'y' house, HAMILTON

Designed for a couple relocating from Melbourne, one of whom works from home, the brief for this house was to create a ‘forever home’: a place to live out their working life; host visiting friends and adult children; be able to age-in-place and most importantly, live in close connection to their garden.

 

They had found a picturesque block set within a low-density rural living zone on the outskirts of town. Approached along a battle axe driveway, the 1.8Ha lot had been used for grazing and contained a few established trees, a significant south west facing slope overlooking a large dam. It is surrounded by an established treed neighbourhood and has distant views in all directions, including Mt Pierrepoint, Mt Napier and Lake Hamilton to the south.

 

Our initial discussions centred on the importance of the garden, the connection between house and garden, thermal and design efficiency, making the most of distant views and managing costs during a period of high inflation (during the pandemic).

 

Responding to this brief, a Y-shaped footprint was developed with internal planning divided into 3 distinct zones: the primary living spaces, including the master bedroom suite, in one wing; guest bedrooms and a home office in another; utility spaces and golf simulator room in a third wing; and the formal entry located at the intersection. The last room at the end of the three wings provide for work, rest and play respectively.

 

The site strategy also enables thermal zoning, draws northern light into the living areas, allows garden views to be framed in all directions and creates a series of sheltered external areas between each wing. Internally, the use of deep colours and varied ceiling levels further articulates the common areas of the home, located towards the centre of the plan, from the private areas on the periphery of each wing.

 

A simple cross-sectional form and traditional domestic construction techniques were employed to reduce the building costs. Materials such as polished concrete floors, zinc roofing and metal wall cladding are chosen as low maintenance and durable finishes.

 

The making of the house is part of a larger dream of relocating from city to country that centres on the importance of green space in daily life. The design provides a strong connection to the landscape and the sense of being embedded in nature will grow as the new garden slowly takes shape around the home.