An Exploration of Thresholds – Cove House by Justin Humphrey Architect

Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Cove House sees an exploration of thresholds and the transitionary experience, expressed through materiality. Justin Humphrey Architects has created a home rich in tactile elements that embraces passive design principles.

Located just south of Brisbane, along the water, Cove House is a series of experiments of spatial and formal planning that subtly break apart the traditional residential model. Through an exploration of edges and the transition experience, Justin Humphrey Architects has utilised varying materiality and surfaces to express these moments. On approach and across all interfaces between inside and out, are a series of carefully sculpted courtyards that allow for dappled natural light to come together across both natural and built elements. The deliberate connection of the owners with both water and the landscape was a priority.

Under a single floating roofline and sitting within the site’s boundary on all four sides, the home is able to engage with the neighbourhood uniquely on three of its sides. Through both materiality and planting, this edge of relief allows for an uncommon engagement with passers-by with the home beyond the singular streetscape frontage. The choice of robust concrete coming together with warm timber further adds to expressing connections through their contrasting nature. The finely tapered roof then sits atop the concrete easement wall, providing both a sense of support and another expression of junction.

The deliberate connection of the owners with both water and the landscape was a priority.

Built by BJ Millar Constructions, together with Dan Deshon Landscaping, the clients love of subtropical architecture was the catalyst for the resulting form and relationship between internal and external spaces. Upon approach, the garden room becomes the first threshold between the private and the public, softening the transition. The play on enclosure is contrasted by the open sky, access to views of the water and the subtropical landscaping elements. These garden spaces are then dotted throughout, continuing these series of moments of relief from the traditionally enclosed residential typology.

The coordination of open and closed elements allows for passive cooling to occur naturally, and the large northern roof overhand allows the lower winter sun to permeate through to the thermal mass of the terrace slab. These generous overhangs allow for protection from the elements and the large roof affords the ability to capture significant amounts of rainwater for re-use as well as solar heat gains which are stored by the battery system.

Built by BJ Millar Constructions, together with Dan Deshon Landscaping, the clients love of subtropical architecture was the catalyst for the resulting form and relationship between internal and external spaces.

Cove House takes cues from its clients’ love of the subtropical and applies a number of clever passive and integrated heating, cooling and energy generating systems to propose a more thought-provoking proposal for residential living. Justin Humphrey Architects has knowingly curated a home that speaks to its location and context and aims to rethink a tried and tested architectural model, through exploring moments and bringing together the living landscape elements with a purposely robust built form.

Justin Humphrey Architects has created a home rich in tactile elements that embraces passive design principles.