The reason behind selecting this house over the other ones came down to a slight personal preference for me. Apart from being a spectacular contemporary designed house, the main reason for me picking the house was that I knew the area and had a bit of a personal attachment to it. I do a bit of fishing in my spare time and I used to fish literally right in front of where this house has been built. I have spent a lot of time in the surrounding areas and know the environment well.
There are a lot of different factors that influence the design of this house and in this section of the blog I will endeavour to analyse these.
Balaam Residence as an Environmental Filter-
The orientation of the Balaam Residence is not ideal if you take into consideration the wind directions we receive in Brisbane, the hot summer sun and the storms we receive. The reason for this is fairly obvious when you see the building and its location. It has a great view towards Brisbane City and over the Brisbane River. Unfortunately this happens to be to the South, but the architect Shaun Lockyer has overcome this issue.
The sides of the house that gain direct exposure to the hot summer sun have been fitted with louvres that automatically change based on the suns direction. When the exposed rooms begin to get hot, the louvres shut and the air-conditioning is turned on.
As the southern side of the house is the main living space, it was important to protect this area from Summer storms and strong winter winds. The living spaces are able to be closed and opened via glass sliding doors. When the doors are close you still have the great views to the south but are protected.
Privacy was another important issue that was addressed. The client had a large young family, having privacy in a highly public area was crucial. Views inside the house are restricted from the outside. Apart from the swimming pool, it is near impossible to see inside the house or even the site. To me it is like a small fortress, walls surround all sides. Windows are covered from various angles with the use of the timber to dictate views.
Balaam Residence as a Container of Human Activities
When looking through the various floor plans for this house, it becomes obvious that there is a distinct difference between the zones of the house. Bedrooms and private areas are all located away from the entrance and generally in the upper levels. The more public areas (Living rooms dining room, outdoor decks etc) are located centrally in the house.
Balaam Residence as a Delightful Experience
The form of this building was designed to represent the surrounding areas and fit in with its environment. The area in which it is located does include some multi-level residential that feature contemporary stylings. When first viewing the front facade, you instantly notice the cantilevered swimming pool with a glass window, giving you full view inside of the pool. To me I think that this goes against its strong concept of privacy, but this juxtaposition does give the viewer the idea that whilst being "closed up" it still provides a sneak peak into the lives of the occupants.
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| Cantilevered Swimming Pool- http://www.arkhefield.com.au/news_detail.php?id=000075&cat=1 |
The materials that make up this house are plain and simple- Concrete, timber and zinc. The same tiles are used throughout the house, from the bathroom to the kitchen. This simple use of materials gives strength to the way in which the house interacts with its environment without over complicating. The architect has used these simple materials very effectively to create many delightful spaces throughout the house. (There is 11 bedrooms!) The architect has designed the living areas to be open up to the external environment, (sliding doors that open up the interior and exterior areas to become one.) By doing this, you can interact with the great views and surrounding environment, whilst still being in your living room.
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| Sketch of outdoor living area showing use of timber. |
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| Sketch showing the contrasting materials |
Balaam Drawings
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| Perspective of front Facade |
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| Site plan at 1:200 |
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| Ground floor at 1:200 |
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| First Floor at 1:200 |
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| Second Level at 1:200 |
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| Critical Section at 1:200 |
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| Northern Elevation at 1:200 |
