Project Of The Week
An Ingenious House in Two Halves
Splitting this four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in half was the perfect solution for its tricky, sloping location
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking project each week. Here, architect Mick Moloney reveals how he got around the challenges of building on an awkward, sloping block with a southerly outlook to produce a family-friendly, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a sophisticated, rustic vibe.
What was the site like originally?
A sloping bush block with views to the south.
A sloping bush block with views to the south.
How is the new home laid out?
This home has four bedrooms in the upper pavilion, and a large combined kitchen and living space in the lower pavilion. A stairway and the main entrance connect the two pavilions.
Ceilings in the upper section are 2.7 metres high, and those in the lower level vary from 2.4 metres to four metres in height.
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This home has four bedrooms in the upper pavilion, and a large combined kitchen and living space in the lower pavilion. A stairway and the main entrance connect the two pavilions.
Ceilings in the upper section are 2.7 metres high, and those in the lower level vary from 2.4 metres to four metres in height.
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What was the clients’ brief?
Sam and Sarah approached us to create a sustainable family home that felt connected to the bush landscape. They wanted to use low-embodied energy materials – timber inside and out – to create a home with a sense of calm.
They wanted the house to nestle into the site rather than ‘float’ over the landscape.
Sam and Sarah approached us to create a sustainable family home that felt connected to the bush landscape. They wanted to use low-embodied energy materials – timber inside and out – to create a home with a sense of calm.
They wanted the house to nestle into the site rather than ‘float’ over the landscape.
What problem did this project address?
The concept for this home was a response to a common problem for rural sites with southerly views.
Obviously, the best approach in terms of passive solar design would be to orient the living spaces to the north and service spaces to the south. However, the site slopes downward to the south, capturing spectacular views along the valley towards Ballarat.
The solution we decided to pursue involved splitting the house into two equal halves. By shifting and separating the halves we were able to retain the southern views and provide access to northern light in the living spaces.
The concept for this home was a response to a common problem for rural sites with southerly views.
Obviously, the best approach in terms of passive solar design would be to orient the living spaces to the north and service spaces to the south. However, the site slopes downward to the south, capturing spectacular views along the valley towards Ballarat.
The solution we decided to pursue involved splitting the house into two equal halves. By shifting and separating the halves we were able to retain the southern views and provide access to northern light in the living spaces.
Splitting the profile of the building also improves privacy between the social space (living area) and private spaces (sleeping and bathing).
Separating the pavilions vertically also allowed us to follow the slope of the site and minimise disruption to the flow of the landscape.
All too frequently we see residential projects with a massive amount of cut-and-fill. This project shows that it’s possible to work with the landscape and still create the spaces required for modern family life.
Separating the pavilions vertically also allowed us to follow the slope of the site and minimise disruption to the flow of the landscape.
All too frequently we see residential projects with a massive amount of cut-and-fill. This project shows that it’s possible to work with the landscape and still create the spaces required for modern family life.
What challenges did you work around?
Being close to the bush, we had quite a high bushfire rating for this site. We used naturally fire-resistant blackbutt cladding to meet the requirements, which will be left to weather naturally and blend in with the bush surrounds.
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Being close to the bush, we had quite a high bushfire rating for this site. We used naturally fire-resistant blackbutt cladding to meet the requirements, which will be left to weather naturally and blend in with the bush surrounds.
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We adore your window choices here – can you tell us about them?
The large windows and skylight carefully frame views to the landscape, while providing much-needed access to sunlight to warm up the interior. Rather than having lots of wall space for artworks, the clients preferred to use the landscape views as their art.
The windows themselves are divided to allow the larger picture windows to read as clear and unobstructed picture frames.
The casement window sidelights provide ventilation with insect screens.
The large windows and skylight carefully frame views to the landscape, while providing much-needed access to sunlight to warm up the interior. Rather than having lots of wall space for artworks, the clients preferred to use the landscape views as their art.
The windows themselves are divided to allow the larger picture windows to read as clear and unobstructed picture frames.
The casement window sidelights provide ventilation with insect screens.
There’s an appealing rawness to this project – was that deliberate?
Our philosophy is to use robust materials in their natural state as much as possible. For example, when using Australian hardwoods we try not to disguise their natural characteristics with stains or paint. The exterior is clad with blackbutt that will be left to grey off naturally and reflect the tones of the surrounding bush.
Our philosophy is to use robust materials in their natural state as much as possible. For example, when using Australian hardwoods we try not to disguise their natural characteristics with stains or paint. The exterior is clad with blackbutt that will be left to grey off naturally and reflect the tones of the surrounding bush.
We wanted the interior to reflect this raw and uncomplicated materiality, so we made the decision to avoid the use of disguised materials such as painted plasterboard. The entire interior is plywood in its natural state. The overall effect is warm and tactile – like a handmade timber box.
Where did most of the $750,000 budget go?
This was an extremely good value-cost outcome for the project, and was the result of some extraordinary management skills from the owner-builders. We would have expected the cost to come in at around 20 to 30 percent higher had it been procured with a builder.
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This was an extremely good value-cost outcome for the project, and was the result of some extraordinary management skills from the owner-builders. We would have expected the cost to come in at around 20 to 30 percent higher had it been procured with a builder.
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Are there any special features you’d like to highlight?
The clients’ brief talked a lot about the kitchen island bench space and social interactions that occur around it. We wanted to extend that social experience of talking around the bench, so designed a ‘conversation space’ adjacent to the kitchen. The space has a built-in timber bench that allows additional guests to gather and be part of the kitchen island experience.
The clients loved this idea and we ended up extending the built-in bench to run around the perimeter of most of the lower level. The bench becomes the fireplace hearth, toy boxes and window seats, and creates a series of intimate and social conversation spaces.
The clients’ brief talked a lot about the kitchen island bench space and social interactions that occur around it. We wanted to extend that social experience of talking around the bench, so designed a ‘conversation space’ adjacent to the kitchen. The space has a built-in timber bench that allows additional guests to gather and be part of the kitchen island experience.
The clients loved this idea and we ended up extending the built-in bench to run around the perimeter of most of the lower level. The bench becomes the fireplace hearth, toy boxes and window seats, and creates a series of intimate and social conversation spaces.
Key features
- Natural palette with a raw plywood interior and blackbutt exterior.
- The home’s split design gives each space a close, ground-floor connection to the site, and improves access to northern light.
- The lower pavilion captures southerly views.
- Extensive built-in storage.
- Built-in seating runs around the main living space.
- High ceilings.
Materials palette
- ‘Salt and pepper’ finish polished-concrete floors.
- Custom-designed kitchen island in Paperock (a composite building material).
- Raw plywood on interior walls and ceilings.
- Blackbutt exterior cladding.
- Black ceramic bathroom tiles.
Why do you think this project works so well?
The project employs a highly legible design diagram to neatly resolve a number of site constraints. By manipulating the form of a standard hipped roof, we have this familiar vernacular object to play around with and the result still recalls some of the romantic gestures of the pitched roof idea of ‘home’.
The mono-material approach reinforces the simplicity of the forms, and the arrangement of the pavilions on the hillside creates dynamism and tension.
I think the design owes some of its success to this combination of the familiar and the new.
Tell us
Do you love this new build as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments. And remember to save your favourite images, like the story, and join the conversation.
More
Enjoyed this story? See our last Project of the Week: A Humble, Edwardian Home Full of Hidden Surprises
The project employs a highly legible design diagram to neatly resolve a number of site constraints. By manipulating the form of a standard hipped roof, we have this familiar vernacular object to play around with and the result still recalls some of the romantic gestures of the pitched roof idea of ‘home’.
The mono-material approach reinforces the simplicity of the forms, and the arrangement of the pavilions on the hillside creates dynamism and tension.
I think the design owes some of its success to this combination of the familiar and the new.
Tell us
Do you love this new build as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments. And remember to save your favourite images, like the story, and join the conversation.
More
Enjoyed this story? See our last Project of the Week: A Humble, Edwardian Home Full of Hidden Surprises
Answers by architect Mick Moloney, co-founder and director of Moloney Architects
Who lives here: A young family with a new baby
Location: Invermay, Victoria
Original site: A vacant bush block
Budget: $750,000
Gained: A new 244-square-metre, four-bedroom, two-bathroom sustainable family home constructed with two inter-connected pavilions
Builder: Owner-builders
Carpenters: Daniel Forbes and Larry Hahs