The house at 65 National Circuit, Forrest was designed by Peter Byfield in 1998. The house occupies one half of a dual occupancy development on the corner of National Circuit and Melbourne Avenue. The 1900 square metre parcel of land was sub-divided in 1997.

A similar house was built on the other half of the block, facing Melbourne Avenue. The houses are located within Canberra’s national area, close to Parliament House.

The house at 65 National Circuit reflects Byfield’s approach to design, with its essentially flat roofed cubic form, smooth, rendered surfaces and extensive glazing to living areas.

Description

The three bedroom house is located on a corner block, with entry to the southwest from National Circuit. Entry is at ground level, with a double height void above the entrance faced with copper sheeting and a tall, narrow window. The living and sleeping areas are at ground level with an upper storey containing an office which is accessed by an external staircase. A balcony off the office faces National Circuit, above and to the right of the entry area.

A north facing, curved meals area on the ground level protrudes from the main mass of the building and is supported by steel beams, with full height glazing on three sides and a flat metal deck roof. The flat roof of the main mass of the building is concealed by a parapet.

3 and 5 Attwood Close, Gordon were designed and built by Ric Butt/Strine Homes in 1997. Both houses are solar passive and designed to address the cold winter climate of the Canberra region while at the same time maximising summer cooling. Both houses have floor to ceiling expanses of glass to the north and curved roofs and ceilings. The house at number 5 is a prototype of Strine’s later Millenium system of construction, seen in the house at 39 Finniss Crescent, Narrabundah.

The houses are an example of the late twentieth century organic style of architecture:

• energy efficient
• curved roofs
• architectural forms echoing the contours of the adjacent hills
• colours reflecting those found in nature

3 Attwood Close

3 Attwood Close is a large 3 bedroom, open design of 227 square metres, with verandah, walkways and garage adding another 63.6 square metres.

The design of the house is an exploration of the challenge associated with standard brick veneer houses (which have no thermal mass on the inside) using the CSIRO’s idea from the 1950s of a reverse brick veneer construction, which places cladding on the exterior of the dwelling with the thermal mass on the inside of the house.

Plan of 3 Attwood Close, Gordon.

The concept is one of linked pavilions that separate workand home life: the master bedroom is separated by a walkway from the main living area including guest rooms and spa, which in turn are separated by a walkway from the office and garage.

The design specifically integrates the landscape and living space via a system of glass enclosed walkways, verandahs and courtyards. Streams that run underneath the covered walkways create a peaceful and welcoming environment.

Construction of the house is reverse brick veneer with corrugated iron cladding on the outside, with full glazing to the north capturing the winter sun. Insulated slab, walls and ceiling provide thermal mass which ensures minimum heating and cooling requirements, with the curved roof and ceilings creating convection currents for maximum energy efficiency.

5 Attwood Close

5 Attwood Close is a smaller, 3 bedroom, open plan design of some 152.6 square metres, with verandah, garage and storage areas occupying a further 56 square metres. The living, kitchen/dining, family and main bedrooms all face north, while the two secondary bedrooms and the study are located on the south side of the house. Full glazing to the north utilises the winter sun and high, curved ceilings create currents which shift warm air from the north side of the house to the south. Insulated slab, walls and ceiling combine with the internal thermal mass to create maximum heating and cooling efficiency.

Plan of 5 Attwood Close, Gordon.

An open plan and passageway allows effective cross ventilation, particularly in summer. The liberal use of doors and windows link indoor living spaces to the southern courtyard for summer and the northern paved space for winter outdoor living. The garage is also made part of the house, creating additional living and working space, including storage areas which eliminate superfluous external structures.

The high, curved ceilings and colours used inside the house echo forms and shapes found in nature and provoke an emotional response. Rich earthen terracotta and golden ochres balanced with cool, clear blue create a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Sources and further reading

• Information provided by Strine Homes
• Short biography of Ric Butt
• Profile of 39 Finniss Crescent
• The late twentieth century organic style of architecture

Ric Butt (1953–) is an architect, builder and environmental designer, recognised as an important practitioner of energy efficient, passive solar design and construction with a series of unique, organic style passive solar houses. As principal of the Canberra based firm Strine Design he has been committed to raising the public profile of indigenous Australian architecture and promoting environmentally sustainable practice in design and construction. His houses and projects have won a range of RAIA, housing industry and building awards

Vernacular architecture

His affection for the vernacular architecture of the Australian bush is reflected in his low-line houses and use of materials such as corrugated iron in roofing, cladding and as a feature. His liking for gently curved rooflines dates from when, as a youth, he observed the Sydney Opera House being built.

Houses designed by Ric Butt are typically warm, bright and spacious, with full glazing to the north. Solar heat is trapped and stored in solid internal walls and insulated concrete slab floors during the day and released at night. The principle of reverse brick veneer is used, with internal/external tilt-concrete walls and full insulation to all external surfaces ensuring that heat is retained. The curved roofs and ceilings create convection currents, pushing hot air rising from the north side of the house to the cooler south side.

Environmentally sustainable design

Butt gained degrees in Environmental Design and Architecture from the Canberra College of Advanced Education in 1977 and 1980. While a student of environmental design, the energy crisis of the late 1970s stimulated an interest in environmental issues. He became a registered architect in 1981 and established Strine Design in 1982. Butt has been responsible for architectural, urban and environmental design on a wide range of residential, commercial, industrial, resort and environmental projects.

Butt has a national profile in environmentally sustainable and low energy buildings. He was involved in the formation of the Australian Building Energy Council, the development of its building energy code and has been Chairman of the RAIA National Environment Committee (1998-2000). He was the National President of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) from 1997-98 and was made a Life Fellow of the RAIA in 1998. He was also made an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects in 1998.

Houses profiled on this site

• 3 and 5 Attwood Close, Gordon, 1997
• 37 and 39 Finniss Crescent, Narrabundah, 1995 and 1999

Other works in Canberra

• Platypus House, 139 Kosciusko Avenue, Palmerston, 1993
• Hull House, 12 Quiros Street, Red Hill, 1998
• Wesley Uniting Church extension, National Circuit, Forrest, 2002

Source

• Information provided by Strine Design