Description:

Set on a site located in the Perth hills this residence was designed to incorporate passive thermal principles while addressing the issues of a site sloping down towards the north. The design adopts narrow floor plan to take advantage of the plentiful solar access of the site and to ‘wrap’ around a south facing paved terrace to provide a sheltered yet uncovered outdoor living areas. A north facing roofed veranda is provided to the north of the main open plan living areas.

As the floor is generally an elevated timber floor the thermal mass to the residence is provided in the form of a rammed earth wall that forms the ‘spine’ of the residence on a long a typically north/ south axis. The building hangs off this wall providing generally service areas and outdoor living spaces to the south and main residence to the north. High level windows to the north elevation of the living area allow winter solar access to the rammed earth wall. The wall also separates the framed floor from the polished concrete floors that define the wet areas of the residence.

The main kitchen/ living/ dining area central to the residence facing towards the north also projects in to the verandah area effectively separating in to zones to take advantage of views to both the east and west. Children’s bedroom are located to the east wing of the residence with views towards the dam located at the front boundary. To the south of these bedrooms is the main laundry/ bathroom and a open plan activity zone located to the south of the bedrooms. The main bedroom is separated from other sleeping accommodation by the living areas. looking towards the stables and horse paddocks to the west of the residence.