DMR is a four bedroom holiday house in Lorne, Victoria. It was designed by Whiting Architects.
The building is designed to walk in from street, living, kitchen, dining, bedroom, bathroom, deck with secondary kitchen, bedroom, bath and living areas below / lock-off for separate use without disturbing area above.
Extended family members can use separate levels of the house without intruding on each other.
The use of screens creates dappled light referencing the forest beyond.
Aboriginal line drawings were referenced to create screens which provide moving shadows like water across the interior, changing through the day and the seasons.
Inspired by artist Emily Kane Kngwarreye’s work: ‘Soakage Bore’ 1995 in 12 panels create ‘precincts’ separate areas for distinct uses by different family members on varied occasions
The residence is an uplifting space opening out to spectacular view over the bay.
Remarkable shifting quality of light cast through screens to the north, kept warm by passive solar energy tempered by ability to open up and enjoy breezes.
Suspended sculptural fireplace lends intimacy and warmth as counterpoint to expansive views out over the bay opposite.
Ability to park at street level and enter the house on one level with all facilities self-contained on that level making it suitable for the client at any age.
That was a critical part of Whiting Architects’ brief.
It was to be low-maintenance and functional for both a couple or an extended family.
Whiting Architects clad the north side of the building with laser cut screens to break up sun penetration, retain privacy, and limit heat gain.
Their design borrows from the Islamic tradition of providing barriers that filter views and light.
The building was set out to achieve a quality of light that is soft and constantly moving. Aboriginal line drawings influenced the screens, which provide moving shadows like water across the interior, changing through the day and the seasons.
The brief was a collaboration. Engineering was by client, construction undertaken by their son.
The design and delivery process was punctuated by conversation and good diners, with never a cross word.
Project Details
Site area – 1,000 m2
Completion date – 2012
Building levels – 2
Project Team
Architecture
Whiting Architects
Whiting Architects is an Architecture and Interior Design studio with over 25 years’ experience.
Director Steven Whiting’s qualifications in both Interior Design and Architecture define the firms’ signature style and form a design philosophy that centres on the premise that there is no separation between disciplines.
Associate Directors Eleanor Eade and Josie Somerville have brought energy, passion and creative expertise to Whiting Architects over the last 6 years, providing a youthful and dynamic approach to the practice.
Photography
Sharyn Cairns
Sharyn is at the forefront of commercial photography in Australia, with a specialist portfolio spanning interiors, food, travel, and lifestyle. She is committed to creating beautiful images that capture a mood and an emotion, playing with light and shadows to create levels of depth and distinctive memorable scenes.
Her work is featured in notable international and local magazines: Gourmet Traveller, Vogue Living, Belle, Dwell, Kinfolk, Elle Decoration UK, House and Garden UK, Living Etc UK and many others.
Sharyn collaborates with architects, designers and creatives on unique projects and has photographed numerous cookbooks for well-known chefs such as Maggie Beer, Shane Delia, Guy Grossi, Tobie Puttock and Jacques Reymond.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Whiting Architects. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Sharyn Cairns. All Rights Reserved.
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