The Architectural Apprenticeship

DAB 310 Project One

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Part A

The three houses that I researched in the first part of the assignment were St Lucia House, D House and Chicken Point Cabin. I researched as much as I could into each design under the categories of:
  • a house is an environmental filter
  • a house is a delightful experience
  • a house is a container for human activity

St Lucia House

Architect: Elizabeth Watson Brown and Peter Skinner
Located: Brisbane, Australia
Lot size: 400 squared meters
Year: 1997-2008


Left: Elizabeth Watson-Brown Architects. (n.d). St Lucia House. Retieved the 9th of March 2010 from, http://www.elizabethwatsonbrownarchitects.com.au/













St Lucia House was a very fascinating house to research and a lot of this information was written by the architects husband, Peter Skinner. The following was discovered:




A house is an environmental filter-
  • Small-lot housing
  • Light weight construction
  • Inside- outside spaces linking to the Poinciana tree which leads to an interplay of shadows and reflections on the buildings fabric.
  • The northern elevation is designed to maximise openness (50 percent of the window wall remains open for half the year) also high southern openings to maximise cross ventilation. Internal spaces are designed as openly as possible to maximise air movement.
  • Idea that "in a climate where the natural desire is to live and sleep outside, under the stars and enveloped by breeze." (UQ library-cite properly)
  • Designed to be thermally comfortable without the use of air-conditioning.
  • Subtropical living
  • Micro climate. summer breezes can be pre-cooled due to the given shade, transpiration and evaporation in the heavily treed northern court.

A house is delightful experience-
  • Movement of house utilises bridges, falls, low branches, stairs and ladders, high and low ceilings and dark and light to entice movement embodying hazard and mystery.
  • Half inside- half outside use to spaces.
  • Reflectivity enhances visual connectivity of inside and out. By day the reflective greenery is deep within the room, by night reflections double the size of the internal volume and end up encircle the tree.
  • Half open wall-openness further the ambiguous boundary.

A house is a container for human activity-


  • Muti-generational living patterns- sliding doors permit sub-division into three different social settings.
  • Six separate entrances give flexibility and privacy of access, and five decrete common spaces that allow for independent living for the three social groups.
  • Idea of the house being a refuge- this is achieved by the low-ceiling retreat zone
  • Interlocking sliding doors, open the corners of the operational kitchen onto the semi-rooofed and canvas-sided deck.
  • Design is widely preferred as an environment for a family life.
Flexible to use for future usage.



Left: Elizabeth Watson-Brown Architects. (n.d). St Lucia House. Retieved the 9th of March 2010 from, http://www.elizabethwatsonbrownarchitects.com.au/


 
 
 
 
 
References:



C House
Architect: Donavon Hill Architects
Located: Brisbane, Australia
Year: 1998
Left: Pmarckesano. (2005). C House. Retrieved the 20th March 2010 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/45547840@N00/61370494/



A house is an environmental filter-
  • The everyday experience of occupation to be as if it were in a landscape. This is reinforced by the handling of light, emphasising the changing conditions for the day and year. This experience contributes to the house's sensual and varying atmosphere.  
  • Terraces offer a range of experiences beyond a 'house'.
  • Sub-site in an outdoor room, which can be occupied most of the year.
  • Its big open fireplace and smooth finishes, the 'Outdoor Room' is open to the elements. Captures the dramatic north-western view.

A house is a container for human activity-

  • The house was designed to be multi-functional, it can operate as a family house, a share house, a multi-residence or home office without incurring resource cost.
  • Small suites of rooms open up to great ceremonial 'public' space, which by the dimensions and proportions are controlled to give harmony and unity.
  • The house contains a heart: a large, elevated, stone paved, sculpturally-walled room, hovering between interior and exterior.

A house is delightful experience-
  • The house occupies a steep, suburban site with views of brisbane city. It has been contructed principally of fine-grade concrete and is decorated with cabinets, screens and finishes in fine timber, metals, glass and ceramic titles.
  • Its surfaces are described as the Veneto villas by using the sam control and richness but C House, the rustication is boardmarked concrete and the string courses are carefully articulated pour joints.
  • Contrasting materials work really well- bring the inside out and so forth.
  • Design is inspired by Le Corbusier's designs, Japanese tea houses, the queenslander and even it is said that Arab Architecture.
References:
  • Hill, T and Donovan, B (1999) The Domestic Ideal. Architecture Australia, 88 (3) Retreived the 1st of March.
  •  Croft, C. (2004). C House. Laurance King Publishing: United Kingdom



Chicken Point Cabin


Architect: Tom Kundig
Located: Hayden Lake, Northern Idaho
Year: 2000-2003






Left: Olson Kundig Architects. (2010). Chicken Point Cabin. Retrived the 9th of March 2010, from http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/101/Chicken-Point-Cabin



A house is an environmental filter-

  • The huge opening door, opens to the environment- both for aesthetic and for ventilation (little box with a big window)

  • Building materials are specific for climate-concrete, wood

  • Inside-outside spaces, linking both of them

A house is delightful experience-

  • Keeps rough theme, left unfinished to naturally age. Fits with natural setting.

  • Consintrates on a different inspiration-silver mines, saw mills

  • Gives an impression of an old industrial style, with the wheel, that makes the huge window move.

  • Huge window gives the feeling that your sitting outside.

  • Some how cosy with the industrail style.

A house is a container for human activity-

  • Fits up to 10 people.

  • Zoning of spaces, separates public and private

  • Can be accessed by the water.

  • Main bedroom looks out to living space below- gives impression of space

  • Huge steel door- entrance for winter time, when can not enter by water.
Left: Olson Kundig Architects. (2010). Chicken Point Cabin. Retrived the 9th of March 2010, from http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/101/Chicken-Point-Cabin









References:

  •          Dung Ngo. (2006). Tom Kundig: Houses. Princeton Architectural Press: New York


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