Garry & Ann Strawbale House
Project Info
This project for a client in central Victoria was undertaken as a private job about a decade prior to the advent of Harmonic Design (circa 2010). The project never made it past the detailed concept stage but it’s included here as an example of work for which the stylistic ques and the ecological focus was already seeded into the ethos of Harmonic Design.
The key aspects of this design which remain relevant to our practise are as follows:
Expressive, Articulated forms: The projecting roof form, the lateral extrusions and wrapping of walls into roof, the nature of the shear vertical walls as well as the vertical form of the monolithic chimney that rises in the centre of the house. The depth and proportion of the windows creates an ongoing language of deep external window reveals that express an almost castle-like form with portal style window shaping the almost Brutalist, monolithic style. The home is articulated in two planes, outward via the portal windows plus the floating roof which pops up above the South facing deck, and the building is articulated downward into the landscape via the change in level of the floor plane. The floor height follows the slope of the land whilst floating above it; stepping downward from the front door/entry side with a minor level change in the centre of the house so that the South side of the house is lower. The house remains closely connected to the land on all side without the need for extensive cut, fill or battering.
Orientation and siting: The position of this house within the landscape for views over the South-Easterly portion of the client’s ‘farmlet’ property, balanced with the orientation of use of large windows towards the North-Easterly aspect in order to obtain optimal passive-solar heat gain during the cold Victorian Winter.
Materials, Proportions, and Energy Efficiency: The use of Strawbale being central to the design which meant that the scale and proportion of that large building unit featuring throughout the home. We allowed the 550mm thick walls practically lead the proportions throughout so the structure and rhythm of the walls help set the size and depth of the windows. The depth helps to provide some level of shading also however if cost had allowed, window hoods might have been introduced to further control unwanted summer heat gain.
Three Dimensional Resolution: From the outset, Harmonic Design has sort to communicate and resolve our designs in three dimensions. This process assists clients and builders alike, helping them study the design in some detail and helping to avoid basic errors which lead to costly and time consuming headaches during construction.
Scope of work:
Site evaluation, site modelling.
Detailed Concept Design including shed.
Planning Application documentation.
Construction Cost
$350,000 (circa 2010)
Duration of services:
3 months