Slate House Northcote
Slate House Northcote is a well-proportioned, high-tech, sustainable home, based on biophilic design principles. It’s a home for a family of five, that connects with nature, benefiting the residents’ health and well-being. The pitched roof and slate silhouette, reminiscent of the traditional vernacular, combine with contemporary minimalist detailing, bridging past and present : A re-think of the suburban house.
Nature, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability are key to the success of this design. The strong vernacular form upstairs, created by traditional slate cladding, ties the house into the streetscape.
“Slate House Northcote” is designed to interact and engage with nature - the essence of Biophilic design. Below the strong monolithic slate form, a refined ground floor plan interweaves with nature, meandering out and in, carving out two courtyards, and at once grounding the house in the garden and drawing the garden back into the house. The building invites the adjacent park into the garden, borrowing natural vistas and extending the backyard, whilst embracing its wider contextual surroundings. Urban food production, green roofs and integrated planters create additional intimate connections with nature.
Natural materials predominate, slate, timber - both inside and out -, brick - old and new -, and various natural stone treatments compliment the biophilic nature by creating texture, thereby inspiring continuous engagement with delightful architectural spaces.
Courtyards play a key role in this; allowing direct north sun deeper into the plan and also promoting excellent natural ventilation. Direct (and controllable) sunlight in each space, an abundance of natural light - often from more than one aspect - provide comfortable and enjoyable spaces to inhabit. Seamlessly integrated technology such as a large solar PV array forms part of the architecture, and the integrated external shading coupled with correct orientation adds to the energy efficiency strategy. With its full home automation on top of all that, this home is ready for the future.
Nature, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability are key to the success of this design. The strong vernacular form upstairs, created by traditional slate cladding, ties the house into the streetscape.
“Slate House Northcote” is designed to interact and engage with nature - the essence of Biophilic design. Below the strong monolithic slate form, a refined ground floor plan interweaves with nature, meandering out and in, carving out two courtyards, and at once grounding the house in the garden and drawing the garden back into the house. The building invites the adjacent park into the garden, borrowing natural vistas and extending the backyard, whilst embracing its wider contextual surroundings. Urban food production, green roofs and integrated planters create additional intimate connections with nature.
Natural materials predominate, slate, timber - both inside and out -, brick - old and new -, and various natural stone treatments compliment the biophilic nature by creating texture, thereby inspiring continuous engagement with delightful architectural spaces.
Courtyards play a key role in this; allowing direct north sun deeper into the plan and also promoting excellent natural ventilation. Direct (and controllable) sunlight in each space, an abundance of natural light - often from more than one aspect - provide comfortable and enjoyable spaces to inhabit. Seamlessly integrated technology such as a large solar PV array forms part of the architecture, and the integrated external shading coupled with correct orientation adds to the energy efficiency strategy. With its full home automation on top of all that, this home is ready for the future.
Project Year: 2018
Project Cost: More than $2,000,000 AUD
Country: Australia
Postcode: 3070
