The concept of the proposed house is to weave elements of the landscape and nature into the fabric of living. This is achieved by connecting the pockets of landscape with the interior, blurring the distinction between the interior and the exterior, through the introduction of the ‘engawa’.
The engawa hosts the transition from the internal environment to the external environment. Where the circulation is placed on the outside. Consequently, it visually connects humans with the external elements. Furthermore, it provides sun protection and contributes to the energy efficiency of the house.
The architectural form depicts a series of intersecting roof planes, which resembles ‘origami’, overlapping and folding. It is an amalgamation of the skillion roof and the pitched roof where the main roof structure is integrated with the engawa structure. The west and east wings both delineate from the central ‘tower’.
Environmental sustainability is addressed through a number of strategies to increase heating and cooling efficiency:
– Northern-facing doors and highlight windows will provide plenty of light throughout the day and seasons.
– Large eaves will prevent the summer sun at peak hours to penetrate the building.
Large eaves will prevent the summer sun from penetrating the building during peak hours.
– Sliding screen provides flexibility to control sun access
– Highlight louvre windows flush the hot air out
– A western buffer zone is created on the ground floor (brewery, store, ensuite, and study). This will eliminate any western heat transfer to the master bedroom and living area.
– Smaller rooms with western walls on the first floor can be isolated for heating and cooling efficiency. They also have an external timber screen that will help shade the walls and windows from direct heat load.
– The first-floor roof faces north to effectively host the solar panels.
