... Australia ... Jon Lowe

Jonathan Lowe, South Australia : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2007

[ private house : sell-build : rural ]

'Angaston Pavilion', Malvern, South Australia

Perched on a steep hill overlooking a quiet country town in South Australia, the Angaston Pavilion is a modest family weekender. Designed to the strict principals of Murcutt modernism – careful siting, truth to materials, and expressed sustainability – the three-bedroom house sits lightly behind a spectacular gum tree, with the structure’s body facing north, using the large foliage as protection from the western sun. With a minimalist palette tied closely to the former stone quarry at the top of the hill, the building echoes its surroundings while remaining open to the views on all sides.

Two large doors slide past the external wall, connecting the living space with the western-facing deck and embracing the stately eucalypt and its passing shadows. Past the kitchen a tiny bathroom, two bedrooms, and a concealed laundry line the corridor, which leads to a main bedroom with ensuite, facing the hilltop to the east. All rooms include north-facing windows, and high awnings that punctuate the formal grid structure and provide natural ventilation. A garage and wine cellar fit neatly within the suspended volume of the main house, keeping the building footprint to a mere 100m2.

The house is supplied with rainwater from three tanks staggered down its southern side, and the solar array and hotwatersystem considerably reduce the impact on the environment.

The material choice has been restricted to reverse veneer concrete block walls with colorbond custom orb lining, polished concrete bondek slab, and native timber window frames, tied together by an efficient steel structure to deliver maximum impact on a tight budget.

The Angaston Pavilion is Jon’s first private project

He now a Senior Architect with Greenway Architects in Adelaide

http://www.greenwayarchitects.com.au/profile/

www.ozetecture.org

Lindsay Johnston19 June 2016

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org