Tomas has been commissioned to design a new house close to the waterfront in Bargara. As the property backs onto parkland with distant views of tidal estuaries, the brief was to maximise the outlook while maintaining privacy. The design is based around a series of pavilions arranged to form private courtyards – some serving as outdoor living areas and others as service zones. In addition to creating usable outdoor spaces, the courtyards also greatly assist in improving the solar access, and the narrow plan affords good cross ventilation potential. An interesting aspect of the planning is the arrangement of the kitchen, which provides the advantages of both open and closed plan designs. The ‘working’ zone can be concealed behind large sliding panels, leaving only the expansive island bench visible to the living areas. With the panels open however, the kitchen becomes a large and practical workspace which flows out into the living spaces and also the main north-facing courtyard.
Currently under construction with completion expected late 2013.
