Isaacson-Davis House - John Wardle

“In 1997, architect John Wardle received the RAIA (Victorian Chapter) Architecture Medal for the design of the best building in the state - a beach house for clients, Tony Isaacson and Megan Davis, at Balnarring. The site, nestled amongst coastal ti trees with a tiny camping ground across the road, is tucked behind the fore-dune, which screens any ocean view.” (Timber Building in Australia, 2009)

(Stuart Harrison,Unknown)

As an Environmental Filter

The house is elevated reducing earth works and disturbances to the natural vegetation its terrain and natural water courses.

The house has been constructed with materials that are sympathetic to the environment this is clearly evident in that the houses exterior is almost completely timber, highlighting the notion of an environmentally friendly design. (Ferguson, S.)

A large amount of windows and glass panels give the appearance that the outside is coming in, creating a intimacy with the natural surrounding environment.

The floor plan has been molded around climatic conditions, this has enabled natural ventilation to flow through the house along with natural light, the capture of desirable sun and blocking of undesirable sun allows the uses of all rooms to be comfortable at all times of day, this reduces the need of air conditioning and artificial lighting. The sun angles have been carefully worked with along with the optimum vantage points of the ocean.

(Timber Building in Australia, 2009)
(Ferguson, S.)

As a Container of Human Activities

The house has been designed based on the concept of a suit case, one has to un-pack its contents then re-pack once moving. This is to make the house feel like a holiday house giving the inhabitant a sense of retreat from their normal lifestyle. (John Wardle Architects, 2006)

The floor plan has been formed to circulate around a human lifestyle, consideration of human activities has depicted where the rooms have been situated; the living areas to one end, connected to services areas in the middle and then the sleeping areas at the other end. This minimizes the need to walk through rooms unnecessarily.

(Timber Building in Australia, 2009)
(Ferguson, S.)

As a Delightful Experience

Fine detail has been put in to the construction and choice of materials to heighten the users experience. (John Wardle Architects, 2006)

The house glows at night time, the vegetation around the house blocks moon light creating a contrast to the golden lighting almost exploding through the gaps in the timber shell design.

Image Source: (John Wardle Architects, 2006)




Entrance from the road to the house has been intended to be a stimulating journey, the house is hidden amongst dense vegetation and is carefully ‘unfolded’ encouraging visitors to consider what it is they are about to enter. (John Wardle Architects, 2006)





The interplay between solid walls and voids, open roofs and glass panels, interior areas and areas which extend into the landscape creates a relationship with the inside and its surrounding environment, bringing the outdoors in blurring the line between ‘the built’ and the natural.

(Timber Building in Australia, 2009)
(Ferguson, S.)

References

Ferguson, S. Isaacson/Davis Beach House. Retrieved From:
http://www.timber.org.au/NTEP/Resources/17s.pdf (accessed March 5, 2010)

John Wardle Architects (2006) Balnarring Beach House. Retrieved From:
http://www.johnwardle.com/projects/default.htm?i_PageNo=1&ProjectId=16&pageNo=1&ProjectCategoryId=3&ProjectKindId=0&Featured=0&Archived=0&AllProjects=0&ViewMode=text (accessed March 6, 2010)

Stuart Harrison (Unknown) Australian Design Review. Retrieved From:
http://www.australiadesignreview.com/data/images/contents/0000/1360.JWA.jpg

Timber Building in Australia (2009) Projects- Isaacson/Davis Beach House. Retrieved From:
http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/projects/aus/459/default.htm#Information (accessed March 7, 2010)