PROJECTS
Lorne House
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DETAILS
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Hayball Leonard Stent
(web)
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Hayball Leonard Stent
(email)
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| Skilbeck Builders | ||
| Residential | ||
| 2003 | ||
| Victoria | ||
| Peter Clarke (web) |
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However, for this weekender, just outside Lorne on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, both client and architect preferred to "hold back".
"This house was designed as a retreat for our client, she has a hectic work schedule and wanted a place that was nestled into the bush," says architect Rob Stent, one of the directors of Hayball Leonard Stent Architects.
Created for a well-known fashion designer, the idea of projecting the house out over the winding beach was never entertained.
"We really saw the house as an escape, somewhere where the client's teenaged daughter could have friends to stay, as well as occasional guests," says Robert.
So when this vacant site, protected by a dune, came onto the market, there was no intention of creating a prominent soaring glass box to demand the attention of passing motorists navigating the winding coastal road.
Straight ahead is the crashing surf, while at the rear of the site is native bushland. And abutting the site is a cluster of modest beach shacks, one designed by Cox Carmichael Architects in the 1980s.
Hayball Leonard Stent could have simply designed a house with the same orientation as its neighbours.
However, the decision was made to skew the building's footprint towards the headlands in the distance. "We wanted to create several experiences in the house. It isn't just about entering into one space and having one view, the surf," says Robert, adding that it would have been possible to add a third level to the design. "But the brief wasn't to create a public gesture."
The house, which is made of plywood, messmate, aluminium and glass, is spread over two levels.
At the front of the house, comprising the upper level, is the main living area, kitchen and dining area. Leading off this space is the main bedroom and ensuite, together with a small protected deck area.
On the lower level is the casual living area with kitchenette, bunks, a separate bedroom and facilities for guests (a bedroom and ensuite). The second level was deliberately designed as a self-contained apartment. "The house can be shut down in a sense if only one person is using the house," says Robert.
The notion of approaching the views from several perspectives is expressed in the main living area and in the bedroom. A balcony deck extends the width of the living area and offers the most brilliant views of the headlands and the water in the foreground. And when seated in the lounge, there are views through slotted windows of the rough bark of the coastal scrub. "It can be extremely cold down here. The wind off the water can make many outdoor spaces simply unusable," says Robert, who included a series of protected balconies around the house, one leading from the main bedroom and joining into the living area. Lined with, messmate, these protected outdoor areas become a haven during the more inclement weather.
Internally, dynamic and varied volumes create spatial rhythms though the house, adding to its experiential richness. The entrance, protected by a translucent glass sheet, opens to a lobby with six-metre high windows. And on the second level, the ceding heights vary from 2.7 metres in the ensuite, to four metres in the living area. The skillion-shaped roof, not only magnifies the views of the ocean, but also relates to the simple 1950s shacks in the area. "It was also about maximising rainwater collection. This shape was ideal," says the architect.
In contrast to the simple laminate kitchen - designed so as not to detract from the views - the fireplace forms an attention-grabbing centrepiece, and becomes a real focus during the colder months. It floats above the recycled blackbutt floors, appearing as an elevated sculptural element within the space. "I've always admired the work of the Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida. He's known for his incisions into his pieces," says Robert, who used two layers of plywood for the facade to create an incision for the fireplace.
While Hayball Leonard Stent is recognised for its large commercial projects, both in Australia and internationally, they continue to pursue specialised residential projects. As Robert Stent explains, "we don't design many private houses. But we're always keen to include them in our schedule. They're like making models. It's also an opportunity to explore detailing and new materials. These discoveries can then be worked into our larger projects"
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