Design Brief
The design brief set by the clients was to create an art work that could be lived in, utilizing compact, sustainable design all within the budget of $123,000.
The design needed to boldly express the theme in every aspect, yet be subtle enough to allow a comfortable lifestyle that was not overwhelmed by such an intense and personal experience of the art.
The clients
required one main bedroom with walk-in robe, one multipurpose room that could be used as a bedroom/library/meditation space and guest room, as well as open plan living, kitchen, dining rooms.
The design was to also incorporate strong but affordable sustainable design and features.
Design Solution
Building Designer and Artist, Kylie Mitchell of Kylie Mitchell Designs has created a home that allows the resident to experience visual arts as an everyday living and breathing interaction.
The home is designed to reflect a single piece of abstract art work through every aspect of the house. From the external facade to internal murals and mosaics, from the landscaping to the furniture and linen, everything is an expression of the chosen piece.
The selected art work was painted on a square canvas so the building’s frame was made square to represent this.
The house is a compact 72 sqm. internally, yet contains a main bedroom with walk-in robe, a multi-purpose guest room, an open plan lounge and dining room as well as a full sized, highly functional kitchen.
The compact design was achieved by closely studying the clients lifestyle and then creating a design that would eliminate all wasted space while fulfilling the clients brief of their required rooms. Strong emphasis was placed on studying the clients "human scale", that is how much space they use to carry out everyday activities and spaces designed to suit.
Art House One is the result of combining creative compact building design, thoughtful interior design, common sense sustainable design and visual arts.
Material Considerations
Kylie Mitchell selected companies which had good green credentials or were working towards it, and who were flexible enough to fit in with the buildings unique design.
The sustainable design features include northern orientation combined with a very dark grey polished concrete floor for thermal mass and double glazed timber windows to take advantage of solar passive heating, a must in Armidale's cold winters.
High levels of insulation are also utilised as well as low water use taps and shower roses, and low energy use lighting and appliances.
A micro-climate has been created by incorporating a courtyard for heating and cooling and a pergola provides the appropriate shading to northern glazing for summer.
Low VOC paints and boards throughout the house create a healthier air environment, while water tanks are used to take advantage of the local rainfall.
To achieve the balance required from combining such a strong artistic theme with such compact living, 3 things were done.
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Plenty of storage is provided, some subtle, some as part of the art theme.
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The art theme was expressed in a variety of ways, for example black-on-black mural to the lounge area, white-on-white to the main bedroom, a mosaic in the bathroom, painted panels in the kitchen, very dark grey concrete and red carpet. Painted canvases in the art theme were also created.
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Furniture, bedding, linen and decorative items were all coordinated to be a part of the art work.
Product Choice
METAL ROOFING, Lysaght, Colorbond
EXTERNAL CLADDING, Cemintel, ExpressWall
INTERNAL CLADDING, CRS, Gyprock
KITCHEN, Laminex, Freestyle bench tops, 2 Pac doors
KITCHEN, Blum, Intivo Draw Systems, Servo-Drive, hinges
PAINT, Resene
INSULATION, KINGSPAN Permasheild & Bradford Gold Batts
BATHROOM PRODUCTS, Swan Plumbing
This article was written with the assistance of Building Designers Australia.
