Scotland Island House II
By Sam Crawford Architects
2020 Guringai Country / Scotland Island, NSW
2020 Australian Timber Design Awards – Winner
Scotland Island, one of two inhabited islands in the Sydney area, has a population of about 600 people. It is reached only by boat, and forms part of an offshore community that includes Elvina and Lovett Bays on the edge of the Ku-ring-gai* Chase National Park. It lies within the lands of the Guringai* people, the original inhabitants of the area. Middens, containing remnants of shells and fish gathered and cooked by Guringai*, have been found on the northern and western parts of the Island and there are numerous rock engravings carved by the Guringai* people on the surrounding hills.
Our clients asked us to design a simple house, that is easy to live in and maintain, that would capture the stunning views of Pittwater and the Ku-ring-gai* Chase National Park, as well as the surrounding bush and nearby beach. Our design prioritises the view, and the privacy of neighbouring properties; placing the living rooms on the upper floor and bedrooms on the lower. Ample winter sun reaches deep into the living rooms, and folding roofs afford high and low level windows to promote natural cross ventilation. Dark and muted timber cladding allows the building to visually nestle into the tree covered hillside, moderating the impact of the building within the natural setting of the island and when viewed from Pittwater. A timber path and stair leads from the private jetty to the house.
We were very fortunate to be able to work with master builder Ryan Stidwill for a second time building on the island.
* names not accepted by all Indigenous people
Published
Green Magazine, Issue 77 2020
SCA Project Team
Sam Crawford, Benjamin Chan, Ken Warr, Annie Vu
Builder
RW Stidwill Constructions
Consultants
Arborist – Birds Tree Consultancy
Bushfire – Sydney Bushfire Consultants
Civil, Geotech, Hydraulic Engineer – Martens & Associates
Landscape Architect – Spirit Level Designs
Structural engineer – Cantilever Consultant Engineers
Council
Northern Beaches Council
Photographer
Brett Boardman
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Sam Crawford Architects
About the
Professional
Established in 1999, Sam Crawford Architects (SCA) is a design driven architectural practice based in Sydney, Australia. Over the last 20 years, we have established a well-earned reputation for design excellence in residential, cultural and public projects. In addition to our expertise in these areas, we’re also commencing our work in the education sector with both private and public clients.
Our work has been widely published, nationally and internationally and has been recognised in numerous local, state and national awards from the Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Timber Design Awards, Local Government Heritage, Conservation and Urban Design as well as numerous industry awards & commendations.
PeopleOur team is led by Practice Principal and Design Director, Sam Crawford. Alongside the recognition for his built work Sam is highly regarded within the architectural profession. He has led humanitarian architectural projects, conducted gallery based and built research projects, been invited to serve as head-juror for the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Awards, and was a joint creative-director of the 2014 Australian Institute of Architects National Conference. Sam is co-chair of the Australian Institute of Architects’ Medium Practice Forum, and a member of the Government Architect NSW State Design Review Panel.
With a practice of our size, clients can be assured that Sam is intimately involved in each project. We work in an open-plan studio environment in collaborative teams to ensure the smooth delivery of projects across all scales. Our team is comprised of highly skilled professionals, graduates and students. This mix of team members ensures that each project benefits from the close attention of a dedicated project architect with a support team to efficiently deliver the project. We also have an experienced and dedicated documentation and detailing expert who brings extensive experience of construction detailing to each project.
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