Pod

Primarily designed from inside out for views and sun while also being conscience of creating very sculptural form; an object in the landscape. Not to blend, but to sit in opposition, a manmade imposition. We removed all trace of archetypal house elements to produce a subtle blurring of the line between art and commerce.  

Is this freight or a house? We broke the building into small component parts like stacked boxes, using the natural topography to our advantage. The ‘Pod’ building is an anchor point for the site with crates in timber & concrete randomly stacked as if ready for loading and dispatch by sea. The design came out of the need to overcome a difficult site; steep and split in two by an easement as well as to consider view sharing with adjoining owners and the need to gain elevation and frame views, like a perch or tree house. A small standalone custom-made 3 level building for a couple's weekend retreat. A place that changes with the seasons & the time of day, a place to contemplate, unwind and enjoy. 

There are platforms to enjoy magnificent views. We also had an obligation to create something remarkable when experienced from the outside-in, that reflected our client, his engineering and infrastructure background and what he does. A building with a touch of client self-expression. The brief was collaboration, as was the build. Engineering by the client, construction by their son. The process punctuated by conversations & good dinners.  

We took a holistic approach to the entire design process. The building is used as a self-contained guest house attached to a main house for a large extended family of 3 generations. The owners were after a more relaxed feel in the ‘Pod’ than the main house so they could slip in and out on weekends with ease The key was to work with the elements, sun, breezes, shade and shadow and get the orientation right. Maintain maximum glass yet keep it sustainable by working with solar heat gain in winter to passively warm areas, offset by the ability to adjust by opening up the entire building to catch sea breezes and allow warm air to escape. Concrete has good thermal mass properties enabling us to build a combined wall & roof structure in the form of a box, prefabricate it and transport it to site as a completed element. The building achieves a 6-star rating.  

Location: Lorne, Victoria, Australia
Photo Credit: Sharyn Cairns - http://www.sharyncairns.com.au/