2014 Houses Awards: Australian House of the Year

Australian House of the Year Invisible House by Peter Stutchbury Architecture 2014 Houses Awards

Jury comment

There is something absolutely Australian about this project, not just its connection to an undeniably spectacular setting, but also its modesty, clarity, resourcefulness and consequential delight. Being (another) rural retreat with a jaw-dropping view, this project needed to convince the jury that all the moves made to create it are in harmony with its location, and that it is a great piece of architecture in its own right, and this it has. Its magic is created through balance, such as the gridded rigour of the plan balanced with the fat curve of the long section, or the transparency of the simple exterior balanced with the solid, albeit sliced, nature of the interior rooms. The form, materials and details are mastered in this house, running from inside to out and then into the landscape as one. From both inside and out, changes in nature are apparent, in wet and dry, hot and cold and through the seasons of the year. This elegant building, looking out from its position nestled into the hilltop, has left us drawn to see more.

Read Trisha Croaker’s review of Invisible House for Houses magazine here.

See full image galleries of all the winning and shortlisted projects here.

Australian House of the Year supported by Cult.

Products and materials

Roofing
Off-form concrete; flat-plate mild steel sheet.
External walls
Off-form concrete; Mudgee tiger stone.
Internal walls
Hoop pine ply.
Windows and doors
Bakers Joinery hardwood and glass windows and doors.
Flooring
Concrete slab.
Lighting
Tovo Lighting lights; custom lights by builder.
Kitchen
Vola raw brass tapware; Enware raw brass tapware; formply joinery; custom galvanized sink; off-form concrete bench.
Bathroom
Custom galvanized sinks.
Heating and cooling
Progressive Energy Systems hydronic floor heating and geothermal heating.
External elements
Concrete pavers

Credits

Project
Invisible House
Architect
Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Project Team
Peter Stutchbury, John Bohane, Emma Neville, Richard Smith, Sacha Zehnder, Piero Chiefa
Consultants
Builder Dimark Constructions
Electrical consultant Electrical Projects Australia
Energy consultant Progressive Energy Systems
Engineer Professor Max Irvine
Hydraulics JCL Hydraulics
Site Details
Location Blue Mountains,  NSW,  Australia
Site type Rural
Site area 66000 m2
Building area 425 m2
Budget $1,624,000
Project Details
Status Built
Design, documentation 12 months
Construction 12 months
Category Residential
Type New houses
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