Articles by Andreas Luco

The residence is constructed in the shape of a “C”, stretched over 205.5 meters, generating a total of 340 square meters in two levels. The main guideline and virtue of the project is the benefit it gains from natural light and the integration of natural elements. Due to an optimal orientation of the volumes the public areas are abundantly ventilated and illuminated, while the private areas enjoy adjustable natural lighting and ventilation more suitable for their functions.

By rationalising of a confused layout and opening the inside up to the outside, a growing family creates a contemporary, open and bright home. Passing through a newly cleared entrance hall and entering the refurbished lounge, the removal of an existing wall opens up a view to the rear garden.

Before the Boom of the family house started, generations have naturally lived under one roof. Now the society moves closer together due to climbing construction and real estate prices. This is an opportunity and a positive process against urban sprawl and to counteract the social isolation.

Due to an extremely tight budget, the project was procured in a somewhat unconventional manner, namely that it was built from completely salvaged building materials, painstaking researched and sourced. The project was largely designed in response to the availability of these found, low-cost, and surplus building materials. The architect Yudai Niimori worked closely with the project builder (and collegial contractors around Osaka) to source waste and off-cut material from various construction sites. Often, this salvaged material was repurposed for the requirements of House / Lab

Gerroa is a popular holiday destination, on the South Coast of NSW. The village is located at the Northern end of a long beach, adjacent to a lagoon, with the main streets running out along the South side of the headland. This particular site is above the road, and slopes up to the North approximately 5m in elevation. There are extensive views to the South down the beach, as well as a view across the lagoon to the Southwest. There are houses adjacent as well as houses in the foreground of the view. A large Radiata Pine tree existed on the site in the rear corner. The best views are from the level at the rear of the site.

An island location, limited budgets and resources, coupled with strict design criteria, drove the design process and product choices. These included “deconstruction” of the ’70’s-era house and retaining the original footprint; specifying SIPs construction, choosing automated LED lighting controls with a centralized driver panel, online energy monitoring, radiant heated floors, HRV & heat pump technologies, rainwater harvesting (RWH), natural landscaping, and specifying reclaimed wood and metal elements. The result is a tight, energy efficient house combining aspects of old and new.