Brookes Street House by James Russell Architect
Jury Citation
Carefully inserted between two heritage-listed nineteenth-century ecclesiastical buildings, this compact courtyard house for its architect owner is like a skilfully designed piece of occupied joinery.
Great care has been invested in its choice of materials and assembly, as well as in ensuring it takes maximum advantage of the subtropical environment. The central courtyard, with a grass floor elevated above parking, provides a green sanctuary for the family, and visually connects the living and sleeping areas.
A simple yet elegant series of screens, frameless glass panels, flaps and louvres provide an ambiguous boundary between inside and out. The section is carefully modulated to ensure the penetration of light and control of sun, while giving a compact sense of vertical scale.
Timber structure, flooring, lining, screens and joinery lend a wonderful sense of craft to this spatially expansive yet intimate house. New and old coexist happily with borrowed spaces between. A robust exterior defines a more delicate and enriching interior.
This is a worthy model for urban living in a subtropical climate.
Credits
- Project
- Brookes Street House
- Architect
- James Russell Architect
Brisbane, Qld, Australia
- Project Team
- James Russell, Lachlan Nielsen
- Consultants
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Builder
James Russell, Lachlan Nielsen
Heritage consultant Robert Riddell Architects—Peter Todd
Structural consultant Bligh Tanner
- Site Details
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Location
Fortitude Valley,
Brisbane,
Qld,
Australia
- Project Details
-
Status
Built
Category Residential
Type New houses
