Plan View of Donovan Hill - C House
Section of Donovan Hill - C HouseThe use of the site topography enables this house to connect and extend over a number of height levels. These heights changes have allowed for large openings and windows located throughout the house to receive the outside environment. The houses location on the hill combined with these large openings make natural light and cooling very important natural features within the design. Whilst important comfort features, the openings also allow for spectacular views over the surrounding city to the east and disable all the surrounding views into the site, giving residence maximum privacy.
The incorporation of nature into the house through various plants and trees gives the house a very naturalistic look. The use of natural materials in wood and stone combined with the fauna give the house an overall relaxed and natural feel. The construction of the house along with the landscape means that wind flows should travel into the house and the residence should enjoy a constant breeze.
The houses orientation to the east - west means that direct morning sunlight could cause cause discomfort and problems within the home. With the use of design and window eaves, morning sunlight is blocked by wooden shutters and the light allowed through is let only into unused or thoroughfare spaces, not seating areas.
The house provides maximum space for users and gives residence a pronounced separation between public and private spaces. Rooms are located at the rear of the house to give the front section use for guest and entertainment areas. Doors and windows within the public spaces are larger to give easier thoroughfare whilst private areas are fitted with smaller doors but large windows to allow enjoyment of the outside views.
Human activities are visible within this house due to the display of objects in various rooms. Bookcases, tables and seating areas are located throughout the house to give the users the options of comfortable seating wherever they may feel like. The house gives adaptable planning schemes to whomever may be living in the house including working, living, entertaining, relaxing and everyday household chores and suits whatever style of resident.
Through a diverse array of spaces within the building, the house gives users the options of whatever activities they may desire. Large connected entertainment areas allows parties throughout the house, whilst staying out of the private sections. Private sections located behind the public space means residence do not have to travel far within the house to get to important areas.
The use of large openings gives the idea of importance and grandness. The elongated separation between floor and roof implores the idea of a large and open space, while the timber walls and blocking of light give a warm and homely feeling.
The use of natural materials and flowing design over the landscape gives the house a very natural feel. The play with light and use of natural cooling means this house would be a very inviting place to live.
The site has been refashioned into a series of overlapping sub-sites, (both indoor and outdoor), with their interconnection across the climbing topography resembling experiences typical of ‘terrain’. The landscape metaphor has been extended beyond physical representation to enable the everyday experience of occupation to be as if it were in a landscape. (Croft, 2004)
A set of private rooms are gathered around, under and above the ‘public’ or ‘memorable’ space of the site – a large outdoor room. The house anticipates future generations by offering an adaptable planning scheme. The household might be a single family, shared singles/couples, extended family or home office.
Contemporary ‘package deliver’ system of procurement has been utilized with staged documentation to suit requirements.Project completed 1998. (Donovan Hill, 2010)
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