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Dynamic new home design addresses a sloping site with two L-shaped structures

Sliding glass panels, louvres and operable perforated screens contribute to the passive design of this tropical home

It's not unusual for a client to ask their architect to design a house that's unique and then have second thoughts when the first concepts are produced. But architect John Bulcock experienced just the opposite when working with the client on the new home featured here.

"He was very open and adventurous," says Bulcock. "He didn't want anything generic, though he didn't want things to be different just for the sake of it.

"So he was pushing me, and there were times when I had to rein in ideas that would have been impracticable. It's the first time that's happened to me."

This interplay between architect and client needed to resolve a major challenge the site fell 11.5m from the road that wraps around two sides of the site.

"The house is designed to float over the site, touching it lightly and allowing the natural slope to remain, while making the most of the rainforest views."

This was achieved by dividing the house into two independent structures. At the top is a two-storey, L-shaped living and bedroom block constructed of exposed structural steel. Instead of a regular pattern of support columns underneath, they've been positioned as if at random, and with none of them placed on the edge.


Each of the window bays here is fitted black, gray
Each of the window bays here is fitted with a sliding glass panel and glass louvres, allowing cross ventilation throughout the interior when they are opened. The result is a passive design that, despite the homes tropical location, saves energy through minimal or no use of air conditioning

"This enhances the feeling of the house floating over the site," says Bulcock. "Plus they read more like tree trunks in a forest."

Despite the complexity of engineering involved to achieve this, one end section of the house has an impressive cantilever of about 7.5m over the second L-shaped block positioned lower down the site.

This second block is structurally independent from the house and much more regular in its design. Constructed of fair-faced concrete, it contains a cinema and gallery for the owner's extensive collection of plaster figurines.

The two L-shaped blocks are oriented on different axes, creating an irregular shaped courtyard between them.

What's also unique about the house is the flexibility of its facade. The living and bedroom wings are comprised of full-height glazed bays on both sides. One half of each bay is a sliding glass panel, while the other half is an array of adjustable glass louvres.

On the outside of this internal glass skin, each bay has an external sunscreen of perforated stainless steel. When closed, these provide shade and filtered light to the interiors.

An independent L-shaped concrete structure contains a cinema architecture, tourist attraction, black, gray
An independent L-shaped concrete structure contains a cinema in one arm of the building and a gallery for the owners extensive collection of figurines in the other.

But each of the screens is electronically operable and can fold up to give a completely transparent view.

"Because each screen can be operated independently, the house always looks different, depending on what's open or closed. It's a very transparent house, even when the screens are down."

The layered components and flexible nature of the facade also contribute to the home's passive design by allowing breezes to circulate and diffuse light to penetrate all the interior spaces. Green roofs on top of both of the blocks contribute to the natural cooling effect.

The result is a home that, despite its tropical setting, can be lived in with minimal or even no use of air conditioning.

Credit list

Architect
John Bulcock, Design Unit Sdn Bhd
Roofing
Sarnatec
Window and door hardware
MTB Global
Furniture
Bo Concept; BoDesign
Kitchen cabinets
Stainless steel by Korus Interiors
Sink
Kohler
Stove
Bosch
Refrigerator
Samsung
Blinds
RB Fabrica; Moonlight Industries
Builder
Indacon Sdn Bhd
Window and door joinery
ISEO & MTB Global
Flooring
Polished concrete
Kitchen design
John Bulcock, Design Unit
Benchtop
Stainless steel by Korus Interiors
Tap
Kohler
Ventilation
Bosch
Dishwasher
Bosch
Awards
Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) – International Home of the Year

Story by: Paul Taylor

Photography by: Lin Ho

23 Jun, 2016

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