The cover of Houses 83 showing Point Piper Boathouse by Andrew Burges.
Image: Ross Honeysett
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The cover features a framed vista across a bay seen from Andrew Burges’ Point Piper Boathouse. Where to place openings in a building is an important consideration. There are two general approaches to this – large openings to make the most of panoramic views or the orchestrated hide-and-reveal approach.
Officer Woods chose “openness” at Silver Creek House. Here a selection of openings not only emphasize the beauty of the site but also invite “breezes, light, sound, the smell of summer at the beach and even the birds to enter.”
On smaller, urban sites, picture windows are popular. At the Split House by MCK Architects a small courtyard acts as a lightwell to the lower ground level. This space isn’t intended to be used, but rather the timber-framed window creates a border around a staged scene of rocks, a stone wall and greenery. At Neil Residence by Neil Architecture the sloping rear yard almost appears as a green wall through the picture window in the living room. Similarly, at the Armadale Residence by Wonder a multi-paned window frames a planted wall.
Of course, apartments also use views to inspire design solutions. At George Apartments by Hassell, the strong visual presence of the plane trees creates a focal point for the apartments, and motifs are taken from the trees themselves.
Our sustainability section discusses siting strategies. Window placement and the movement of the sun are key. The location of openings not only relates to the framing of views, it also has important environmental implications.
Other projects in this issue are by Keiron Gait Architects, Herbert + Mason, Anthony Gill Architects, Bud Brannigan Architects and Allen Jack + Cottier. We also profile Smart Design Studio’s growing suite of luxurious residential projects and revist Denton Corker Marshall’s Phillip Island House.
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