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| Inside Courtyard |
Brief Description:
the eight year construction of Donovan Hill's 'C House' has grown into what people are calling "the most conceptual complex house". The 'C House's" four story form climbs the hills of the site gently as to match the intricate typography of the site. From first glance the design has a suitable naturalism and an array of tasteful natural tectonic textures are reminiscent to me of Frank Lloyd Wrights 'Falling Water'. The 16 flights of stairs fall down the land actign as
A House is an environmental filter:
'A house is an environmental filter', as an architectural student we are often asked to elaborate on such questions. The above quote is one of three we have been asked to create a discussion on, i would like to add to this quote by breaking it down into the following sub headings and more importantly relating them back to Donovan Hill's C House on a more detailed level.
Systematic Design Logic:
According to "Engineering Design: by Wolfgang Beitz, Gerhard Pahl and Ken Wallace" systematic design can be broken up into two categories them being' design science and design methodology. Design Science to me sounds a lot like passive design were by the architect use as much of the natural surroundings to benefit there overall design, whether it be using a mass effect or an evaporative cooling method much like macro-environmental design. To put it in Wolfgang's words "Design science uses scientific methods to analyse the structure of technical systems and their relationships with the environment. The aim is to derive rules for the development of these systems from the system elements and their relationships (1996, pg7)". While design methodology is the opposite were the design is structured to accomplish certain functional goals and a set ergonomic standard.What makes the C House so conceptual complex is the using of both methodology and scientific design, while your regular house seems to sway more or else to one or the other. The C House is sensitive to its environmental surroundings and complements its site instead of destroying the site to suit the house, it is nautralism at its best. While on the other hand the design is also calculated with purposeful design intent, structural separation to create almost two entirely different space within the one house, so is to not confuse public space with private space. The C House is a perfect blend of form and function.
Macro/Micro- environment:
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| Inside Courtyard Perspective |
The C House was built with a passive design intent using as little carbon foot print as possible. Donovan Hill achieved this by using such methods as evaporative cooling and natural air circulation. The pool runs through the house drawing away the humidity of the day and the open plan design circulates air round the home to ensure a comfortable temperature at all hours.
The most evident design feature of the house is how Donovan Hill have incorporated the design into the natural typography of the site rather than levelling it. This was done for many reasons, first of all Donovan Hill wanted to ensure the house kept its spectacular views at whatever of the four levels you happened to be on. Luckily for them the site natural descended to the bottom, ensuring perfect views as long as the it was persevered. The natural slope of the land also increased the air circulation of the site, these points obviously show how important the natural typography of the land was in Donovan Hills design.
A House is a Container of Human Activity:
Zoning of Activities:
The client was a well known business man who often is the host of business parties at his residence. The client wanted a home that had a large comfortable are to host private business parties while keeping his family home almost known existent to the guests. This was achieved by using a staircase to lure the guest away into an open enough space that the house is lost behind them.
The private family rooms of the C House were closed off from the courtyard yet still visible, ensuring the guess did not interfere with the clients family life, while still allowing the house to grow upon the courtyard creating a of connection with all elements of the building.
A House is a Delightful Experience:
Form/Structure:
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| My Hand Perspective |
The C House's form naturally hugs the typography of the site as it descends slowly to three clearly stepped levels. The form of the structure itself seems to copy this method. The structure seems broken into individual areas highlight from textures and positioning , yet still connects with the rest of the design through the typography of the site a clever way of creating personal and public areas within the residence. The broken open plan design also creates a very interesting original look which in my opinion is very aesthetical delightful.
Aesthetics/Materials/Tectonics:
I love the choice in materials chosen by Donovan Hill. they have kept with the naturalist approach creating the home using natural timbers, stones and high grade concrete left raw. These natural raw material make create a warm stimulating environment, i believe this is because all of the character you find in these material. The timber floors click as you walk on them, giving a feeling of importance and structure resinates, the different depths in the stone feature walls are interesting they make you wont to reach out to them, stimulating the mind and conversation in the courtyard business parties. My personal favourite feature in the C House is the way they have weaved the timber around the rooms of the home this gives a fantastic Aesthetic when light up or when shadow passes through it.
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| Donovan Hill Sketch - My Hand Sketch |
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| Donovan Hill - My Hand Sketch |
Ref:
Book - Engineering Design, A Systematic Approach, Gerhard Pahl, Springer London, 2007 - Could not find any more info ..... Link to online book: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=57aWTCE3gE0C&pg=PR7&lpg=PR7&dq=Engineering+Design:+by+Wolfgang+Beitz&source=bl&ots=UbV4PP7VQb&sig=Y6OtAKnDFDqd6SfOWEWQ2w_JZ0U&hl=en&ei=2KqNTdx8kYi-A8qv2LQN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Engineering%20Design%3A%20by%20Wolfgang%20Beitz&f=false
