A modern rammed earth house rooted in rural Australian vernacular
Designed by Melbourne-based John Wardle Architects, this house is located on the Mornington Peninsula outside of Melbourne.
Designed as an exploration between the site and the lives of the owners, the house embraces the site and surrounding landscape. Built primarily of rammed earth with elements of timber framing and steelwork, the elements recall Australian rural vernacular structures. While the design is decidedly modern, there is an almost arts and crafts attention to detailing and use of material.
Firm: John Wardle Architects (Site not Firefox friendly)
Article: Architecture Australia - July/August 2004 - Grafts and Crafts
Via: Earth Architecture
An analogy of grafting is carried through the design as a theme. The communal spaces serves as the "root" of the house, and the linear composition of spaces align with the patterns of the vineyard and the verandah structure aligns exactly with the vine rows. Personal zones are contained in a separate wing which is "grafted" to the side of the main house, and oriented to a distant valley beyond the vineyard.
The detailing of the verandah displays the grafting theme
The composition plays the weight of rammed earth walls off of the open and light steel and wood elements.
