Robust Responsiveness - Barwon Heads House by Lovell Burton

Barwon Heads, VIC, Australia

Housed under an oversized sweeping roof, Barwon Heads House by Lovell Burton sees the replacement of an existing structure create a new home that approaches the site with a robust responsiveness.

Sitting protected from the elements under its sweeping oversized roof structure, Barwon Heads House maximises its spectacular location, responding with a robustness and an outward-facing approach. The architectural response was driven by the site. Located within close proximity of Bass Strait and the Barwon River Mouth, the building mass is staggered across the site as a means of sitting closely within it and maximising protection from the prevailing south-west winds. This deliberate stepped placement allows for a series of more intimate moments, while the larger openings reflect of the differing levels of functional activity or passivity internally.

The architectural response was driven by the site. Located within close proximity of Bass Strait and the Barwon River Mouth, the building mass is staggered across the site as a means of sitting closely within it and maximising protection from the prevailing south-west winds.

At 320 square metres, the new structure replaces an existing cedar cabin that sat on hardwood stilts, which the owners had utilised as their holiday home for numerous years. The home is designed as the permanent address for its retiring owners, and as the continual holiday home for the extended family. Set within its rich and layered coastal landscape terrain, the home is anchored to the site and offers a sense of protection, and its expressed materiality is a reflection of this. The opening up of directional vistas then allows for a visual engagement with the coast beyond, and a connection to the landscape and the living elements that surround.

Built by Project Group and designed with input from consultants in environmentally sustainable design, Arc Resources, aluminium, masonry and timber comprise the main structural and cladding elements. The large roof gesture acts as catchment of water to be used for irrigation, the pool and the home. Other elements such as a photovoltaic system, ground source heat pumps and a solar hot water system all add to the low maintenance and self-sufficiency of the home.

Creating a contrast in purpose, the materiality internally and externally is significantly contrasting. Externally, corrugated dark grey timber clads the form, referencing a sense of the original utilitarian cabin structure. This is then counterbalanced by the internal use of timber, stained on a varying spectrum to reflect orientation. Combined with internal blockwork, the structure is designed to be embedded with appropriate active energy to naturally mediate and cool and retain heat as needed.

Externally, corrugated dark grey timber clads the form, referencing a sense of the original utilitarian cabin structure.

Barwon Heads House is a reflective and responsive integration into the landscape. It utilises materiality to its benefit, and to facilitate the natural climactic comfort for its owners, based on its considered composition and mechanisms. Lovell Burton has handsomely proposed a coastal aesthetic that works with its site and enviable outward views.

Barwon Heads House is a reflective and responsive integration into the landscape.