Into the Labyrinth: Dornoch Terrace House

The Brisbane home of architect James Russell is a fascinating case study for residential architecture, not least because it emerged from the site of a nearly derelict squat. The three-storey, 1960s timber-framed building was the subject of a five-year renovation and extension designed and constructed by James Russell Architect (JRA). The building was nurtured from a state of ruin to become a “village” fostering active, curious and socially conscious family life.

When practice director James Russell acquired the Highgate Hill property, the building and site were substantially compromised. A lax rental agreement, which had existed since the 1980s, had inadvertently supported long-term, low-cost housing for musicians and artists, who adopted the property as their own. Works by prominent local street artists Lister and Sofles contributed part of a thirty-year record of occupation expressed on walls, ceilings and every other imaginable surface. During a renowned farewell party the weekend before James’s settlement, these cultural artefacts, along with a significant part of the building fabric, were destroyed.

View gallery

The addition, in the form of a slender two-storey structure stretching along the side boundary, is akin to a verandah.

Image: Toby Scott

The surviving elements – hardwood timber structure and cladding and steel-framed windows (minus glazing), as well as additional steel and concrete structure that was later uncovered – provided the “good bones” to support new interventions and grafted additions. A new light well, created to improve natural light levels and facilitate conversation within, the building’s three-storey interior was the first of many modifications. Like a new urban square brought to life by commissioned artwork, the void is enlivened by a large-scale mural by Sofles, who agreed to return a piece of art to his former share house.

Establishing horizontal connections to the exterior complements the introduction of light from above. The unusual site, rather like an escarpment, which falls steeply from the ridge-top street to the backyard, enables all three levels to connect with outdoor territory: street, courtyard and garden terrace. At the mid level, the enclosure of additional space beneath the street-level carport combined with a shadecloth canopy and garden wall makes a courtyard sanctuary of a once-inaccessible and neglected corner of the site. A large, paved garden terrace at ground level, used for scooters, ball games, dining and gatherings, is where family life comes together.

Guided by a loose “masterplan” rather than a precise set of drawings, alterations emerged in a fairly organic fashion through carpentry and toil, from the top floor down. Asbestos linings were removed and the exposed skeleton of timber, including studwork, joists, floorboards and the interior face of exterior chamfer boards, was laboriously sanded to reveal the natural grain and texture of the wood. The result is a wonderful material richness and a subdued light quality tempered by the shadowy depths of a black Japan finish.

View gallery

A large-scale mural by prominent street artist Sofles is featured in the dining area, adding a punch of vibrancy.

Image: Toby Scott

An addition grew from the back of the house in the form of a slender two-storey structure stretching along the side boundary, providing a space more akin to verandah than formal enclosure. The extension serves the dual purpose of visually screening the garden terrace from a towering apartment block next door and providing sleep-outs and playspace for the Russell brood. Tucked in neatly below the extension at ground level is a shaded lagoon, which provides cool relief during Brisbane’s long, hot summers.

One of the most interesting things to emerge from this project is the refinement of a shadecloth facade system, which continues JRA’s exploration of an industrial fabric (used extensively at Oxlade Drive House, 2013). In this iteration, the dark cloth is employed to protect and wrap the thermal and acoustic insulation applied to the exterior face of the building. A second layer, which drops down from the fascia line, creates a deep-set cloth cavity that protects the building from summer heat loads and visually conceals the external service gantry.

View gallery

A paved garden terrace at ground level, used for games, dining and gatherings, is where family life comes together.

Image: Toby Scott

The low-tech, highly inventive system has an anticipated lifespan of more than thirty years and can be replaced for the cost of a coat of paint. It’s a credit to JRA that it continues to develop this technology, so well suited to the local climate and consistent with the demands of building economically. Cost and function aside, the aesthetic consequence of the shadecloth skin presents a compelling argument for its use. The opaque surface subverts the building form, which results in a wonderful and intriguing sense of impermanence.

Like an ancient city where labyrinthian pathways reveal hidden gardens, new vistas and doorways into other worlds, this “village” unravels in the most enchanting of ways. The rambling garden pathways, which traverse the site and stitch together old and new, are emblematic of a larger idea resolute in celebrating those design elements and moments that enrich, delight and surprise. If you ever have the privilege of stepping inside this house, choose the meandering path and try to find the secret door.