projects > residential > c + s house
This is a house for the desert. The design of the house stems from the idea of a landscape bridge and the long finger-like ridges of the West MacDonell Ranges. The house bridges from the high rock terrace at the back of the site, out into the view of the ranges beyond.
Like so much of the life in the desert the living goes on under the earth. We have closed down the north facade to protect against the harsh light of the midday sun and to provide privacy. We have opened up the southern facade to allow good indirect light levels into the house and provide uninterrupted views of the ranges beyond. The roof floats out over the site on an east west axis and is anchored into the rock behind. The planted roof continues the desert landscape over the top of the site, camouflaging the house under it and providing a good hat with thermal mass to shade the living spaces underneath.
While incorporating the latest technology and the oldest and most tested environmental strategies, the building remains conspicuously controlled and quiet. Internal volumes and views have been developed to create a life within the house that relates but is thermally separate from the harsh desert environment.