The first exemplar house which I have selected is the Canoe Reach Residence. This riverfront residence was designed by Steendyk Architects, and is located on Brisbane's south in Yeronga (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009). Sited on a panoramic bend of the Brisbane River this private retreat for occupants and their guests explores the boundaries of modern architecture, with regard to delight and function. Particularly, this is my favourite home visually out of the chosen three as it combines a range of different materials with the overall result of a heightened grand appearance.
Some basic details about the Canoe Reach Residence include;
Location: Yeronga, Qld
Design Architect: Brian Steendyk
Structural Consultant: Bligh Tanner Consulting Engineers
Structural Consultant: Crichton Engineering
Landscape Architect: Steendyk
Interior Designer: Steendyk
Builder: Phase Developments
(Canoe Reach Residence, 2009)
Design Architect: Brian Steendyk
Structural Consultant: Bligh Tanner Consulting Engineers
Structural Consultant: Crichton Engineering
Landscape Architect: Steendyk
Interior Designer: Steendyk
Builder: Phase Developments
(Canoe Reach Residence, 2009)
“From inception our design practice has been passionate about the creation of designs that are sustainable environmentally, functionally, and aesthetically. An emotive sculptural quality that possesses an underlying logic is imbued in each design resulting in pertinent objects that combine elegance with panache.” (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009)1. House as an Environmental Filter:
- The Canoe Reach Residence boasts aspects and features which can define it as an 'environmental filter'.
- As it is located near the Brisbane River, it is assumed that the Architect would incorporate this relation somehow in the design. Steendyk has been particularly successful with this. Specifically, the building is situated on a sloping hill facing the river. The Architect has designed the structure to sit neatly and comfortably within the contours, creating the same flowing effect as what is established with the landscape.
- The Canoe Reach Residence utilises large openings and windows for a variety of environmental reasons. These inclusions attract maximum sunlight into the home and also dictates the ventilation movement. Also, to the Brisbane River are maximised and as a result the external boundary somewhat disappears as the outside is brought inside the house (Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk Architects in Yeronga, Australia, 2008).
-Finally, the materials chosen establish a relationship with the location. With the natural flow of the river and the terrain, Steendyk has utilised timber - a natural material as the primary finishing for the exterior (Down by the river, 2008).
Large Openings and Windows
2. House is a container of Human Activities:
- Although being an 'environmental filter' the Canoe Reach Residence has a functional experience - being a housing container of human activities.
- The U shaped plan of the home is designed to maximise the amount of areas to attain a view of the river. It is noted that most rooms in the house, except a couple have perfect unblocked views of Brisbane River (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009).
- These rooms circulate and surround the central focus point of the structure which is the ground floor courtyard (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009). Situated in the middle of the home it defines the communal space, and is the general area linking all communal areas together. Steendyk has branched the kitchen, living room and library (all communal spaces) off the courtyard. This establishes the fact that he believes the occupants will use this space proficiently during the day (Canoe Reach Residence, 2010). To enhance this fact, the spaces are quite open and spacious.
- On the other hand, bedrooms and most bathrooms are found to be on the first level above the courtyard (Canoe Reach Residence, 2010). Steendyk has designed it specifically this way to maintain the hierachy of privacy and to exentuate the horizontal and vertical continuity.
Site Plan - revealing steep topography
Western elevation - clearly shows the house within the site
- The house in itself is a journey of various experiences and emotions.
"Entering from the street past the tennis court, the riverfront residence appears as a single-storey loggia. From the entry court, a mounded earth embankment deliberately obscures the river and house form. As the entry gate is approached, a cantilevered awning draws the visitor through the embankment; the space compresses in height, width and depth through perspective manipulation. This sets up the unexpected arrival sequence into the central courtyard, which expands to a two-storey space with an overhead parasol roof. Ascending the stairs, a sequenced view unfolds: the parklands beyond, then the Brisbane River below and finally the house, which reveals itself as a contemporary courtyard residence." (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009)
-This is a snapshot of the delight one experiences when entering the home. It is heightened significantly by the numerous views each room possesses of the natural beauty of the landscape beyond.
- Furthermore, the unique architecture and creative layout of the structure on its own creates an aspect of delight which is further enhanced by the spaciousness and openess of the whole structure.
References:
Steendyk. Canoe Reach Residence, Yeronga. 2009
URL: http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2008041485 (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
Canoe Reach Residence. 2010
URL: http://www.steendyk.com/mainpage.htm (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk Architects in Yeronga, Australia. 2008
URL: http://www.nikiomahe.com/home-design/canoe-reach-residence-by-steendyk-architects-in-yeronga-australia/ (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
Down by the river. 2008.
URL: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=10702 (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
- The Canoe Reach Residence boasts aspects and features which can define it as an 'environmental filter'.
- As it is located near the Brisbane River, it is assumed that the Architect would incorporate this relation somehow in the design. Steendyk has been particularly successful with this. Specifically, the building is situated on a sloping hill facing the river. The Architect has designed the structure to sit neatly and comfortably within the contours, creating the same flowing effect as what is established with the landscape.
- The Canoe Reach Residence utilises large openings and windows for a variety of environmental reasons. These inclusions attract maximum sunlight into the home and also dictates the ventilation movement. Also, to the Brisbane River are maximised and as a result the external boundary somewhat disappears as the outside is brought inside the house (Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk Architects in Yeronga, Australia, 2008).
-Finally, the materials chosen establish a relationship with the location. With the natural flow of the river and the terrain, Steendyk has utilised timber - a natural material as the primary finishing for the exterior (Down by the river, 2008).
Large Openings and Windows2. House is a container of Human Activities:
- Although being an 'environmental filter' the Canoe Reach Residence has a functional experience - being a housing container of human activities.
- The U shaped plan of the home is designed to maximise the amount of areas to attain a view of the river. It is noted that most rooms in the house, except a couple have perfect unblocked views of Brisbane River (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009).
- These rooms circulate and surround the central focus point of the structure which is the ground floor courtyard (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009). Situated in the middle of the home it defines the communal space, and is the general area linking all communal areas together. Steendyk has branched the kitchen, living room and library (all communal spaces) off the courtyard. This establishes the fact that he believes the occupants will use this space proficiently during the day (Canoe Reach Residence, 2010). To enhance this fact, the spaces are quite open and spacious.
- On the other hand, bedrooms and most bathrooms are found to be on the first level above the courtyard (Canoe Reach Residence, 2010). Steendyk has designed it specifically this way to maintain the hierachy of privacy and to exentuate the horizontal and vertical continuity.
Site Plan - revealing steep topography
Western elevation - clearly shows the house within the site3. House is a Delight:
- The delightful experience of the Canoe Reach Residence does not begin at the actual house but instead is developed an develops on your approach to the site. The environment establishes many feelings of grandness with the winding Brisbane River in the background and the large canopy trees lining the street.- The house in itself is a journey of various experiences and emotions.
"Entering from the street past the tennis court, the riverfront residence appears as a single-storey loggia. From the entry court, a mounded earth embankment deliberately obscures the river and house form. As the entry gate is approached, a cantilevered awning draws the visitor through the embankment; the space compresses in height, width and depth through perspective manipulation. This sets up the unexpected arrival sequence into the central courtyard, which expands to a two-storey space with an overhead parasol roof. Ascending the stairs, a sequenced view unfolds: the parklands beyond, then the Brisbane River below and finally the house, which reveals itself as a contemporary courtyard residence." (Canoe Reach Residence, 2009)
-This is a snapshot of the delight one experiences when entering the home. It is heightened significantly by the numerous views each room possesses of the natural beauty of the landscape beyond.
- Furthermore, the unique architecture and creative layout of the structure on its own creates an aspect of delight which is further enhanced by the spaciousness and openess of the whole structure.
References:
Steendyk. Canoe Reach Residence, Yeronga. 2009
URL: http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2008041485 (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
Canoe Reach Residence. 2010
URL: http://www.steendyk.com/mainpage.htm (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
Canoe Reach Residence by Steendyk Architects in Yeronga, Australia. 2008
URL: http://www.nikiomahe.com/home-design/canoe-reach-residence-by-steendyk-architects-in-yeronga-australia/ (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
Down by the river. 2008.
URL: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=10702 (Accessed on 5th March 2010)
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