BIO COURTYARD HOUSE
DESIGNINC
Architect: DesignInc / Photography: Dianna Snape "DesignInc’s most recently completed residential project is a new two-storey house (with additional basement level) that occupies a corner site in beachside Victoria. The project was completed in late 2018, following a 20-month construction period, and provides the perfect sanctuary for the homeowners. A strict heritage overlay required a direct response to the streetscape and its built surrounds, although the design’s driving concept was very much informed by the natural environment. The resulting scheme takes advantage of the site’s northern outlook by orienting the house around a generously sized, double-height courtyard that takes in this aspect. Not only does the opening maximise views towards the Melbourne CBD, but the courtyard functions as an ecosystem or ‘bio-mechanical core’ that environmentally supports the entire site, filtering air and letting in sunlight. The boundaries between inside and outside are blurred via full-height glass openings and the interior is made to look larger than what it is because of the living areas’ open plan. A strong angularity defines the overall scheme, from the courtyard’s steps and planter boxes to the profiled zinc pitched roof, all of which is highlighted by a judicious use of blackened steel for the window and door frames and stair balustrade. Elsewhere, the palette is a mix of blonde timbers, pale brick and concrete that makes for an elegantly understated interior and a necessarily robust shell that protects from the coastal weather conditions. This is a home whose minimalist aesthetic balances a hard-working environmentally sustainable design to appear both welcoming and inviting." - DesignInc //Products Featured: Klus PDS4 Alu Profile
