Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan

Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan

Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - HandrailLetterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - FacadeLetterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - Wood, Lighting, Bed, BedroomLetterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - Image 5 of 24Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - More Images+ 19

Blairgowrie, Australia
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  290
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Barben, Signorino

Text description provided by the architects. It's like a half space, half enclosed, half open. Neither in nor out - a new version of the good old Aussie verandah.

Its like a giant multi-sensory organ, the sun, the sky, the breeze and the sound and smell of the sea - When you arrive here of an evening and stand here and see the stars, no matter how still it is, you smell the sea - suck it in, it transforms you, reminds you (of what matters), it's a kind of tonic.

Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - Facade, Stairs

We like the buildings that make you smile (not laugh).It makes people smile, a building with the smallest façade on the peninsula - the building begins as the letterbox and unfurls to become this healthy scaled verandah, to some it is an upturned boat, to others it a wave a cliff. We like it being many things - people stop and ask us, we just say it is what it is to you.

We wanted to show respect - the peninsula needs it, and the scale here was modest beach suburban - we wanted to respect that scale - and yet as you walk along the deck the scale sneaks up on you - before you know it your immersed and surrounded by the scale of the house - a bit like life really.

Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - Image 9 of 24

The peninsula is the place where you suspend formality and convention for a while - we wanted the building to do this and to remind you of that - it moves too far from architectural convention towards the other disciplines - that was the intention. It becomes ambiguous - What is it? Where is the front door? You don't need a ‘front door' in a holiday house - you just find your way in.

Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan - Table, Chair

Late on a sunny afternoon, when you are all salty, it is a great place to sit; the afternoon sun gives the wall a golden glow, which is echoed by the golden beer in your hand. You sit and watch the kids do what kids do - the things they forget to do when you are in the city.

The inside of this golden wall is vivid red; the support structure and the support shelves which in time will become deposits of beach memories, the much leafed book, the photos, the bric-a-brac of beach holidays and markers of the quintessential Australian family life - when that happens maybe that will then become ‘my space' also.

Project gallery

See allShow less
About this office
Cite: "Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan" 12 Mar 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/13597/letterbox-house-mcbride-charles-ryan> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.