BROOKES STREET HOUSE 2006 - JAMES RUSSELL ARCHITECT
FRONT VIEW
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/broadchurch.pdf (accessed March 18, 2011)
COMMERCIAL SPACE OPENING/LANDSCAPE FORECOURT
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/ (accessed March18, 2011)
SURROUNDING VIEWS
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/ (accessed March18, 2011)
SURROUNDING OUTLOOK OF EXTERIOR DINING & KITCHEN AREA / CLOSE UP
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/broadchurch.pdf (accessed March18, 2011)
PLAY ROOM WITH NORTHERN LOUVRE WALL & CABINET WINDOW ENCASING VIEW OF CHURCH WINDOW
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/reformation.pdf (accessed March18, 2011)
KITCHEN / LIVING AREA
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/ (accessed March18, 2011)
UNDERWALK WAY AND BRIDGE
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/reformation.pdf (accessed March18, 2011)
James Russell is known for his innovative and bold design approach towards residential architecture in subtropical urban and suburban environment. The architect operates his design practices from a studio located on the same inner city block as the Brookes Street House (2006). – Place Making
The Brookes Street House makes an outstanding presence and contrast by being wedged between two 19th Century heritage listed buildings. Situated in the Fortitude Valley, this modern design is secluded within it’s surroundings and serves as a cubby-like home for a family of four.
Russell's approach of a small-scale proposal enhanced the experience of the surrounding listed buildings. The side openings and windows of the north and south frames this captured experience of being trapped in a wonderland. It is a perspective of scale and being enclosed around gigantic surroundings. One of the focus schemes was to create a secure and green inner sanctum amidst the chaos of two major arterial roads that feed the city of Brisbane. The site was originally a car parking space, wedged between the listed buildings. The site's total width is 5.6 metres. The building is set back over 16m to create entry across a forecourt. This unites the listed buildings, the office in front of the church and our home and office.
This residences composes the purpose of work and play for the family. The layout works out to divide the two purposes within the two pavilions across a grass court. Although the two spaces may be separated however they are thoughtfully levelled for the family to view from a distance. The court is the heart of the house and the draw for light and ventilation. "James Russell embraces two historical churches to create a light-filled, lantern-like residence in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley." - Alice Hampson. From the first of the two pavilions, there is a relationship with the street to the south west and grass court to the north east. This pavilion houses the living/kitchen space at court level together with a mezzanine bed over. Across the court is the children's playroom rolling onto the court and two bedrooms over.
“The entrance to the home is subtle: once through the threshold, one enters a private and secure world.” “Only the family know about the front door It’s the only part of the house we need to lock.” As you make your way up a narrow internal stair flanked with charcoal tiles brings you into the kitchen and to a look out of the grassed central courtyard below. “Once you’re inside and upstairs, there is a strong sense of refuge, says Russell. “It’s a safe vantage point – you say goodbye to the city when you arrive in this space.”
SPACES OF ACTIVITIES
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/(accessed March 19, 2011)
SECTION OF SPACES
http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/broadchurch.pdf (accessed March18, 2011)
THREE - DIMENSIONAL VOLUMETRIC EXTERIOR REPRESENTATION
MIX MEDIA OF WATER COLOUR AND PASTELS
THREE INTERRELATED AND CRITICAL HOUSE DESIGN CONCEPTS
House as an environment filter
The residence of Brookes Street House is uniquely wedged between two heritage-listed century churches. It acts as an environmental filter and refuge from its surrounding chaos of the Fortitude Valley. With surrounding busy roads of two major arterial roads feeding the Brisbane city traffic, this environmental filter manages separate from the outside world by hiding the family away from the noise offence and traffic and retreating them to a tranquillity atmosphere. Appropriate materials of honed-slab platform, grounded on a plinth of stone; a stand-alone frame of bolted galvanised steel, a roof design for the morning sun and with secondary lift to let in quarrelled stone have been selected to suit the subtropical environment.
“The street presence is surprisingly discreet. Russell’s home yields the foreground to both 19th century buildings, an effect exaggerated by stacking a recessed office space and house entry gate at ground level under the glazed double-height residential elevation, and by ensuring that the roof is not visible from the street – it appears only as a transparent wall defining an edge – although the steel anchors attached to the church’s buttresses, supporting the double height glazing, are manipulated awkwardly.” (Hampson, n.d.)
“A saw-tooth roof provides generous northern skylight illumination, while a double-height louvered northern wall filters out the residential building along the boundary, revealing cameos of urban living at night.” (Hampson, n.d.)
“A simple yet elegant of screens, frameless glass panels, flaps and louvers provide an ambiguous boundary between inside and out. The section is carefully adaptable to suit the penetration of light and control of sun, while giving a compact sense of vertical scale.” (James Russell Architect, n.d.)
The heart of the house is “a central courtyard with a grass floor elevated above parking. It provides a green sanctuary for the family, and visually connects the living and sleeping areas.” (James Russell Architect, n.d.)
The use of an Eames plywood chair migrates between the “grown-up” lounge area and the children’s muck-about zone across the grass. Russell has drawn ideas from his family weekends at the beach and has incorporated elements into the veranda space. “Push-out timber windows regulated shade, moonlight and rain, and are reminiscent of beach shacks.” (Hampson, n.d.) Courtyard bedroom edges emulate veranda space, with open slatted flooring and blank timber flaps as windows. “Russell likens the house to a boat: “the occupant is required to be an active participant, adjusting openings to suit changing weather seasons.” (Hampson, n.d.)
House as a container of human activities
James Russell has designed the Brookes Street House to inhabit the roles of a family home as well as an office/business image. In order to blend in with its surroundings, one of the challenges was to design the roles of a home within such a small space. However, Russell has managed to dwell many human activities in his small building.
This residence composes the purpose of work and play for the family. The layout works out to divide the two purposes within the two pavilions across a grass court. Although the two spaces may be separated however they are thoughtfully levelled for the family to view from a distance. The court is the heart of the house and the draw for light and ventilation.
"James Russell embraces two historical churches to create a light-filled, lantern-like residence in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley." - Alice Hampson.
From the first of the two pavilions, there is a relationship with the street to the south west and grass court to the north east. This pavilion houses the living/kitchen space at court level together with a mezzanine bed over. Across the court is the children's playroom rolling onto the court and two bedrooms over.
“Above the living areas are the sleeping areas, the children's above the playroom, and the parents's suspended over the kitchen and lounge. A narrow bridge connects the two bedroom wings and overlooks the grass. Bathrooms and the laundry are concealed in cupboards running along the side of the bridge.” (James Russell Architect, n.d.)
House as a delightful experience
The most delightful experience of this residence was to discover where it is. With its setback of 16 meters, you would hardly notice it was carefully wedged in the midst of cathedrals and city traffic. It was surprise to come across this secret-like pathway to such a special space. It seem secluded from its surroundings. Like no one knows you are there. Its main delight was to act as a sanctuary and a light-filled lantern within this old- fashioned street. (Hampson, n.d.)
Russell invested in appropriate material to attain the qualities and experiences of comfort and delight. Timber structure, flooring, lining, screens and journey lend a wonderful sense of craft to this spatially expensive yet intimate house. New and old coexist happily with borrowed spaces between. A robust exterior defines a more delicate and enriching interior.
Another delight is comprised with in the heart of the residence. Create a secure and green ‘inner sanctum’ amidst the chaos of the two arterial roads. (Hampson, n.d.) “Landing on a roofless patch of green grass one level above the street is a delightful surprise, especially given the dense inner unban context.” (Hampson, n.d.)
“1889 ecclesiastical stained-glass from Munich serves as domestic-scaled decoration for the courtyard and playroom, dramatically bathing the house in coloured light when offices in the old church are unpredictably used at night.” (Hampson, n.d.)
This space gives out the sense of security and tranquillity. “Once you’re inside and upstairs, there is a strong sense of refuge, says Russell. “It’s a safe vantage point – you say goodbye to the city when you arrive in this space.” “The entrance to the home is subtle: once through the threshold, one enters a private and secure world.” (Hampson, n.d.)
References:
James Russell Architect. n.d. Brookes Street House. http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/ (accessed March 13, 2011).
Domain Design, 2010, James Russell Architect, http://www.domaindesign.com.au/searchResults/1/James-Russell-Architect.html (accessed 11th March 2011)
Hampson, A. n.d. The Reformation, http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/reformation.pdf (accessed on the 15th March 2011)
James Russell Architect n.d. Broad Church. http://www.jamesrussellarchitect.com.au/broadchurch.pdf (accessed March 23, 2011)
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