Studio Trudeau has been commissioned to design a new dwelling for a young family on the outskirts of Armidale, on an environmentally sensitive site that also serves as a koala habitat.
From a consideration of the site surrounds, the design sought to respond to the hot summers and freezing winters of the area; to interact with the surrounding bush, fragile yet robust; and above all, to create a sense of home and intimacy without closing off the vast beauty of the horizon and sky above.
The house has been designed as four main pavilions, linked by four intermediate volumes, around a central courtyard. Abundant daylight enters all areas, views of the surrounding land are framed and captured, all while retaining a sense of intimacy and warmth.
The house is proposed as a CLT structure (cross-laminated timber) for the walls, floor, and roof, and draws from passivhaus principles to create a well-insulated internal environment with a constant flow of fresh air.
Inception to project completion, with services including:
The project is in the technical design and documentation phase, and construction should begin shortly.
Proposed north elevation.
View of the southern elevation, showing the varied volumes of the principal bedrooms, guest rooms and utilities at left, a music room at centre, and additional bedrooms and bathroom at right.
An internal view of the proposed central courtyard.
We’d love to hear from clients interested in new build, refurbishment and conservation projects, whether in Australia or Europe.