Cabin Design

This site is located on the north side of Mount Methodology with views of Linearity Lookout and Firmness Farms.  Smart Stream runs through the back of the site flowing out into Reciprocity River.  This site is the latest to be developed in this exclusive estate of architecturally designed houses.  Neighbouring houses include Balaam Residence by Arkhefield, Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk and Casa Tolo by Alvaro Siza Leite Vieira.  The client for this site is the architect Alvaro Siza who designed Casa Tolo, who asked for a cabin for himself and his wife for short breaks.  

The cabin designed was inspired by Alvaro Siza's Casa Tolo also known as house of stairs.  Like Casa Tolo, the cabin moves with the contours of the land with the use of stairs.  It has been separated into two spaces; public and private.  The public being all living, dining and working spaces, and the private being the bedroom and bathroom.  Alvaro Siza specifically asked for a studio space to allow him to work, but instead of separating this space from the other day use spaces, I decided to place it at the front of the building in with the living and dining spaces, separated by 3 steps.  The garage below has stairs that come up and enter between the kitchen space and living.  In this space as well is a powder room, so that the client does not have to make their way up to the bedroom during the day.  Separated from this space is the bedroom and bathroom, which is separated by seven metres of stairs.  The bedroom sits above the other space, giving the client full views of the Linearity Lookout and Firmness Farms.  The bedroom although only small, has a walk-in robe as well as a decent size bathroom.  This design has been designed as a retreat for the clients.

Elevation - West

Elevation - North

Section

As an environmental filter:

The cabin has been designed to work with the contours of the site, as well as capture the South East Queensland breezes through the wall length glass doors, and windows. Other than the garage, the cabin does not dig into the ground, instead has been built on the ground using Australian native timber. 

As a container of human activities:

It has been designed as a retreat for the clients.  There is space for working but it is more importantly a place for relaxation with emphasis being on the design of the bedroom and living areas.

As a delightful experience:

The client is filled with delight when moving through the cabin.  Although the space is small and humble, there is always the feeling of openness with the wonderful Australian views.  When the client walks out from the living area outside and walks up the steps to the next level, they discover views of the scenery all around.  From the bedroom they can look out and see the landscape, the lower level of the cabin blocking out the view of the street.

Visual Representation

Development of Cabin Design

Urban Utopia Plan

When deciding on what I want my cabin design to look like I began with extracting what I liked from the Casa Tolo house and what would need to change.
Like:
- Built with the contour of the site
- Narrow in design
- Minimal doors - minimal private space
- Stairs - the journey through the building
Dislike:
- Concrete for exterior material
- Minimal windows

My dislikes are due to the site for the cabin being in South East Queensland.  I think it is important that there is windows to capture air flow as well as natural light, and that more economical and natural materials are used for the design.

The spaces given to us in the criteria are all basic spaces needed for any basic housing design.  It is important to note that the client is Alvaro Siza and his wife, therefore it is not necessary to design a space that is big enough for entertaining.  As there is only 75sq. metres maximum for the design, I thought it important to find spaces that could be joined and become one.  

The dining and preparing meals should placed close to one another, as well as the living.  The reflecting space could be found in either the sleeping or living space, while I believe it is necessary for Alvaro to have his own space for working separate.  It is important that there is at least a toilet closeby to the living and work space, while there is a bathroom and toilet near the bedroom.  

My next step was to decide on space sizes, looking at average space dimensions.  I then began to start free sketching different ideas to develop my design. 

The way the water flows through the site was important to note, as the site is on a steep slope.  Please note these are only diagrams and are therefore not to scale.

I thought it important to understand where the sun would go through my cabin.  It is important that there is strong light in the study as well as some light everywhere else.

Below are sketches I have done to develop my design personally.  They show different areas of the cabin inside and outside, looking at different layouts and exterior presentation.  

Interior Development Sketches

Casa Tolo by Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira

Plans and images reproduced from Saieh, N. (15 May 2008) Tolo House/Alvaro Leite Siza (online)

Exemplar Analysis

Casa Tolo - House of Stairs (2005)
Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira
in Lugar Das Carvalihinhas, Portugal.

Images:
Guerra, F. (2006) aweeklydoseofarchitecture
I chose Casa Tolo because it is such an amazing house, as it stays with the topography of the very narrow and steep site. Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira designed the 180 sq. metre holiday home for his wife.  Faced with a budget of just US$150,000 for the house and US$3000 for landscaping on the site of 33 degree slope (C+A Vieira, n.d.), Vieira was able to fit three bedrooms, bathroom, living and dining, and a small kitchen into the space.  He also at the base of the site, made a small pool for leisure.  

"The necessity of partially burying the house came from lack of economic means, Siza says.  "In this way the house itself is a path.  Its form organizes a fundamental outdoor route.  The exterior stairs create a link between the patios mirror the interior stairs, which have the same function of linking the internal spaces, which are also set across several levels.  It is neither horizontal nor vertical architecture.  Its placement on the site results in a slanting architecture,"Siza says.

"The terrain's instability gave rise to a house with triple function: the home itself and its interior space; the organization of outdoor patios corresponding to the roofs of the various levels which permit outdoor use; and finally, creation of a pedestrian link between the paths of the upper and lower levels that border the site.  The choice of exposed concrete creates an idea like that of massive stones appearing naturally...expressiveness is extracted from a continuous structure of reinforced concrete.  Besides, the plasticity of insitu concrete and its relationship with nature pleases me."  (C+A Vieira, n.d.)  

As an environmental filter:
Casa Tolo has been designed to move with the contours of the steep and narrow site.  Instead of cutting into the site, or building up above the ground, the architect, has designed a building that moves down with the site using stairs (hence the name House of Stairs).  The building is made out of concrete, and has minimal windows, with light entering the building from sky lights.  Instead of a typical roof, the roof is made out of concrete, and is also designed with stairs so that the owners can move down to the pool area without going inside the building.  

From the street, all that can be seen is a concrete space for a car.  Beside the car space, there is a stair that leads down into the building.  Alvaro has designed his building to take no view away from visitors to the area, while capturing views of the scenery inside his own building.  

I do not believe that this is the most environmental building, as with the few windows, there would be hardly any natural ventilation within the building.  Although there are many sky lights, the rooms are still quite dark, therefore needing the aid of arteficial light sources.  The use of concrete, however economical it was for the architect, would not work in a climate like Queensland, therefore it will be something I will have to consider when designing my cabin.

As a container of human activities:

The house, although very narrow, has been designed with an open plan living of minimal doors, therefore breaking the link between public and private spaces.  The public spaces of the kitchen and living areas are separated between the toilet and pantry, which is an unusual place for a toilet.  The whole house is separated into spaces by stairs, creating movement throughout the house, to all the different areas of the house.  As the house is constantly moving down because of the stairs, it is impossible to distinguish which "level" you are actually on as you continue to move down the site. 

As a delightful experience:

The architect has managed to create a delightful experience inside and outside of the building due to the stairs.  Whether inside or outside you are able to move down with the site, capturing the nature and views of the site. This movement is what makes the building such a delight, although it would be quite a good way of exercise, there is some form of peacefulness which is brought on by it.

Broadhurst, J. (2009). Next houses. New York: Abrams,.p44-


C+A Vieira, A. (n.d.) Casa Tolo, C+A Issue 5 (PDF)

Mathewson, Casey C. M (ed). (2007) Residential designs for the 21st century: an international collection. Buffalo, N.Y ; Richmond Hill, Ont: Firefly books p196-197

Saieh, N. (15 May, 2008) Tolo House/Alvaro Leite Siza (online)

Other Options:


Canoe Reach Residence (2007)
Steendyk Architects

Images:

Australian Institute of Architects (2009) Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk

As an environmental filter:

Canoe Reach Residence has been designed to bring a connection between the indoor and outdoor living.  The house is designed in a U shape to make the residents always look out onto the river, and enjoy the natural landscape.  Environmentally, the building has been designed two stories while only being narrow to create cross-ventilation through all the rooms.  

As a container of human activities:

The house has been designed for a family, therefore it was important to have an open plan of living, as well as linking the living areas to the outdoors.  The private spaces (bedrooms and bathrooms) have been placed further away from the opens spaces, to create a more family orientated living. 

As a delightful experience:

The architects have designed the house to make it look small from the road, and as the person walks through the house, the house grows, and many new spaces become seen.  The movement throughout the building is what makes the building a delight.  The flow between the indoors and outdoors, make it perfect for the South-East Queensland living.  

Steendyk (2009) Canoe Reach Residence

Australian Institute of Architects (2009) Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk

Balaam Residence (2007)

Arkhefield Architects

Images:
Burrows, S. (2010) Balaam Residence

As an environmental filter:

Balaam Residence was not designed to be sustainable, however, the air conditioning that the house uses, is solar timed, and with the use of solar control glass, louvres and blinds, the air conditioning is kept mostly in the house with minimal flow exiting it.  There is also the use of rain water tanks, however, this is now common among all new houses.

As a container of human activities:

The house was designed to suit a family, therefore it was important to provide enough space for adults, children and guests as well as bringing privacy from neighbouring apartments and the river.  The house has been designed on three levels to create different spaces inside and outside the building, including a private courtyard, away from neighbouring views.

As a delightful experience:

The river and city views are what makes this house delightful.  Balaam Residence has been designed so that the main, guest and living rooms face south looking out onto the Brisbane River.  That as well as the contemporary interior decorating and architecture make this house a delightful experience.

Sanjivee, E. (2009) Home Sweet Home, Space (PDF)
Australian Institute of Architects (2009) Balaam Residence by Archefield