This
house was designed for a narrow city lot in Queensland where keeping the house
cool through hot summer months was a primary consideration. A tight budget
called for inexpensive building components while retaining dramatic spaces
and the traditional Queensland peaked roof - with a 45 degree twist!
Main
features:
The
high peaked roof and 'gallery' provide dramatic living spaces, while the clerestory
windows 10ft up make the space bright and airy. Traffic flow is primarily
along the 'gallery' with it's 12ft high ceiling and 6ft width giving the impression
of spaciousness.
Walk
through description:
One
approaches the front door across the concrete drive which will comfortably
accommodate two cars parked side by side. The drive is separated from the
front garden by a pond. The pond could have a trellis built over it with creepers
to obscure the front garden and provide some privacy. Notice that the concrete
block framing for the garden gates protrudes past the garden walls - as do
all the window and door framing - providing relief protrusions which should
be painted a contrasting colour from the house walls - to give visual appeal
to an otherwise simple (and inexpensive) structure. The rectangular protruding
block arch forming the entrance to the pyramid canopied front porch is of
heavier construction.
The
front door is 8ft high to enhance the feeling of spaciousness as one enters
the 12ft high gallery with it's clerestory windows running the length of the
gallery. From the front door one looks through the 6ft wide gallery towards
the patio doors leading out to the back garden and lap pool. As one walks
down the gallery the ceiling opens up into the 23ft high peaked living/dining
ceiling with the clerestory windows continuing round the 'twisted' roof and
down to the floor at the three corners - the space has 'attitude'.
To
ensure that the gallery does not feel like the passage that it is, there are
four framed recesses 4ft wide. The first recess is the entrance to bedroom
#1; the second to the utility room; the third to bedrooms #2 and #3; and the
fourth to the main bathroom. There's a 5ft coat closet across from the door
leading to the garage, and a 1.5ft closet next to the door. A 2.5ft telephone
recessed desk, shelves and notice board, are between the utility and bathroom
entrances, with a 3ft pantry next to the kitchen. The gallery, which handles
most of the traffic through the house, is bright and spacious and can be enhanced
with a few well placed pieces of art work.
The
open plan living space is under the peaked roof so there are clerestory windows
running diagonally across the kitchen throwing light down onto the wrap around
kitchen counter/eating bar. The flat platform over bedroom #3 provides space
for glass art with the light coming from behind through clerestory windows.
The triangular flat sections of roof over the dining and living spaces have
clerestory windows on the diagonal above them providing visually interesting
details. The patio doors open onto the back walled garden with lap pool. This
area can be partially paved, with trellises, umbrellas or triangular 'sails'
to provide shade. Plum will happily provide a back garden design if required.
The
bedrooms are self explanatory with basins in beds #2 and #3, and the bathrooms
have walk-in showers which can be replaced with bathtubs if required. Each
bedroom has a patio door leading into a private garden with lush foliage and
perhaps a water fountain. The gates/doors between the gardens are for wheel
barrow access. There is also a similar gate/door next to the garage with storage
spaces provided for wheelie bins and other garden tools etc.
The
garage has one foot wide shelving across the back wall with a pass-though
to the utility room for supplies and empties. The utility room has a wall
of storage closets and under counter washer and drier with cupboards above.
The
'twist' house was designed to be built with inexpensive construction materials,
though it could of course be built with whatever materials one desires. The
concept was to pour a concrete floor - with the garage floor 6 inches lower
- and either colour the concrete or have it 'stamped' for patterning. The
whole floor could be tiled or the bedrooms carpeted. The walls were designed
to be of concrete block construction - with plastering or paint on the exterior,
and light plastering or 'bagging' the interior. The ceilings are to be well
insulated (keeps the heat out) and the flat sections should be waterproofed
with a 'torch-on' material, while the peak can be metal or shingles.
To
keep a house cool in a hot climate one can simply install and run air conditioners
much as one runs heating systems in cold climates. But there are some passive
cooling options available if one doesn't want the expense of operating energy
consuming air conditioners. Most important is to insulate the house and keep
exterior surfaces (especially the roof) light colours to reflect sunlight.
The windows should all be opened at night to allow the cool night air to cool
the interior of the house. Then before the sun warms everything, close the
windows and retain the cool night air inside - much as one keeps heat inside
a house during cold months. A few large 'casa blanca' type ceiling fans mounted
on the gallery ceiling can be switched to reverse with the clerestory windows
open in the late afternoon to exhaust the warm interior air - the fans suck
the air up against the ceiling and out the clerestory windows. To keep the
hot sun off the building one can grow lush creepers against the house, and
provide running water fountains in the privacy bedroom gardens to absorb heat
through evaporation. In the hottest weather one can hangout in the lap pool
and installing a small air conditioner in bedroom #1 will make nights bearable.
Why
is this house affordable?
Total
living square footage is a mere 1847 sq.ft. plus 301 sq.ft. for the garage.
A concrete slab floor with concrete block exterior walls eliminates costly
interior and exterior finishing materials - though these can be added later
if desired. The flat roof areas have a span of only 13ft, and all windows
are stock sizes. The exterior pond, lap pool, garden walls and gates can be
left off initially. Even the peaked roof can be reduced to a flat roof (26ft
truss span) with a 12ft high ceiling - not as dramatic, but with the flat
roof 'floating' above all those clerestory windows the space will still have
'attitude'. The exterior garage door can be replaced with windows making the
garage a play or games room.
If
you like this concept email Plum and talk to us. Bear in mind that this plan
fits exactly the lot is was designed for, but if the twisted peak roof appeals
to you, Plum can alter the floor plan to fit your lot size. The clients for
the Twist house actually liked the Cool Queenslander design (page 9) but their
budget and lot size dictated the Twist house compromise. We can redesign or
change anything you fancy. Don't be shy to email Plum. We're open to suggestions
for improvements too.
