Contemporary Design in Detail: Sustainable Environments

46 Sustainable Environments

Battersby Howat Architects,

Gulf Island Residence,

Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

 is retirement residence is built on previ-

ously cleared land, replacing a smaller cot-

tage. A trace of the previous house is found

in the new concrete walls on the north and

east sides, which maintain the footprint’s old

boundaries.  e new structure extends over

a rise in the land toward the west, fi tting in

between large existing trees on the north and

south sides. Again, no trees were felled. To

obtain more fl oor space, the house is cantile-

vered beyond the concrete foundation on the

southern, glazed façade.

47

Left  e new design also conserves the

existing infrastructure of the older cottage;

the pedestrian and vehicular access to the

house, the septic fi eld, and well were all

retained. Rebuilding on the same footprint

required planning permission because of

the residence’s proximity to the waterfront

and road. To reposition the house, however,

would have meant clearing additional land,

including many large trees, and relocating

the utilities and services—more detrimental

disruptions, overall.

Site Conservation

48 Sustainable Environments

Jesse Judd Architects,

Wheatsheaf Residence, Wheatsheaf,

New South Wales, Australia

 e forest that encircles the house is a former

state logging plantation, last seeded with

eucalyptus thirty to forty years ago. Although

the residence is situated not within an old-

growth forest but within vegetation with a

monocultural growth and little underbrush,

its elemental expression still bears in mind

its environment, which is slowly reverting

to wilderness. Even as the house minimally

impacts the wildlife habitat into which it is

set, it takes protective measures against the

natural conditions. Of primary concern are

bushfi res; evidence of past fi res is visible on

the trunks of the messmate trees.  us the

metal-frame building, whose factory-fi nished

steel shell is noncombustible, sits on a plat-

form raised above the ground on posts, and

is surrounded by gravel.

49

Above  e design takes certain cues from

the vernacular of structures of the Australian

bush—such as the simple form of corrugated

metal opening onto a wood verandah—yet it

clearly defi es expectations of organic integra-

tion into the landscape with its black exterior

and glowing red interior.  e metal roof

aids in collecting rainwater that is fi ltered

for drinking, toilet tanks, and irrigation and

channeled to two large water tanks at the

rear of the house.

Site Conservation

50 Sustainable Environments

Above  e platform is raised only to the

extent that code does not require a handrail,

and only at the bedroom end of the house

does it step down to grade.  e deck, made

of reclaimed turpentine wood from the old

Wooloomooloo Wharf in Sydney, creates a

safe area for play and rest away from snakes

and other creatures of the bush, but allows

the wildlife to roam freely or fi nd shelter

beneath the house.

Right  e lightweight metal-frame construc-

tion enables the house to hover above the

ground with a minimal foundation structure.

At its thickest point, the structure is 180 mil-

limeters (7 inches).  e underside could thus

be made fi re resistant, with few protrusions

for utilities.  e smooth, discrete metal form

also references the nomadic character of

portable vehicles and holiday homes.

metal deck 1

end of 200 mm (7

7

/

8

")

PFC portal beyond

steel fascia 200 x 6 mm (7

7

/

8

" x

1

/

4

")

steel plate bolt fi xed to 150 mm (6") PFC

plywood 2

folded Colorbond gutter inside to fall

steel wall brace

aluminum cover over

packer to match framing

aluminum awning over

transom with friction stays

aluminum track pelmet,

fi nish to match framing

Capral 200 series top-hung

sliding door

aluminum sliding door

plywood 1

aluminum threshold fl ush with door

150 x 38 mm (6" x 1

1

/

2

") select

recycled hardwood deck

steel fascia 200 x 6 mm (7

7

/

8

" x

1

/

4

")

steel plate bolt fi xed to structure

structure set back 300 mm (1') from

edge minimum