Claire's House
Designed by a Gen-Y for a Gen-Y
Claire’s house provided a unique opportunity for a gen-Y architect to design a home for a gen-Y client; exploring an eclectic approach within a first-home-buyer's budget. The client required a flexible design: a home that would function immediately with housemates, and later as a family home. The sloping block and challenging orientation presented both constraints and opportunities, inspiring a stepped modular design that wraps around a central outdoor space. Surrounded by homes largely cut in, or built up, on their block, this house stands out for its gentle sloping form that matches the landscape, responding appropriately to place, climate and culture. With emphasis on energy efficiency throughout the design, this home achieves an EER of 7.3 stars, significantly improving comfort at the same time as dramatically reducing heating/cooling costs.
The design relied strongly on client-architect collaboration and contributions from other craftsman such as bricklayers, a mural artist and carpenters, to work on artistic features of the home.
To achieve this collaborative finished product, on a first-home-buyer’s budget, the architect and client thoughtfully planned for elements that she could complete after the finished build.
The client then coordinated or built items such as further custom joinery, decking and landscaping, the perforated metal carport door, plus engaged mural artist, John VOIR, to complete the large brick wall painting to the deck, viewed as a backdrop from the main living areas.
The house becomes an extension of the client’s creative style. An eclectic use of materials created a perfect base for the client’s broad taste. Concrete floors contrast with spotted gum stairs and an exposed Canberra red brick wall. Contrasting materials like gloss white with plywood, charcoal joinery with mirror splashbacks, and grey tiles with black wet area fixtures, creates a home that feels diverse, playful and interesting. The contrast of old and new, such as the modern pendant lights next to the salvaged cottage-style sliding door on the ensuite, also compliments this pattern. This home is a clever example of art in architecture: as a tool for client involvement and collaboration; as well as a device for delivering an affordable, highly thoughtful and personalised home.
Check it out here:
http://www.lighthouseteam.com.au/modular-projects/claires-house
Claire’s house provided a unique opportunity for a gen-Y architect to design a home for a gen-Y client; exploring an eclectic approach within a first-home-buyer's budget. The client required a flexible design: a home that would function immediately with housemates, and later as a family home. The sloping block and challenging orientation presented both constraints and opportunities, inspiring a stepped modular design that wraps around a central outdoor space. Surrounded by homes largely cut in, or built up, on their block, this house stands out for its gentle sloping form that matches the landscape, responding appropriately to place, climate and culture. With emphasis on energy efficiency throughout the design, this home achieves an EER of 7.3 stars, significantly improving comfort at the same time as dramatically reducing heating/cooling costs.
The design relied strongly on client-architect collaboration and contributions from other craftsman such as bricklayers, a mural artist and carpenters, to work on artistic features of the home.
To achieve this collaborative finished product, on a first-home-buyer’s budget, the architect and client thoughtfully planned for elements that she could complete after the finished build.
The client then coordinated or built items such as further custom joinery, decking and landscaping, the perforated metal carport door, plus engaged mural artist, John VOIR, to complete the large brick wall painting to the deck, viewed as a backdrop from the main living areas.
The house becomes an extension of the client’s creative style. An eclectic use of materials created a perfect base for the client’s broad taste. Concrete floors contrast with spotted gum stairs and an exposed Canberra red brick wall. Contrasting materials like gloss white with plywood, charcoal joinery with mirror splashbacks, and grey tiles with black wet area fixtures, creates a home that feels diverse, playful and interesting. The contrast of old and new, such as the modern pendant lights next to the salvaged cottage-style sliding door on the ensuite, also compliments this pattern. This home is a clever example of art in architecture: as a tool for client involvement and collaboration; as well as a device for delivering an affordable, highly thoughtful and personalised home.
Check it out here:
http://www.lighthouseteam.com.au/modular-projects/claires-house
Project Year: 2015
Project Cost: $200,001 AUD - $500,000 AUD
Country: Australia
Postcode: 2611
