Hamilton Design has delivered a bushfire regeneration project in Marysville, Victoria, inspired by Philip Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut, U.S.A.
In February 2009, Australia experienced its worst bushfires in recorded history. Regional Victorian areas such as Marysville are still rebuilding from these devastating fires, and Hamilton’s clients were interested in being part of the new era for the region.
The Neilina project is Hamilton’s answer to requests for a home similar to the architect’s Callignee 2 project (which won the Building Designers Association of Victoria’s Building Design of the Year in 2011), but was “toned down to some extent to make it more liveable.”
The Neilina project is Hamilton’s answer to requests for a home similar to the architect’s Callignee 2 project (which won the Building Designers Association of Victoria’s Building Design of the Year in 2011), but was “toned down to some extent to make it more liveable.”
Lead architect, Sean Hamilton combined his ‘signature’ site-by-site approach and inspiration from Johnson’s iconic design to create a largely transparent home that steps down and frames the surrounding topography.
“I wanted to draw the Ranges into each and every living and sleeping zone,” says Hamilton.
The site for the project overlooks the charred, yet rejuvenating mountain ash on the distant Cathedral Ranges. Hamilton’s solution was to create a low-lying cube form with gently ascending roof planes following the lines of the contour.
A porte cochre opens into the living, kitchen and dining areas, and a guest wing houses three bedrooms with a private deck and bathroom. The main bedroom (and ensuite) that lies at the other end of the dwelling has north-easterly butt-joined glazing to make the most of the views to Mt Margaret.
Full height glazing at the front of the home provides each room with views, and access to the expansive deck and the infinity lap pool.
Full height glazing at the front of the home provides each room with views, and access to the expansive deck and the infinity lap pool.
Timber, white walls, and weathered Corten cladding recede the form into the landscape, while expressed structural steel columns and beams with bolted knuckle jointing highlight the cubed form.
“We followed the contour and the topography of the site,” explains Hamilton. “And allowed that to dictate the siting and orientation of the home, which just happened to be a perfect orientation for passive solar energy toward the vista of the Cathedral Ranges.”
Solar power systems, passive solar design principles, and minimal excavation due to following the site’s natural contours contribute to the project’s sustainability credentials.
PRODUCTS
EXTERIOR
CONCRETE FLOOR
POLISHED CONCRETE
FRAMES & TRUSSES
TIMBER
ROOFING & ACCESSORIES
BLUESCOPE STEEL, TRIM DEK – WOODLAND GREY COLORBOND AND KLIP LOK – WOODLAND GREY COLORBOND
STEEL FRAMING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, RHS SECTIONS – WITH PAINTED FINISH
CLADING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, CORTEN WEATHERING STEEL
JAMES HARDIE AUSTRALIA, SYCON – MATRIX
WINDOWS
ALUMINIUM FRAMED DOUBLE GLAZED
INTERIOR
PLASTER
CSR GYPROCK, GYPROK PLUS
CLADDING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, CORTEN WEATHERING STEEL
BATHROOM/UTILITY WATERPROOFING
CSR GYPROCK, GYPROK AQUACHEK
