PROJECTS
Dune Dweller
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DETAILS
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Design King Architects
(email)
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Design Coalition
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| Peter Ireland | ||
| Beach House | ||
| 2002 | ||
| Central Coast | ||
| Brett Boardman (web) |
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A CURVED PLYWOOD CEILING is the unifying element in this coastal dwefling situated on the front dune at Wamberal Beach, on the central coast of New South Wales. It is a graceful gesture that acknowledges the sensitive dune landscape in which the house has been inserted, a sweeping curve that makes its gentle hut monolithic presence felt in every room. "It's a reflection, in built form, of the waves and dunes," says architect Jon King. "Conceptually, the house was to 'float' just on the edge of the dune, capturing the full splendour and power of the ocean, yet using the ceiling to bring a sense of protection and enclosure." A pivotal aim of the design was to craft a building that would sit lightly in the landscape. Jon achieved this by ensuring key aspects of the dwelling's structure and materiality contributed to this end. Viewed from some angles the house appears to hover above the dune especially where the predominance of glass affords the building some transparency. "The dune is also a dynamic and shifting element, which is quite unstable," says Jon. "So the concrete platform, via the concrete columns, is lifted above the dunes, allowing the sand to move freely underneath." The support columns are connected to concrete piles that form a solid 12-metre deep foundation. "Concrete was used because of the major geotechnical issues, which required the very deep piers," Jon explains. "By the year 2020 the dune may no longer be there. Gosford City Council and the NSW Public Works are working on schemes to save the frontal dune, however, part of the approval was that we designed the house to stand like an oil rig if, and when, the dune disappeared." The concrete slab on which the building rests cantilevers two metres from the supports, a space occupied by the deck areas. Posts or columns are not required on the perimeter of the building, adding to the building's overall floating appearance when viewed from the beach. The western elevation appears solid and well-grounded by contrast, visually anchoring the building and acting as a necessary shield to protect the interior from the afternoon sun as well as providing privacy and muffling street noises. The wall is slightly tilted, which contributes to the building's look of solidity. The layout is based on a compact H-plan, with rooms arranged to serve the various present and future functions stipulated in the client brief -- office, holiday retreat, permanent residence. The kitchen forms the centre of the house, the bedrooms occupy the rear wing and the living spaces face out to the ocean. In the eastern corner are the two studies/borne offices, one accessed up a short flight of stairs from the living area, and the other located on a lower level directly underneath. These rooms are private lookouts, enjoying direct views of the ocean -- the upper study in particular having been designed to project out from the façade like a surf lifesaving watchtower. The bedrooms, tucked back into the western wing, see the water views through the courtyards and the glazing that wraps around the living area. A lower level, sited under the bedroom wing, is dedicated to car storage and a spare bedroom. The clients wanted plenty of accommodation, but arranged compactly to create the feel of an intimate, albeit generous, apartment for when they are the only occupants. The H-shaped layout works well in this regard, achieving the desired proximity of the main bedroom to the living spaces, and minimising the length of corridors. The H-plan also creates space for inner courtyards protected from the ocean breezes and the noise and passing traffic of the road. Despite the site's dramatic ocean-front location, the context is quite suburban and brings with it the usual concerns of privacy and noise minimisation. The courtyards make an incision into the footprint on both sides, thereby increasing the flow of light to the inner parts of the house and ensuring all rooms have access to private, protected outdoor spaces. Wide eaves over the courtyards and decks enable year-round enjoyment of these areas and help protect the interior from solar penetration. The ceiling undulates through the interior, culminating at both ends of the house in a downward sweep to merge with the walls. Pre-moulding the plywood in an off-site commercial press would have been prohibitively expensive, so the ceiling was crafted on site by carpenters with boat-building skills. "A series of ribs were made from plywood to create the profiles and fitted to the underside of the roof structure. These were then fitted with battens at tight centres," says Jon. "The 6 mm ply was bent over this profile and screw fixed to the battens, and 3 mm Victorian ash veneer ply was then adhered and stapled to the substrate ply." Joinery elements finish below this ceiling line, adding to the sense of the ceiling being an independent "floating" element. Victorian ash floors, finished with a tung oil treatment, complement the ceiling and enhance the unity of the interior. Lighting has been placed so as not to interfere with the ceiling. "Pendant lights were used in the kitchen but all other lighting is carried out from either joinery units or walls, with low Kreon fittings or purpose-made incandescent boxes that light up the ceiling," says Jon. Exterior materials were chosen for their qualities of durability and weathering over time. Cladding comprises yellow cedar shiplap boards and fibrocement sheeting, echoing the typical components of older beach houses in the area. The upper level of steel, timber and plywood adds a hybrid charm to the exterior. The corrugated steel roof appears to sit lightly over the top, an effect aided by the band of clerestory-style glazing wrapping around the ocean-front wing of the building. Oriented away from the west, and designed to capture the northern sun and sea breezes, the building is designed to perform efficiently. The roof and walls have been fitted with excellent insulation materials, and to date the clients have not felt the need for mechanical airconditioning. The east-facing glazing is protected by louvres, to control the intense morning sun as it floods the living area. This beautiful dwelling, crafted more like a single piece of joinery than a building, has more than earned its place among the dunes -- thanks to the sensitivity and forethought of the architects.
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