Red Zephyr Blue House by CAPA Architects

And So That The Retired Couple Will Not Have To Worry About The Upkeep Of The Materials

The Red Zephyr Blue (RZB) House by CAPA Architects is designed to maximise the client’s relationship to the natural surroundings of Jualbup Lake, opening the living areas to the native and endemic planted garden and courtyard.

Responding to the brief for an eco-house with no air-conditioning, CAPA architects Justin Carrier and Steve Postmus designed a passive cooling system that uses vents in the roof and three cow troughs filled with water beside the house to keep the home naturally temperate in Perth’s hot climate.

That Uses Vents In The Roof And Three Cow Troughs Filled With Water Beside The House To Keep The Home Naturally Temp

A Blend Of Low Maintenance Brickwork, Stone, Timber, And Plants Was Specified To Harmonise With The Natural Environm

Stone was used as a base for the whole house externally and internally, with brickwork wrapping the house and solid timber features throughout the build.

From a conceptual point of view, the architects wanted the whole project to integrate both architecture and landscape, in everything from the perspective on the street to elements throughout the house. Having native and endemic flora and fauna was essential to the clients, and inspired the name of the house, “Red Zephyr”, from the red and blue dragonflies that appeared during the build.

A blend of low-maintenance brickwork, stone, timber, and plants was specified to harmonise with the natural environment, and so that the retired couple will not have to worry about the upkeep of the materials, instead focusing on the gardening of this dense landscape. The earthy palette is grounding throughout the home, with a mix of brickwork, dark stone on the ground, timber finishes and concrete. The use of mass material and then the lightness of the roof give a weightless quality to the house. The dark stone and opportunities for north light also warm the home during the mild, yet chilly, winters.

CAPA architects Justin Carrier and Steve Postmus designed a passive cooling system that uses vents in the roof and three cow troughs filled with water beside the house.

Responding To The Brief For An Eco House With No Air Conditioning

The brickwork conceptually wraps the house, mirroring the pattern in the roof vents to the insulated wall panels, and leaving space in the middle of the build for the internal courtyard.

The Red Blue Zephyr (rbz) House By Capa Architects Is Designed To Maximise The Client's Relationship To The Natural

The Red Blue Zephyr name is inspired from the red and blue dragonflies that appeared during the build.

Instead Focusing On The Gardening Of This Dense Landscape

Designed To Passively Cool Without Air Conditioning

Takes Inspiration From The Nature It Is Placed Within

A blend of low-maintenance brickwork, stone, timber, and plants was specified to harmonise with the natural environment.

The Plants Will Slowly Take Over And Help This Eco Home Become A Natural Retreat From Its Suburban Surroundings

Windows connect the aesthetics of the home while providing light or warmth.

Read The Full Feature Through The Link In Our Biostories.

Connecting with the naturalist endemic landscape and native flora and fauna, the architects considered the growing garden as part of the build, from the trellis which over time will be covered with native climbing vines. Meanwhile, the central courtyard has a pond to help introduce native frogs back to the area and endemic species from the region. Trees will eventually provide a canopy in the courtyard to allow for natural shade.

Stone Was Used As A Base For The Whole House Externally And Internally, With Brickwork Wrapping The House And Solid

Eventually, the plants will take over certain features of the architecture. Such as the concrete blocks on the upper-level terrace, and the trellis, which ultimately, may be covered.

In Everything From The Perspective On The Street To Elements Throughout The House

Short Feature Red Blue Zephyr (rbz) House, Carrier And Postmus Architects (capa)

Programmatically, each room in the house has its own function, intentionally resisting an open-plan layout to giving the rooms individual purpose. From the library room, dining, kitchen, and music room, to the artist studio upstairs, the rooms were designed for their specific uses and provided a welcome challenge for the architects. Materials were specifically chosen precisely for each room, further enhancing their sense of considered functionality.

To balance this sense of separation, timber provides continuity. Both the living rooms and bedrooms have sleek, minimal timber bookcases, owned by the clients since their first build, which were integrated into the new design. This timber runs flush throughout the house, continuing with music shelves in the front room which has windows opens to the south for the colder months or the ample living and library room in the back, which allows in the northerly morning sun.

Timber bookcases feature throughout the house from the clients first build in 2001, which Jason helped design at the beginning of his career.

With A Mix Of Brickwork, Dark Stone On The Ground, Timber Finishes And Concrete

Employing passive design principles and an innovative natural cooling system combined with a sensitive attention to the native flora of the area, RZB House is deeply influenced by the environment in which it rests.