Space is at a premium in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy and the opportunity to build upward is a welcome one, as Studio Edwards’s recent clients can attest. Their three-storey townhouse provided the perfect foundation for an unconventional rooftop pavilion and the practice’s co-directors Ben Edwards and Nancy Beka have delivered just that.
Sky Pavilion adds yet another level to the townhouse, offering the clients a semi-enclosed space in which to disconnect from the rest of their home and either entertain guests or enjoy some quiet downtime. As Nancy explains, “It was about adding a layer of density in a sensitive and imaginative way in order to create extra amenity. Our ambition was for something like a viewing platform or rooftop entertainment area where the clients could enjoy views outward and across the city skyline.”
Sky Pavilion by Studio Edwards.
Image: Felix Bardot
From a distance, the pavilion appears as a curious all-white form, rising up from its red-brick base. Up close, it comes into full view as a strikingly cantilevered “cocoon” with a heavily faceted form. Its geometries are certainly visually pleasing, but they are also functional. Ben and Nancy had to respond to privacy concerns, while trying to maximize the outlook of the pavilion and still let in light. At the same time, they had to minimize shadows across the adjacent properties and provide shading to the townhouse itself. By being strategic in their configuration and in cladding the structure with a perforated fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP), these issues were resolved.
Sky Pavilion by Studio Edwards.
Image: Felix Bardot
This material proved integral to the overall scheme. Sky Pavilion essentially sits on two party walls on either side of the townhouse, so it needed to be as lightweight as possible. “Every design or structural conversation we had always came back to how we imagined balancing the pavilion lightly on top,” says Nancy. “And we didn’t want to impact the building with any significant works.” Openings within the framework reduce the structure’s weight, too, as does the use of FRP for the flooring, which also allows light to penetrate the cantilever into the balcony below. The structure even accommodates a triangular plunge pool, just large enough for the homeowners to indulge in a refreshing dip overlooking the city.
The entire pavilion was fabricated off-site and literally craned into position within a day. It was, by all accounts, phenomenal to watch and just as impressive as the co-ordination involved in making it all happen. Sky Pavilion is an exciting addition that brings joy to the clients and anyone who passes by.
Source
Project
Published online: 27 Aug 2021
Words:
Leanne Amodeo
Images:
Felix Bardot
Issue
Houses, June 2021
