Ironbark House
Ironbark House is set within a coastal bushland landscape forming a retreat from the complexities of modern-day life for a busy family of 5. The building intends to assimilate with the surrounding landscape through its large spans and ‘as local as possible’ materials.
Inspired by Jørn Utzon’s principle of ‘additive architecture’; the idea that complex organic forms can emerge through the repetition and variation of simple elements as articulated in his Expansiva prefabricated houses and Jutland Project in Herning Denmark.
The house is staggered to follow the natural contours of the site and spatially is designed to promote a diagonal movement pattern to facilitate connection between the family. The Adult’s wing to the East and Children’s to the West converge into the central core living promoting this connection. The plan addresses the seasonal wind patterns by creating a series of courtyards that provide shelter throughout the year.
The project was built with a minimal material palette with Class 1 Ironbark Timber Cladding which is incredibly dense and rates as a BAL 29 along with a galvanised steel forming the primary structure. Demountable connection details were developed to prioritise long term sustainability, allowing components to be reversed and repaired over time.
