Hawthorndene Well-timbered House, SA, 2019
The Well-timbered House makes the most of this much loved hills corner site, nestling into its hills slope. 2-storey construction minimises site footprint to deliver space for this family of 4 to further develop their ideals of local sustainability and self-sufficiency in the productive gardens – and also enables a joyous connection with the site’s eucalypt treetops. A growing wall, gently angling out westward, will draw new garden vertically, and deliver western sunshading.
Building over 2 levels and around a central void enables the site’s northern aspect to be enjoyed by all rooms, and maximising passive solar control. A family kitchen graces the tall central space. Its recycled timber benchtop echoes the house’s natural, honest and robust material palette. A double sided fireplace locates between it and a living room, snug with couches and wrapping rammed-earth walls. A guest bedroom is at ground, with all others up, where the kids’ zone is separated from the master suite by a home-office hot-desk that pushes out into the void.
Friendly-warm inside; outside, set to age gracefully to meld with the silvers and greys of the treasured gum trees.