor in the hope that it will circulate the air inside the building, and force the warm air up and out.

Balaam Residence

The Balaam was completed in 2006 and is located in Hamilton. The house is in a built up urban area in a very public domain. The house was designed. The brief stated it had to “To design a family home that explored the opportunities within architecture” Says Shaun Lockyer, the architect engaged in the project from the firm Arkhefield.

A House is an Environmental Filter

The Balaam residence is set in a public realm that set the precedent for Arkhefield to design a sanctuary that would remove itself from the public spotlight. To do this the architects have designed walls that visually block the link with the street. This also assits with the reduction of accustics but primarily it is supposed to create a visual barrier.
Cross Flow Ventilation
Cross flow ventilation has been used to assist mechanical systems to cool the building. The stack affect has been utilised to allow this ventilation in, which is important in the Queensland climate.The use of louvered windows allows the house to be opened or closed up as desired according to the climatic conditions.

A house is A Container of Human Activities

The house provides a “sanctuary” for the residents by blocking the immediate connection with the street. The use of decked pool areas, and open-able living areas create views to the water and beyond which promotes the use of the area for entertainment. As the views extend past the street, the living areas have been raised to achieve this. By elevating the living areas, the architects have been able to not only utilise the views but enhance them, and give the house visual security to the street, without the public having the ability to see into the residence at ground level.

A House is A Delightful Experience

The house is a delightful experience right from the moment it is visible in the street. The house makes has a presence on the streetscape that is instantly recognisable and draws the public’s eye toward it, as if it were demanding attention. Inside the house, the intentional framing of views toward the water enthuse the inhabitants. The framing of views means that you are drawn toward the open breakout spaces to feel the space and look at the views.

Sources
www.architecture.com.au/awards
www.specifier.com.au/projects/residential/34917/Balaam-Residence.html

Blades Residence

Introduction
The Blades Residence was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Thom Mayne, working for his firm Morphosis. The house was designed in 1993 and built between 1993 and 1997. The house is located in Santa Barbara California for clients Richard and Vicki Blades.

The Design

The design consists of a curved wall which frames views of the ocean. The curved wall also defines the yard which is the central focus of the design and has a dominating presence over the residence.
Internally, the architect has created a series of overlapping zones rather than creating distinct rooms. This aids in brining the indoors and the outdoors together, as it assists in blurring the the boundaries between inside and out.

The building is a great example of deconstructivism architecture.

Gully House

Introduction

Gully House is located in Yeronga, situated on the Brisbane River. The project was completed in 2004, and was designed by architects Bligh Voller Neild. The owners are a couple who love to collect art works and antique furniture.

The site

The site is small, and has a number of significant trees and dense sub tropical vegetation. In addition to this, a gully lies on the site which serves to drain stormwater to the river. The site is also subject to flooding.


The design

The site constraints and modest budget had a large impact on the design. BVN have lifted the living areas well above the ground to avoid it being flooded, and addressed the issue of the trees by having 3 floors to minimise the building’s footprint.


Ventilation

The design incorporates a large number of operable windows and louvers and promotes cross flow ventilation. The tall and thin form of the building allows for air to enter low in the building and be dispersed higher in the building. This is using the stack effect to cool the building.

A House Is an Environmental Filter

The house acts like an environmental filter by the use of large bifolding doors that open out from the living area onto a large deck. The deck provides a barrier from the harsh Queensland environment. It uses dense sub tropical vegetation to filter the prevailing winds and create a lively environment by attracting wildlife of all kinds. The bifold doors allow the occupants to open and close them as they please which gives them control over how much ventilation they allow in. BVN has used a large number of operable louvered windows to allow a cross ventilation through the house in addition to the bi folding doors.
The canopies of the surrounding existing trees not only shade the roof from the harsh rays of the midday sun, but shade the deck area and assist in keeping the house cool.

A House is A Container of Human Activities

The multi levelled design used by BVN was designed to allow the existing trees to co- exist with the house and reduce the house’s footprint and maximise the views. This also segregates living areas to bedrooms and the provision for the car. This allows the users to use the space in various ways whilst having as little impact on people in other areas of the house as possible. The living area is open plan, and still allows interaction between not only people but the outside environment, via the large windows and operable louvers and bi fold doors. The deck outside allows for living to spill out into the outside area in the form of outdoor entertaining and alfresco dining.

A House is A Delightful Experience

The transition through the various levels and spaces in the house make it interesting from the point of view of somebody walking through. The raked ceiling in the middle floor living area lead the eye up, to which point it is evident of the level above. This creates a sense of curiosity and naturally the upper levels will want to be explored.
The use of cross ventilation makes for a comfortable climate inside the house whilst minimising the need for HVAC systems.