Somers Courtyard House

View of North West corner of the residence.

Project details

• Project Name: Somers Courtyard House
• Location of Site: Somers, Victoria, Australia
• Design Team: Jon Henzel, Nathan Marshall, Rowan Opat
• Project Type: Residential
• Client: Private
• Contractor/s: PJ & OR Oldenburger
• Site Area: 1 ha
• Built-up Area: 316 sqm
• Date of completion: December, 2006

View from bathroom to the North.

Words from the architect

In this new house the client's brief was for a low maintenance home to accommodate an expanding family with regular guests. They wanted a playful home that would allow them to customise and grow into it over time. Located in a semi-rural context, one hour from Melbourne, the house is designed to function independently of mains water, gas, sewerage and electricity.

View from bathroom to the West.

We decided on a backbone concept of a tent-made-solid. We found this a conceptually, structurally, environmentally and economically appropriate response to the brief. Throughout the process good building practice created a tension with my desire to express this idea more literally.

View across kitchen – living area.

A sustainability consultant guided the selection of all materials. External walls and roof are insulated lightweight structure and finish. The fireplace and concrete floors provide the thermal mass. Ecoply is used for the courtyard surface and radially sawn Silver Top Ash for external board and batten cladding.

View of South West corner of the residence.

The house was positioned amongst existing trees to minimise felling. The depth (north south) of the plan, height of ceilings, circulation of air, catchment of heat and controlling seasonal direct natural light were refined to optimise the passive solar effectiveness.

View of back patio entrance.

The brief crystallized into a loose arrangement of discreet living and utility buildings. The need to avoid internal overshadowing resolved itself by arranging the buildings in a square. The spaces in-between then grew into outdoor living areas. Introducing a courtyard house to a one hectare site offered seclusion and hierarchy into an otherwise open field.

View of carport and driveway.

The result is a house comprised of outdoor spaces that are an extension of living areas, the interplay of which form verandah, portico, catwalk and breezeway. All combine to offer a spectrum of indoor and outdoor experiences.

The roofscape directly responds to the interior functions, monumental over the living spaces and low slung over dormitories. The roof edge is expressed as an upper layer, a cloak over the external walls that continues on to meet the ground at the rear.

View of Northern elevation of the residence.

Darker external colours integrate the house into the shadows of the surrounding bushland. In contrast the courtyard employs a lighter colour thus accentuating the courtyard as a type of interior.

The architectural process revealed a design force in the study of the sun. Sciagraphy became an essential part of this scheme and continues to be an interest in my work as does the significance of the sun historically.

Sothern view of courtyard.

The house is timber framed, with a Cedar Board ceiling, as well as radial sawed timber floors and decks. The use of materials adds to the sustainable qualities of the residence, which was designed to be highly energy efficient.

Living room and fireplace.

Credits

• Text: Rowan Opat Architects
• Photographs: Peter Bennet