St Lucia House 2000 - Elizabeth Watson-Brown
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qag.qld.gov.au (accessed March 23, 2011)
Environmental Filter
The Cabin for Architect Elizabeth Watson Brown is located in the Mt-Methodology where the climate is sub-tropical and the prevailing wind direction is north. As seen in the image below, the house is located in a small site off the Hierarchy Highway.
As a result of the north orientation the Cabin benefits from excellent wind and sun positions. The house acts as an environmental filter with its split-level open space design. The operable full height glass walls maximises cross ventilation and air movement through the house. Having glass increases the solar gain during winter periods and allows good ventilation during summer. Furthermore, the sloped roof of the Cabin allows the flow of wind and the rain water acting as an environmental filter (can be clearly seen on the analysis diagrams) There is a large Poinciana tree located in the north of the site providing shade and breeze.
The main design aim was to allow close interaction with the surrounding nature and the spectacular view. The use of full height operable glass windows generates a feeling of being outdoors when inside. The glass allows the occupants to enjoy the sun as it rises and sets.
A house is a container of human activities
The cabin contains a ground floor and a mezzanine floor, on the ground floor there is space for living, dinning, preparing meals, a space for working and a space for reflecting.
The main entry to the house is through the living area of the cabin. Then it follows into the dinning and meal preparation areas. These areas are designed close together to encourage open plan living, just like in the St.Lucia house. Another main reason for having open plan living is because this Cabin is designed for a couple. As it is the architect and her husband that live in the space it allows sufficient space for interaction.
The spaces for living, dinning and meal-preparation have been elevated 60cm above the ground as a split-level design. As seen in the floor plan below, there are stairs from the main living area leading into the working area. The reason for doing this is because I believe it’s important to have a separated area for working (need solitude and peace). As seen in the exemplar by Elizabeth Watson B Architect, the study area is located in a semi-private location.
The working space leads the occupant into the outdoor reflecting area covered with a pergola. I tried to create a link between the outdoors and the reflecting space + working spaces. The pergola area has been covered with timber strips creating a semi-outdoor area. The idea behind have the reflection area semi-outdoor is to allow the Architect to think peacefully under the shade of the majestic branches of the Poinciana tree.
From the living and working spaces there is a staircase leading the occupants into the Mezzanine floor. This floor contains a space for sleeping
Delightful experience
The Cabin is located on the suburban areas of Mt-Methodology just off the Essential Exists on Hierarchy highway (can be seen on the site map above). It is placed in the middle of a small land approximately 350 square meters. The construction lies on a flat land overlooking the majestic Poinciana tree, which is the main view of the Cabin.
The Cabin was designed to harmonize with its surrounding. By the choice of raw material and full height glass windows; it blurs the edge between inside and outside. Both the pergola and the deck have timber strips of wood creating a play of vertical and horizontal lines. I have tried to follow the characteristics of Elizabeth Watson Brown’s architecture of playing with vertical and horizontal lines. I think this is a very simple method of adding interest to the design by using repetition of vertical and horizontal lines.
The small scale Cabin with its wooden, steel and glass materials will gradually change colour to interact and fit in with the existing Poinciana tree and the colours of the surrounding landscape.
The scenery from the Poinciana tree branches can be seen from every window of the Cabin, integrating the nature into the interior of the house. It’s almost like you are living outside when you are inside.
The Cabin is 5.4 meters high with the Mezzanine floor dividing some spaces at 3 meters. Some places of the house contain void areas giving a sudden surge of volume and spaciousness (because of the high ceiling). The first floor has been elevated by 60cm in the living, dining and kitchen areas to further enhance the split level design.
The Mezzanine floor creates shadowy patterns into the lower floor. From the ground floor this Mezzanine floor looks like a floating level. The walkway is built in the centre of the Cabin with horizontal beams of timber for support (can be seen in the floor plan). These timber beams act as a delightful device creating shadowy patterns to the lower floor.
As seen my Elizabeth Watson Brown’s architecture, the main principles of the Cabin is to be simply yet intriguing and with intricate details.
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