Affordable Bushfire Home, Kinglake & Marysville
An affordable bushfire resistant home designed for those left homeless by the black Saturday bushfires in Kinglake and Marysville.
Client Brief
The ideals of practicality and affordability established in the brief by DHS, VBRRA and OVGA initially attracted us to this project. In fact, given the scope and requirements of the brief, it was a great challenge to produce a design that achieves these ideals. Conscious of the varying fluctuations in the cost of construction materials, we established a clear set of guidelines and collaborated closely within our Architect/Builder team throughout the project. The local knowledge that Artezen Construction brought to the team was very useful in this and in establishing a code compliant and contextual response to the brief.
Design Response
The house is designed to be modest in form but bright in appearance, with colours evoking a misty morning light, and highlights reminiscent of the sap from a eucalypt. The plan is designed to be functional and efficient, maximising the space for living and minimising that given to circulation. The central living area has both North and South aspects, with varied light and cross-ventilation. The simple gabled form of the house is extended to create a larger roof canopy over the entrance to the North as well as a protected area to the South. In this way the form is given a clear sense of front, back and sides. The extension of the roof form implies an extension of the living areas, outside to the front and back as well.
Affordable Bushfire Home Design Specifications
Services Provided
- Concept Design
Architect
Workshop Architecture
People
Project Director: James Staughton
Project Team: James Staughton, Tony Styant-Browne, Simone Koch, Michael Roper
Visualisation: Workshop ArchitectureClient
Victorian State Government
Date completed
May 2010
Location
Marysville and Kinglake, Victoria
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