Hawthorn House / Edition Office

Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Table, ChairHawthorn House / Edition Office - Chair, Windows, BeamHawthorn House / Edition Office - Facade, ArchHawthorn House / Edition Office - BeamHawthorn House / Edition Office - More Images+ 51

Hawthorn, Australia
More SpecsLess Specs
Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Arch
© Ben Hosking

Text description provided by the architects. Our primary design response for the Hawthorn House was to first recalibrate the entire project site into a large and singular terrace; one grand outdoor theatre for living which peels upwards at each title boundary to form a living garden backdrop that would appear at every viewpoint from the living areas of the home. Within this garden platform, the house is defined by a pair of heavily textured concrete shrouds, each with its own proportion and personality, linked together by a walkway and courtyard garden. The arched concrete shrouds evolved as a method of structurally supporting the house with its own skin; designed to be understood as protective cloak rather than as signifiers of support. These shrouds provide the framework for how the spaces within the home relate to each other and to the external environment. From the first floor the context appears denied, however these more private bathing and sleeping spaces are pulled away from the ends of the solid skin which allows each elevated pavilion to look out through full height glazing onto their own private courtyards full of plants, sky and tree canopy. At ground floor within the living, cooking and dining spaces the concrete shells provide clear connectivity with the entire landscape and a sense of unexpected lightness, while carefully concealing the neighbouring context.

Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Chair
© Ben Hosking

The ground floor living and lounge spaces in each pavilion are distinct from one another, yet they connect across the central north facing garden and courtyard. In contrast, the more private first floor sleeping spaces exist as their own elevated islands, the aspect of each being consciously framed around the three grand tree canopies of the site. The rough sawn formwork boards were stripped from the outer concrete walls, cleaned and re-used as the fencing material of the house, so that the entire perimeter of the site is composed of the same textural language and character of the concrete pavilions.

Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Table, Chair
© Ben Hosking

Our objective was to provide a strong sense of sanctuary, a feeling of being ‘elsewhere’ and away from the challenges of a daily working life. This sense of refuge needed to be balanced, without being compromised by a profound level of openness. The ability to read the full expanse of the site from one side to the other and for the connections between the home to the all-encompassing garden terrace was to be both effortless and immersive. Throughout the project there is an overt restraint in terms of material palette and detailing, which we believe strengthens rather than smothers the experiential quality of the project. Balustrades and door handles are composed of un refined intersections of brass, timber and concrete, which are allowed to patina and age with the tactile connection to the human body.

Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Wood, Chair
© Ben Hosking
Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Table, Windows, Shelving, Countertop, Chair, Closet
© Ben Hosking

The project uses passive solar-design principles throughout. Glazing is offset from the outer concrete shells to provide a passive eave to the northern façade. This allows winter sun to flood into each living space, whilst shielding the strong summer heat load. The house benefits from significant thermal mass in the concrete walls and the hydronically heated concrete floors which in winter also retain the warmth of the directly penetrating sunlight. High levels of cross ventilation help to keep the house naturally cool in the summer months. The elevated rooftop contains a solar pool heating system as well as a significant solar PV array.

Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Table, Chair
© Ben Hosking

A defining element of this project is the balance of seemingly contradictory states that coexist within this home. It is at once civic and domestic, deeply enclosed while being intensely open, highly exposed while being effortlessly private, it is heavy yet also surprisingly light. In defiance of its strong formal language, the spatial relationships, material tactility and embodied experiences of the home seek to promote a nurturing sanctuary for a growing family.

Hawthorn House / Edition Office - Image 14 of 56
© Ben Hosking

Project gallery

See allShow less
About this office
Cite: "Hawthorn House / Edition Office" 17 Mar 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/920206/hawthorn-house-edition-office> ISSN 0719-8884

© Ben Hosking

Hawthorn 住宅,公共又居家的庇护所 / Edition Office

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.