Playful, angular home makes all the right connections

What's in a house design's orientation? Answer: everything, or at the least it plays an integral part as this surprising, in-tune house by Urban Function Architecture demonstrates

By strategic positioning of the core of the architecture, barn, building, door, facade, garage, home, house, land lot, property, real estate, residential area, roof, shed, siding, tree, black, teal — By strategic positioning of the core of the building, we were able to create interesting internal spaces and provide the solar gain required along with differing views in all directions.

The main ground floor steps gently down the apartment, architecture, building, concrete, courtyard, deck, design, estate, facade, floor, home, house, interior design, property, real estate, residential area, roof, siding, wall, wood, gray, black

Giant sliders open the architectural home up to architecture, building, ceiling, design, door, facade, floor, furniture, glass, home, house, interior design, property, real estate, residential area, room, window, gray

Upstairs is accessed via an open tread stairway architecture, building, ceiling, coffee table, design, floor, flooring, furniture, home, house, interior design, living room, lobby, property, real estate, room, table, tile, wall, gray

This house has a sense of playfulness and apartment, architecture, building, ceiling, daylighting, design, dining room, estate, floor, flooring, furniture, home, house, interior design, living room, loft, property, real estate, room, table, wall, gray

Strong materials meet simple forms in the engaging architecture, bedroom, boutique hotel, building, ceiling, concrete, floor, furniture, house, interior design, property, room, space, suite, tile, wall, black

Urbanfunction Architecture – Finalist – 2019 TIDA New architecture, bathroom, bathroom accessory, bathroom cabinet, bathroom sink, building, ceramic, floor, flooring, furniture, home, house, interior design, marble, material property, plumbing fixture, property, room, sink, tap, tile, black, gray

Both the main bedroom and ensuite feel completely architecture, bathroom, bathroom cabinet, bathtub, building, floor, furniture, home, house, interior design, material property, plumbing fixture, property, real estate, room, sink, tap, brown

Designed by Urban Function Architecture

From the designer:

Project description:

We designed this home for a young, growing family that regularly has overseas-based family members visit at short notice.

The site had tricky topography and an odd boundary shape, yet incredible views across farmland to the west.

The brief was to maximise solar gain, maintain privacy for guests and family-life, maximise the views to the alps and give interesting surprises in spaces.

Design response:

Originally, the clients wanted the building positioned in a different location.

However, we proved by cranking the plan and positioning the core of the building facing north/west, we could not only create interesting internal spaces but could also provide them both the solar gain they required along with differing views in all directions.

The main ground floor steps gently down the sloping site across three separate levels.

The level changes create a feeling of transition taking one on a journey from main living spaces, via interesting nooks and ‘caves’ for contemplation or escape, to the main bedroom which opens up to a three metre-high ceiling and grand views to the alps.

Both the main bedroom and ensuite feel completely disconnected from the rest of the home by being orientated differently with no windows that allow sight to the dwelling core.

Upstairs is accessed via an open tread stairway that captures alpine views from the main entry and allows transparency through the entire building.

This is the children’s domain.

With an open aerial linkway and void to downstairs, parents have an audible connection to the kids playing upstairs, yet they have their own sense of space and freedom.

This house has a sense of playfulness and calm brought about through an idea of altering volume and geometry.

The angular nature of this plan allows one to find private spaces and disconnect when required if the home is filled with overseas visitors.