Page 95 - AIT0321_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design Nic Brunsdon, AU-South Fremantle
Betonfertigteile • Pre-cast concrete elements Axonometrie • Axonometry sibilities. When first investigations showed that it would be impossi-
Grundriss • Floor plan
Bauherr • Client Privat
Standort • Location AU-Perth
Nutzfläche • Floor space 195 m 2
Fotos • Photos Ben Hosking, AU-Sydney
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More info on page 126
NORTH PERTH HOUSE
IN PERTH
The densification of cities – an issue among the experts.
Some mourn the disappearing green areas, others in-
voke the already existing infrastructure. That unique
projects can be implemented despite many restrictions
is shown with North Perth House designed by the archi-
tect Nic Brunsdon. He skilfully made all the wishes of
the clients come true in on a narrow empty site.
A narrow gap between buildings, restricted access to the sit, a li-
mited budget, the wish of the clients for a residence of concrete
and, not to forget, the necessary fire safety! The beginnings did not
bode well. However, the Australian Brunsdon achieved something
which does not always succeed: He made a virtue of necessity and de-
signed a distinctive unique building despite the existing limited pos-
ble to work with in-situ concrete, this initially sounded like a bitter
setback. Yet the setback turned into a stroke of luck since the Austra-
lian decided to develop the two-storey building of pre-cast concrete
elements and to work with just two different forms. Instead of as-
sembling the individual parts into a simple volume, an unconventio-
nal composition resulted: a grid arrangement. Whereas four concrete
pre-cast elements arranged parallel behind each other form the lower
level, four additional elements are “stacked” upon it rotated 90 de-
grees. Mutually bracing, they are the ordering principle as regards the
construction as well as the concept. The massive, pre-cast concrete
elements are characterized by small and large arched recesses. Whe-
reas the smaller one is intended for the passages and results in a
charming enfilade inside the house, the large arch is designed for the
significant gestures of the house – it frames the kitchen, allows a view
into the garden or forms the gallery window. Where the arch has a
space-defining function, timber inlays or polycarbonate panels fill the
openings – yet the arches still remain noticeable. The range of mate-
rials is deliberately restricted: raw concrete for structural elements
such as the floors and the ceilings; wood for the elements with direct
contact such as furniture, balustrades or the kitchen and translucent
synthetic panels to admit soft light into the interiors. The minimalism
and the repetition do not cover up the complexity of the rooms – com-
pressed and dim, high and bright, raw and unfinished or rich and in-
timate. Although they have been designed with restrictions and limi-
Grundriss 1. Obergeschoss • Floor plan level +1 tations, varied and attractive rooms have been created.
AIT 3.2021 • 095