Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Table, BeamFeng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade, Chair, Beam, DeckFeng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Living RoomFeng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Wood, Lighting, ChairFeng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - More Images+ 19

Melbourne, Australia
Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade, Chair, Beam, Deck
© Shannon McGrath

Text description provided by the architects. The practice of Feng Shui finds its origins in China, going back about 6,000 years. It literally translates to “wind and water” and is a concept aiming to design and plan buildings and their surroundings for harmony and happiness. Feng Shui calls on you to organise objects to allow for the flow of what is referred to as natural energy seen as moving through a space and all living things. In this context it is understood that a building’s layout, colours and materials affect the flow of energy.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Table, Beam
© Shannon McGrath

Feng Sui design applies three core principles: allow energy to flow, balance between natural elements with their own sets of attributes including colour, texture and shape, and place objects that represent your life’s journey within a space. To a Westerner only vaguely familiar with some of the specific theories and ideas, there is a surprising correlation between Feng Shui and what we would call “good design”: sun light access, air and ventilation, balance of natural light, equal relationship between inside and out, comfort and privacy, balance of materials, a well organised environment.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Countertop, Windows, Lighting, Chair, Beam
© Shannon McGrath
Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Beam
© Shannon McGrath

 

The old terrace house was restored, a new curved timber wall at the end of the hallway works as both a link between old and new and a barrier to the street. The extension is separated with a courtyard for sunlight into the old, and natural light and ventilation into the new house. The hall linking terrace with extension was widened for a study with outdoor access. The curved timber wall, enclosing a store, leads into the kitchen planned to greet visitors at arrival and overlooking the courtyard and study.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Image 22 of 24
Ground floor plan
Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Image 24 of 24
Section

Behind the store, a stair void appears. The back is coloured reflecting light into space below. Colour and materials only reveal themselves gradually, a design move often applied by Mexican architect Louis Barragan and one of my favourites. Between stair and kitchen, we placed the dining room, a busy, engaging, and open space, designed to encourage conversation.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Wood, Lighting, Chair
© Shannon McGrath

The lounge room walls were skewed and stretched, drawing sunlight and garden into the dining room. The stairwell itself forms a large void prioritising space over utilities. It appears oversized. However, the benefits are obvious: elevated beyond providing access, the stair creates a light-filled and generous living space on a small footprint.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Lighting
© Shannon McGrath

The timber floor of the dining continues into the ceiling of the adjacent lounge, a retreat with a sense of calmness looking back into the house, courtyard, and out into the garden. The upstairs rooms, more exposed to sun, wind, and rain are formed and finished to achieve a balance between shelter from elements and exploring views into the distance.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Door
© Shannon McGrath

The best form of interaction is coincidental and the skill lies in planning the coincidence. Some layout and design decisions were made for this purpose evident in the brick platforms for seats facing dining space or lounge to allow for interaction. Like any building project, the Feng Shui house aims to balance user needs with cost, both financial and environmental.

To build climate-conscious requires building less, and in order to be accepted, we need to build better qualities with lesser means. We trust this has been achieved by applying principles of balance, meticulous planning, and playing with space and scale.

Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects - Interior Photography, Chair, Table
© Shannon McGrath

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Cite: "Feng Shui House / Steffen Welsch Architects" 04 Dec 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/952654/feng-shui-house-steffen-welsch-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

© Shannon McGrath

墨尔本‘风水’住宅 / Steffen Welsch Architects

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