Crafers House

by Urban Habitats

Through a detailed design process Urban Habitats have developed an elegant yet simple home inside and out, exemplifying the firms multi-faceted skillset of documentation, design and construction. 

From the very beginning of the Crafers House project the Urban Habitats team were able to showcase their skill and style in an end to end resolution from concept design through to handover. The aspect and relief of the site were managed in a manner that provides a stunning result and creates a strength of design and outcome.

Urban Habitats were attracted to the unique feel of the site and the dramatic natural surroundings. A clever response was required to overcome the challenges of the site orientation, aspect and relief. Designing a home around maximising solar access and creating a private external space were the critical parameters, with specific focus on thermal performance of the home and an economical response to the relief over the building footprint. A grouping of three gable-roofed pods joined by a flat roof hallway is the format of the response.

The Urban Habitats team were able to showcase their skill and style in an end to end resolution from concept design through to handover.

The house was constructed by Urban Habitats from a mix of natural products, linear elements and a fully insulated heated slab to provide a core warmth both physically and aesthetically. The mix of cement sheeting, bagged brickwork and western red cedar windows offset by the black finish to both wall and roof creates a striking but homely built form that is grounded appropriately within the setting and works in harmony with the setting.

The challenges of the site were managed in a manner that provides a stunning result and creates a strength of design and outcome.

The internal palette of material carries in from the external selection and creates a functional, warm family home that will ultimately grow overtime as the landscape develops around it. The clients were particularly enamoured by the passion displayed by the Urban Habitats team in regards to the entire design and construction process.