Initial Exemplar Houses

My other initial exemplar houses were the Brookes Street House, by James Russell Architects, and the Great Bamboo Wall House by Kengo Kuma

Brookes Street House - James Russell Architects

IN THE ARCHITECTS WORDS "Nestled between two 19th century state heritage-listed buildings in Fortitude Valley, the Brookes Street house is a modern, raw, cubby-like home for a family of four. Whilst high density development was permitted under the planning scheme, it was decided that a small-scale proposal that enhanced the experience of the listed buildings was more appropriate. A major challenge in constructing the project was to create a secure and green inner sanctum amdist the chaos of 2 major arterial roads that feed the city of Brisbane. The site was initially a piece of carparking space, wedged between the listed buildings. The site's total width is a narrow 5.6 metres. The building is set back over 16m to create entry across a forecourt. This unites the listed buildings, the office in front of the church and our home and office. The entrance to the home is subtle: once through the threshold, one enters a private and secure world. The layout consists of two pavillions across a grass court. The court is the heart of the house and the draw for light and ventilation. From the first of the two pavillions, there is a relationship with the street to the south west and grass court to the north east. This pavillion houses the living/kitchen space at court level together with a mezzanine bed over. Across the court is the children's playroom rolling onto the court and two bedrooms over." -James Russell

Bamboo Wall House - Kengo Kuma

Kengo Kuma's bamboo Wall in the countryside near Beijing is breathtaking. It manages to express the perfect synthesis between architecture and the land, between human intervention and the work of nature, with rare poetry.

It is a statement of feeling, of very great and very delicate sensitivity. It is a building that listens to the land around it, and this is the source of its beauty. The project is part of a wider-ranging programme implemented in 2002 with the participation of 10 Asia's best-known architects - including Yung-Ho Chang, Shigeru Ban and Gary Chang - for construction of ten villas each, creating a commune of one hundred dwellings in a forest adjacent to the Great Wall of China.

References:

http://travelwithfrankgehry.blogspot.com/2009/12/great-bamboo-wall-by-kengo-kuma.html

Australian Institute of Architects,

http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=20064145