Part C - Application

Site Plan 1:200

The chosen site for the cabin including the roof and floor layout. This site was chosen for gentle slope of linearity lookout, providing stunning views of the sloping gully packed with an array of native trees, culminating at two small lakes at the bottom of the gully. All hints of neighbours and a road are wiped from memory as the beautiful tree line forms a protective natural wall around the house, giving the inhabitants a sense of seclusion. First Floor Plan 1:50 Second Floor Plan 1:50
Notice in both floor plans the ability of the bifold doors to open up the entire house to the views.
North-West Elevation 1:50

South-East Elevation 1:50

Section A 1:50

Section B 1:50

Volumetric Exterior

Firmness - House As An Environmental Filter

The design of the cabin focuses on Brit Andresen's design principles, aiming to embrace the surrounding environment and use it to greatly enhance the cabin. Using the surrounding trees to block out neighbouring houses as well as the road, which although distant would be still be visible. This natural wall also ensures that a comfortable amount of sunlight and wind is filtered through to the cabin. The main living and dining area has large bifold doors which can be opened to the stunning views. At the other end of the living there is an outwards sloping louvre wall with large hardwood beams which ensure ample ventillation and allow for views from all places within. While it is possible to open the entire house the use of louvres and bifold doors also ensures that in the event of bad weather it can also be sealed.

The main living area flows onto the large deck and outdoor bathroom and laundry area. The use of partial height walls and a sloping roof in the bathroom provides a peaceful outdoor bathroom while still being protected from the elements. The exterior stair case then transitions into a deck which provides access to the upstairs studio which can again be opened with bifold doors. The first section of the walkway looks down into the living area while it opens at the other end to the outside. This leads to the bedroom which has balconies on two sides and can be opened up to the views with large bifold windows.

The foundation of the house is two large mudbrick walls on the north-west and south-east facades of the house which provide a natural and rustic feel to the house, connecting it with the sloping environment. These walls also provide excellent insulation, absorbing heat so that it may not get through on hot days and trapping heat on cold days. Ventilation is allowed through the sloping louvre wall and open bifold doors allowing for cross breezes. The openess of the house also ensures that every part of the house is well ventillated and will always remain cool. So whilst the entire cabin is able to be opened up and connected to the natural environment it is also an effective environmental filter.

Commodity - House As A Container Of Human Activities

The cabin was designed with the idea of private and public space, so whilst the living, dining and kitchen area all reside downstairs in one main room, the private bedroom and studio are placed upstairs. This forms the distinct concept of private and public spaces, with public spaces being slightly more open and flowing. The private spaces are more secluded upstairs and while they have the ability to be opened up to the views they are also able to be closed up to feel a sense of intimacy with the surrounding environment.

The living area downstairs is nestled in the corner under the staircase, providing a slightly sectioned off space in between the solid mud brick wall and louver wall. Two lounges are positioned around the window allowing for a choice in the views and there is also a seat extending out of the window allowing for a more cozy contemplation space. The kitchen and dining area feel very connected to the outside landscape with the long mud brick wall framing the view and small windows in the kitchen allowing shelving as well as a window. The bedroom although very open to the outside views, feels very secluded and intimate with the slope and tree line blocking and neighbours from seeing in.

Delight - House As A Delightful Experience

The Delightful experience of the cabin begins from the door, with a large unfinished hardwood door sunken into the thick mud brick wall the rustic and natural feel of the cabin is set from the entrance. The first view after entering is the tranquil living area situated under the stairs and the sloping louver wall immediately connection the person to the natural environment and making the room feel as if it is connected as well. The person is then greeted by the stunning views expanding endlessly out from the balcony, with the sloping terrain making it appear as if it is floating. The coupling of the two thick mud brick walls, hardwood timber beams and wall as well as the smooth black rock finish of the floor provides a very natural feel to the house. This is emphasised by the dappled light and gentle breeze filtering through the entire house giving it a very serene and peaceful air to it.

In order to proceed upstairs it is necessary to walk out onto the deck, immerssing yourself in the surrounding environment and giving the views a more personal feel as you feel apart of it. The transition from inside to the outside stairs and bathroom blurs the lines of indoor and outdoor spaces. The partial walls of the bathroom allow for the sounds of the surrounding environment, the swaying of the trees and songs of the bird to be fully heard whilst taking a refreshing shower.

The openness provided upstairs by the connecting balcony ensures that the sense of inside and outside are still inseparable while the sloping roof ensures a sense of security and seclusion. The ability for the studio to be opened up entirely on one side as well as the louvers above the drawings desk ensure that whilst working you are not seperated from the outside, allowing a sense of freedom, allowing for creative and free thought. To access the bedroom you must walk all the way around the balcony, taking in and appreciating the view. The bedroom perhaps has the most stunning views with the large bifold windows which open up to the sloping tree line and glistening lakes.

Like the Mooloomba house the cabin provides a serene living environment very much inseperable from the natural environment while still being a prominent physical structure. Through the use of natural materials and the schematics of the house the inhabitant immediately feels comfortable and at ease as they enter their own private sanctuary amongst the trees. With the smooth cool rock underfoot and the dappled light playing across the mud brick and a gentle breeze washing over you, this cabin provides a place for them to escape the chaotic city.

Reconnect with nature and simply relax.


Diagramming

Part B - Analysis

Brit Andresen was awarded the RAIA highest honours award for her work both nationally and internationally, the first female to ever receive the award. Her unique concepts of design distinguish her buildings from others. Striving to reach a balance with the natural and built environment. With this attitude in mind from the start of the design process a harmonious building is grown from the landscape whether it be nestled amongst native hardwoods on a cliff overlooking the ocean, a residential suburb or open rolling hills.

The Mooloomba house is a tribute to this as it not only frames the outside views, but draws them in so that wherever you are in the house, you feel as though you are still amongst the outside world. It has a very natural feel with such openess and a natural flow very fitting of the oceanside location.


Mooloomba House Floor Plans 1:100


Mooloomba House Section and Elevation 1:100


Mooloomba House Exterior Volumetric Sketch

From the above drawings the organic elements of the house become apparent. From the volumtric sketch the closeness of the surrounding landscape is apparent. The floor plans and elevations and sections show the natural feel of the house with a distinct sense of private and public spaces.

Part A - Archetype

Archetype A: Bamboo Wall House


The Bamboo Wall House was designed by a Chinese architect, Kengo Kuma. It was part of an initiative by Chinese architects to design houses all along the Great Wall of China to celebrate the architectural brilliance of the wall. The Bamboo Wall House subtly pays tribute to many aspects of the great wall while also contrasting dramatically with it as well.

House As An Environmental Filter

The transparency of the predominantly bamboo walls frames and emphasis the power of the great wall, marking China's territory and keeping out all invaders. Bamboo is considered sacred in Chinese culture and the effective use of it in this house allows an intimate connection to the land, while allowing wind and light to pass through. The coupling of the terrain with this material provides stunning views and creates a serene and peaceful environment.

House As A Container Of Human Activities

The Bamboo Wall House is very large, housing six bedrooms with seperate bathrooms. The highlight of the house is the tea room in the centre of the house. It is surrounded by shallow pools of water and has bamboo coming up through the water providing views of the surrounding landscape and Great Wall it appears to be floating as the beautiful scenery expands outwards. It is very open excentuated further by the transperent walls and the living and dining room are connected.

House As A Delightful Experience

The Bamboo Wall House is an architectural masterpiece, combining the delicate and serene qualities of bamboo with the majesty of the Great Wall. This house does not compete with it's surroundings, instead inviting them in to enhance the emotions and feelings evoked from the inhabitants.

Archetype B: Dunbar House






The Dunbar House was design by Jennifer Taylor and James Conner. It is a beach house located at Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island. Inspiration for the house was drawn from multicultural experiences as well as an ongoing familiarisation with the site established through constant visits to the site and the previous cottage that was located there.

House As An Environmental Filter

The Dunbar House challenges the conventional belief that different rooms should be broken into different spaces. Instead it seperates the house into two sections joined in the middle by an open court. Both pavilions can be totally opened up to form a grand unified space which melds with the outside view through the open court and louver walls, breaking down any sense of containment. The site is situated above one of the beautiful beaches of North Stradbroke and the openess of the house allows for stunning views. The use of natural materials such as rock floors and 50 double rows of round timber columns also contributes to the organic feel of the house. The different elements of design ensure that Dunbar is suitable for the ever changing weather conditions of Stradbroke while maintaining the visual links with the beach house style.

House As A Container Of Human Activities

The main sitting and sleeping area is seperated by the open court while the opposite pavilion contains the kitchen, dining and fireseide lounge as well as the principle sleeping area and outdoor bathroom. The only solid walls on the upper level are along the street elevation while the remainder of the structural support is 50 double rows of round timber columns.

House As A Delightful Experience

The site is set into a raised, sandy sloping site looking south over a 100km picturesque panorama of sand, sea and sky. The house is long and narrow, following the contours of the site, forming a low profile against the dunes when viewed from the beach. The amalgamation of living areas with the outdoor court enhance the stunning views and creates a surreal atmosphere with offshore winds blowing through the house and a fire blazing.

Archetype C: Mooloomba House




The Mooloomba house was designed by Brit Andresen and Peter O'Gorman for their own personal use. It is a beach house located on North Stradbroke Island. This was their own personal project through which the experimentation, knowledge and experience gathered through their research was able to be fully developed and expressed.

House As An Environmental Filter

Brit Andresen possesses a unique design philosophy that architecture comes from the spirit, one of its geneses being the land. The house is situated on a slope facing the Pacific Ocean. It is nestled amongst native banksias and ferns, the architect aims to create a mythical landscape while also creating a prominent physical landscape.To fix the location of the house in the surrounding environment a balance was sought between the site and greater landform. The rooms form an imaginary forest constructed as a continuous landscape adjacent to the western boundary. The rooms were created slowly, grown over time using a collage of materials. Despite the heavy use of robust native hardwood, the house still appears relatively fragile and delicate; with the use of slitted timber walls and with the belvedere out the front giving off a bird's nest vibe.

House As A Container Of Human Activities

The house is relatively long and narrow, built around the deck, which spans the entire length and acts as a spine for the entire building. On the ground floor a large living room with a fireplace is seperated from the equally sized studio/dining room and kitched by an open courtyard. Both of these rooms open directly onto the dirt-floored courtyard. The deck flows out onto the outdoor eating area and stairs leading to the second level. The house contains three bedrooms and study located on this second level. The belvedere, bathroom, shower and laundry is also located on the second floor.

House As A Delightful Experience

The architect masterfully accomplishes their goal of sculpting a house around the environment, so much so that it is impossible to seperate where the house ends and landscape begins. The surrounding native foilage is emphasised perfectly by the use of hardwood, louvres and slitted walls. In order to counteract the warping of the hardwood without covering over it with plywood a simple strategy was adopted. Thin strips of hard wood were laminated with an opposing grain and integrated into the wall panel, working against opposing grain. The magical surroundings are brought to a pinacle from the belvedere as the cliff drops away and the tree line frames the endless ocean. Because of the different design elements the house feels as if the inhabitant is still moving through the forest and the house is merely an extension of this.

The Inhabited Landscape