Felt like we got a bit lost yesterday so I decided to work out what I thought were the priorities. When I got home the current edition of Architecture Australia was waiting in the letter box. There was an article on a housing project in a hot dry site (see next blog). It was a very good reminder for me of what we were dealing with and help me redefine what I thought the priorities for this building were.
1. Hot: it must get so hot out there. Wanted to think more about prevailing winds and cross ventilation and light structures.
2. Courtyard: this has always been there but wanted to design a courtyard that was cool and sheltered and a nice place to be.
3. Thermal mass: wanted to focus more on winter sun hitting concrete slab rather that rammed earth wall.
4. Simplicity: really wanted to retain the original idea of keeping it simple. it is a very remote site and people live much more simply than we do in the city. It is more like camping than living in a city house. Lots of things happen in shaded areas outside.
5. Landscape: it is such a powerful and overwhelming landscape. It is the landscape not the people that dominates. The dwelling should sit simply in the landscape and work with the natural elements to provide shelter and habitat.
6. Social connections are imperative in such a remote place. The dwelling needs to provide places that encourage connections with other people ie places for visitors to be, a variety of places for people to meet and sit and talk and work.
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