Background 7 km past the historic village of St Albans, the winding MacDonald River makes its way leisurely towards the Hawkesbury. The properties in the area have a long history, with many inhabitants directly descended from first settlers. Despite the area’s proximity to Sydney, the site remains reasonably remote, access being limited to a vehicle punt at Wiseman’s Ferry, and unsealed roads from the village of St Albans. On one of our early site visits, we chanced upon piles of old bridge timbers which had been removed from the old St Alban’s Bridge. They were an impressive find - 14in square sections of red ironbark up to 6.0m long, weighing almost 1 tonne each. After spending the best part of a day trying to retrieve 2 pieces, we planned our next salvage mission with a crane truck....
Site The property is 30 acres, and is bounded by properties on two sides, and the river and hills. A tiny timber cottage existed in a derelict state, virtually unseen due to the overgrowth. It was clear the position of the cottage was the natural place to build, and it was above the high flood level.
The site had existing embankments to create a level site, around which the cottage and a slab hut sat. The decision was made early to work within these boundaries, and restore the site. This allowed the retention of the massive sandstone fireplace and slab hut as elements of the design.
Planning The plan of the house is very simple. A variant of the gun-barrel plan, the structure is continuous throughout, as is the roofline and ceiling. Sleeping lofts at either end enclose a deck and bathroom / laundry below at either ends. The fireplace and joinery unit divides the living area from main sleeping area, and provides storage for both. The kitchen faces this unit, and a communal dining / living area which opens to the courtyard. Built in seating bays on the southern wall double as beds, and combined with the lofts, boost the accommodation to a possible 8 people.
Design The planning of the living areas was considered in conjunction with the planning of the ‘courtyard’, and great care taken in how the building stepped down and connected with the ground.
The construction technique of the building allowed it to look and feel elevated, a built intervention within the environment. The mass of the courtyard and stone fireplace grounds the work, contrasting and enhancing the light steel framing of the awning, and the sharp edges of corrugated roofing. From the approach the elevated structure can be seen clearly, and gives the impression that the bolted connections could be undone, and it could float away. The spectacular site allowed the building to open up in all directions, and frame the numerous views down the valley and to the glowing rock escarpment. Sliding bi-fold doors and windows open the living area to the courtyard, and encourage cross ventilation.
Given the brief was for a small weekender, care was taken to create a series spaces in which would be comfortable year round. This idea was to give as many locations as possible in which to sit and enjoy the inspiring surrounds. The paved courtyard faces due north, and soaks up the winter sun. Paved capping at a comfortable seat height surrounds the courtyard, fireplace and pond. Similarly, built in seating in the living areas, and on the front deck are included.
Materials The materials chosen were informed by the acquisition of the bridge ironbark. Galvanized steel sections welded on site were chosen to aid in the stability of the structure, its resistance to termite attack, and in connections between structural elements.
The palate of materials was expanded to include hoop pine plywood for joinery, wall and ceiling lining, Karri flooring and decking, and cedar doors and windows. With the exception of the flooring, all elements were pre-fabricated to aid in erection and possible disassembly. Clear finish oils were used throughout, which showcases the timbers characteristics and allows for a graceful aging process. Considered lighting was critical to stressing the natural beauty of these materials. All timbers except for the cedar are Australian, and are either recycled, plantation or from managed forests.
Although the star of the show is undoubtedly the natural surrounds, emphasis was given to the interior, and the intention of creating a comfortable, inviting and generous space. Given that the house is primarily for two, separate bedrooms are not required, which allowed a continuous volume inside, giving a deceptive sense of space for what is a small house. The interior materials are predominantly timber, and create a warm innately natural atmosphere. Traditional materials of rural Australia have been used in conjunction with modern building techniques and systems to create a contemporary weekender, with an awareness of its environment, history and place.
