DAB310_Assignment 1_The Architects Apprentice_Part C

The brief for Assignment 1_Part C was to design a cabin for my Client (Architect and partner of Bernard & Quirot) implicating the same Design principles and outcomes as per the Architects Style.  A cabin of no more than 75m2 internally to include a space for living, working, reflecting, dining, preparing meals, sleeping and abluting. 

The site for this cabin is on Victoria Park Road and fronts Kulgun Park in Kelvin Grove Urban Village.  With site restrictions of 2.5M to the North & West, 1M to the South and 10M to the East, these restriction made for a very long and short width internal boundary.  

A Site Analysis (as seen below) study was conducted by myself with these observed outcomes.  

1. The red diagonal lines indicate harsh street noise from Victoria Park Road, as well as an impeding high rise multi residential development to the west. 
2. Yellow indicating harsh westerly sun.
3. Orange arrows indicate the neighboring properties and pedestrian privacy invasion from the park.
4. Green arrows indicate the views which can be achieved from the site across the park to the North and Across the golf course to the East.

 

Large trees to the Western and Eastern side of the site will provide sun protection, while smaller hedge like trees to the north will provide an environmental filter without impacting on the views.

A house is an Environmental Filter:

The design intent for this cabin was to design a simplistic rectangular "box like" design maximizing views across the park to the North and across the golf course to the East.  The main living/dining space was oriented to the North with large stacking glass panels opening a majority of the internal space up to create indoor/outdoor living suited for the Queensland climate.  A large cantilevered roof covers this area from the elements such as the sun and the heat.  

The entrance to the cabin off a spiral staircase creates an effortless threshold from external space to internal space.  The spiral staircase to the exemplar building was a main design element which i thought needed to be included in this design.  With the large operable glass wall providing views across the park "pop up" box like elements to the roof provides natural light and ventilation through operable glass louvers. The design studio was orientated to the East to maximize the views across to the golf course.  The design outcome for the studio was to create a space of natural light and ventilation as well as a place of reflection for the Architect, thus dedicating a generous external deck with views to the golf course.  The bedroom was positioned to the west of the house with a small screened and covered deck to guard from the harsh western sun.  Sliding windows to the north provided the room with views and a "pop up" clear-story with operable glass louvers provided the room with natural light and ventilation.  An ensuite to the South of the bedroom is provided including a bath tub with full height fixed glazing to the West. 

The external cladding of the cabin will be in light weight timber on timber studs with insulation, while the internal wall lining will be plasterboard painted in a dull white and wooden floor boards, mimicking the exemplar building.  A use of recycled timber to all fixed joinery items will minimize the environmental impact of the house. 

A house is a container of Human Activity:

The internal layout of the cabin was a reflection on the exemplar house designed by the Architect, logically laid out and simplistic.  A 2.1M high wall divides the living space from the kitchen and dining area's, while the studio and bedroom were placed on opposite sides to each other so that business did not mix with the humble space of the bedroom.  Circulation throughout the internal space is achieved by uninterrupted "corridors" to the North and South of the building as well as clear story "pop ups" in the same line of path, creating an open internal space allowing natural light and ventilation throughout.  

DRAWINGS