Bligh Voller Neild – Australia

El sitio se ve severamente anegado en períodos de lluvias intensas, de ahí la necesidad de levantar las áreas de vivienda por encima del nivel del terreno. La preservación de árboles significativos en el pequeño lote influyó en la decisión de disponer la casa en tres niveles con una planta baja mínima. El piso inferior, situado bajo el nivel de la corriente, se usa para el garaje y para los tanques de almacenamiento del agua de lluvia.

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Gully House
Yeronga, Queensland
Completed 2004

Located in a verdant Brisbane gully, near the river in Brisbane's inner southern suburbs, this small house seeks to take full advantage of its secluded site and intimate views over the lush sub-tropical vegetation. By its location in the lower lying areas of the suburb and being close to the river, the site is subject to severe flooding in periods of intense rainfall. The need to raise the living areas above flood level whilst also retaining significant existing trees on the small site influenced the decision to arrange the house over 3 levels, maintaining a small footprint.

The lower floor under the flood level accommodates cars, storage and rainwater tanks. Access to the main floor is by a long bridge across the gully with views to both the north and east over adjoining gardens, providing large living areas, study, guest room, kitchen, laundry and guest bathroom with the living areas opening onto a large north facing deck with stairs connected to the garden. The upper level which overlooks the large, almost two storey high living spaces includes a generous master bedroom with bay window toward the river views and a mezzanine studio.

The character of the house and the method of construction responds to the particular physical characteristics of the site including the fragile nature of the soil conditions where the house straddles both a stormwater and sewer line, the close proximity of neighbours to the west and the dense tree canopy providing high levels of shade over the site. More specifically, the house employs a lightweight construction system supported on a grid of steel columns to the lower level with a hybrid timber and steel frame to the upper levels, clad externally generally with black stained plywood to diminish the apparent bulk of the house.


Written Statements

Project Description:
Located in a verdant Brisbane gully, near the river in Brisbane's inner south-western suburbs, this small house seeks to take full advantage of its secluded site and intimate views over the lush sub-tropical vegetation in the immediate surrounds. Large expanses of glass enable maximum advantage to be taken of the intimate views over the surrounding gardens but arranged in a way to afford an appropriate level of privacy. Notwithstanding the restricted budget and the construction difficulties of the site, the house is remarkably private and enjoys a strong but complimentary character to the sub-tropical landscape.

Relationship of the project to its site and context:
Seclusion of the site and its strong natural character have exerted a significant influence to all the aspects of the design, but in particular and as previously referred to, for the primary intention that the most significant experience of the house be not of the constructed fabric but of the environment within which the house sits. Finally, and of a slightly more romantic nature, it is worth noting that the garden of an adjoining property which the house overlooks is the childhood playground of the client and the new house's gentle relationship and understanding of this personal experience has given a dimension to the house's relationship with the site which recognises that special relationship.

Architectural expression of the concept:
The design for the Gully House has been the influence by a significant concern to take maximum advantage of the views to the surrounding gardens and subtropical landscape rather than to develop any strong particular design character which might detract from that opportunity. Therefore the design has generally been kept simple and highly attuned to the detail character of the site. This approach has also been influenced by the client's significant collection of contemporary art and an eclectic collection of contemporary and antique furniture. The interior spaces have been arranged for a high level of flexibility enabling spaces to borrow from adjoining spaces and afford larger views along with better cross ventilation. This is achieved by large sections of sliding walls, open balustrades and louvres between rooms. Further, given that the house is only for two residents the level of privacy required within is relatively minimal.

Notwithstanding the small scale and modest budget of the house, it has a relatively generously scaled interior which takes maximum advantage of the views to the surrounding gardens particularly from the living areas on the east and north. The profile and appearance of the house is also influenced by the deep shaded character of the site and the dark stained plywood cladding is envisaged as developing a rich patina in time. Other elements of the exterior including the fire place, bay windows to the study and master bedroom and an extension to the guest room which protrude from the main body of the house are clad with zincalume sheet. Large expanses of glass enable maximum advantage to be taken of the intimate views over the surrounding gardens but arranged in a manner to afford an appropriate level of privacy.

Cost effectiveness:
The house is extremely cost effective by the application of skills, knowledge and experience over many years from working on similar projects and with smaller house builders. The key principles which have controlled the cost of the house within such a tight budget are a disciplined structural grid which affords maximum efficiency for lightweight steel and engineered soft wood framing, the use of standard size domestic glazing systems, a limited materials palette ie. plywood to the exterior and plasterboard to the interior and the adoption of conventional finishing techniques but manipulated to ensure "clean" finishes and the avoidance of labour intensive detailing and the expensive finishes.

Environmental / energy efficiency:
Located in a verdant Brisbane gully, near the river in Brisbane's inner southern suburbs, this small house seeks to take full advantage of its secluded site and intimate views over the lush, subtropical vegetation including the significant existing shaped canopy to the immediate surrounds. The character of the house and the method of construction responds to the particular physical characteristics of the site including the fragile nature of the soil conditions where the house straddles both the stormwater and sewer line, the close proximity of neighbours to the west and the dense tree canopy providing high level shade over the site. Large openings between wall spaces also facilitate a high level of cross ventilation along with thermal ventilation afforded by high level roof openings. Notwithstanding the restricted budget and the construction difficulties of the site, the house has employed key sustainable design initiatives.

- The house is situated in a steep gully on the banks of the Brisbane River at Yeronga. It bridges over an existing overland flow but is designed in a way to allow the existing overland flow to continue under the house toward the river. There is no significant bulk excavation for the construction of the house which means that there is little damage to the existing drainage systems through and around the site.
- The house was carefully placed between and around existing significant trees. These were carefully plotted and the plan and profile of the house were designed to ensure their retention.
- The house has been elevated above the ground with a minimal number of footings supporting steel posts. This enables the overland flow to continue through and under the house particularly in times of heavy rainfall and flooding and also allows minimum impact on the site to assist in minimising any disturbance to existing tree root systems.
- The external walls of the house are fully insulated and clad with plantation grown "eco-ply".
- All external windows and doors have been carefully placed for maximum shade and weather protection through the use of eave overhangs and weather screens or by locating them under the shade of existing tree canopies.
- The roof is fully insulated and by retention of the existing significant trees it is well shaded during most of the day to minimise any heat gain.
- The floor plan of the house is arranged to ensure that the primary living spaces have a northern aspect including a well protected outdoor living area. The planning and arrangement also ensures that all rooms of the house can take advantage of good cross ventilation through the use of large areas of openable windows and glass doors, high level glass louvres, internal timber louvres and sliding walls and openable roof windows to allow hot air to escape at the high levels of the house whilst drawing cool air through the lower parts of the house via the stack effect.
- All roof water is harvested and stored in 30,000 litres of water tanks which supply all the water needs of the house.
- High energy rated electrical appliances are used throughout.
- Water saving tap fittings are used throughout.
- Plentiful and judicious provision of large areas of external glazing combined with generally white painted interiors ensures high levels of natural light throughout the house.
- Plantation grown blackbutt timber flooring is used throughout in the interior.
- All timber floor and wall framing is plantation grown engineered soft woods.
- As far as possible, materials have been chosen for the ability to be recycled in future.
- As far as possible, the house has been designed for easy demountable in the future.

The key aspect of the house though has been to ensure that the design provides a high level of engagement of the natural climate and landscape in a way to create a high level of security and comfort which ultimately contributes to a place of retreat and which is conducive to well being.

Organisation of spaces inside and out:
The need to raise the living areas above flood level whilst also retaining significant existing trees on the small site influenced the decision to arrange the house over 3 levels, maintaining a small footprint. The lower floor under the flood level accommodates cars, storage and rainwater tanks. The main floor is accessed via a long bridge across the gully and enjoys views to both the north and east over adjoining gardens whilst providing large living areas, study, guest room, kitchen, laundry and guest bathroom with the living areas opening on to a large north facing deck with stairs connected to the garden. The upper level which overlooks the large, almost 2 storey high living spaces, includes a generous master bedroom with bay window toward the river views and a mezzanine studio. The interior spaces have been arranged for a high level of flexibility enabling spaces to borrow from adjoining spaces and afford larger views along with better cross ventilation. The main living areas of the house, arranged over two levels, are connected by an open timber stair in the 2 storey high space which also serves as the entry hall. This stair opens on to the main volume of the living, dining, kitchen space which also then opens out by large bi-folding doors to a large north facing deck.

Structure, construction, materials, services:
Having to straddle both a stormwater and sewer line and with the close proximity of the neighbours to the west along with the proximity of existing trees and the dense tree canopy, careful consideration of the method of construction was critical to the cost effectiveness of the project. The house employs a lightweight construction system supported on a grid of steel columns to the lower level with a hybrid timber and steel frame for the upper levels. It is clad externally generally with black stained plywood to diminish the apparent bulk of the house as response to the dark shaded nature of the site and to minimise its visual awareness from neighbouring properties but with small aluminium cover strips to the plywood joints signifying the constructed nature of the project. The selection of plywood as an exterior cladding material whilst affording significant cost savings in labour and materials also will require limited maintenance and will attain an attractive weathered character in time. The environmental performance of the house pays particular attention to provision of adequate insulation, retention of existing trees and locating of the house within the existing shade canopy along with large expanses and flexibility of external openings. Similarly high levels of natural light further minimise the need for artificial light during daylight hours. All rain harvested for reuse in 3 x 10,000 litre watertanks at the lower level.


BVN scoops Architecture Awards
29 June 2006

From four short-listed projects, BVN have received five prizes, including the prestigious Sulman award at the RAIA’s annual NSW Architecture Awards.

The Sulman Award was given to the RAAF Headquarters at Richmond, not only outstanding in design, but an environmental leader because it also was given the Sustainable Design award. (click for more info)

The Interior Design Award was given to BVN’s Deutsche Bank Headquarters. Located over 9 floors in the new Foster and Partners commercial tower, 126 Phillip Street, the strategic design drivers were unity, transparency, functionality, innovation and community this is realised by linking the bank over the nine floors by two glass stairs incised into the floor-plate.

The UNSW L5 Building at 223 Anzac Parade, Kensington received a commendation. BVN organised the three parts of the building around a central raised landscaped courtyard 'piano noble' which establishes a communal focus and a restful space away from nearby noisy Anzac Parade.

BVN also received a commendation for DB RREEF’s Nortel Networks Headquarters building in Macquarie University Research Park at North Ryde. The office floors are set around a central atrium that rises through 6 storeys with extensive roof glazing to allow light to penetrate offices on every level.