Bourne Road | studiofour

Brief Project Description

The design for this house was derived as a framing of outdoor space, the architecture a backdrop for the family’s engagement with the garden. Stripping the architectural language back to white rendered planes, this project became an exploration into enclosing the basic rituals of domestic life within restrained building forms.

What is the conceptual framework of the project – including underlying principles, values, sustainable initiatives, core ideas and or philosophy?

On arrival, the entry is defined by a single full height puncture to an otherwise blank façade. The front façade acts as a canvas, capturing the shadows and reflections of a large oak street tree.

On entry, one experiences an exaggerated threshold between interior and exterior, creating a charge of senses on arrival. In contrast to the modest and simple façade, on entering, spaces unfold, through the private sleeping areas, through the internal garden, and culminating in the main living, cooking and dining area.

The garden must be passed through and experienced to reach the main areas of the house.  Located within the center of the house, one must continually move through and experience the garden; not only guests coming to the public areas of the home, but the occupants as they move from the public living areas to the private areas of sleeping and bathing.

Private areas of sleeping, bathing, study and reading are purposefully concealed from interior sight lines, whilst the public areas in contrast are completely open and connected to the internal garden.

Further connections are made between the internal garden and the space around the house, providing a layering of landscape and surrounding built form.

What contribution does the design make to the lives of its inhabitants?

A key challenge for this residence was to balance the functional requirements for a family with two young children, while providing a calming sanctuary required for the professional couple.  A private, acoustically separated, master wing and a secluded second living area enable the remainder of the house to remain fluid and relatively open.  The use of a series of sliding doors also allows further acoustic separation when required.  At all times the family are encouraged to connect with the landscape, while all internal areas are flooded with natural light and fresh air.

What is the relationship of the built form to the context of the project?

Like so many suburban sites, this one offered challenges with its size and orientation, particularly with its north facing front garden. The house was explored as a single object within the site,punctured with an internal garden. This approach enabled the new dwelling to turn its back on the adjoining properties, which are all in close proximity, and internalize the house to create its own views and aspect.

Breaking the form centrally allowed the northern light to enter both the site and the building form, without compromising either visual or acoustic privacy from the street.

Program Resolution – how does the functional performance match the clients brief?

Our brief was to place as much significance on the landscape and outdoor spaces as to any of the internal living spaces. Our early workshops established that the landscape was to become not just the surrounds to the architecture but central to it. Capturing the northern light and achieving a high level of privacy was also paramount.

By internalizing the garden, not only within the built form but within the site, the garden is cut off from the typical rhythm of the surrounding suburban backyards all in alignment, and a highly private, intimate, and secure north facing habitat is created.

Integration of allied disciplines – how have the contributions of others, including architects, interior designers, landscape architects, builders and other specialists, helped achieve the outcome? 

Our team at studiofour comprises of designers with experience in architecture, interiors, landscape and art.  With this residence, we were able to provide a holistic design approach and therefore there were no boundaries in this project.  Each discipline bled into another, to inform a cohesive, highly considered outcome. 

The success of this residence is due to the contribution of our clients, who placed their complete trust in our studio to seek a design strategy unique for their family.  Their willingness to share thorough insights into their values and life style enabled a result that speaks truly of their family. 

Cost / Value outcome – how effective were the decisions related to financial issues? 

Our challenge was to demonstrate that a custom architectural solution could achieve our client’s vision for a residence with a high level of functionality, yet still be relatively modest and compact to meet our client’s budget. 

The house demonstrates our clients’ vision for an indoor / outdoor fluid environment, but also provides a competitive cost effective solution.

By using pared back forms and detailing and a restrained palette of materials, the emphasis becomes not on the insular and what has been ‘designed in’, but on the totality of the site and the value of its outdoor connection.