World of Design: A House That’s Barely There
A rural Australian home blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, camping and permanence, privacy and transparency
On most weekends, Louise Wright, Mauro Baracco and their 3-year-old son, Frank, can be found at their bushland escape in Western Port, Australia, a quiet seaside area a 1½-hour drive south of Melbourne. On a typical day there, the family gets up early, has breakfast and does a bit of gardening. All this sounds perfectly normal until you lay eyes on the shimmering, translucent edifice that stands in place of a regular vacation house and aims to tread as lightly as possible on the landscape around it.
Hiding behind the gum trees, Garden House, as it’s called, is a barely there, see-through structure. Its scale is imposing, yet the house is simply a steel frame clad in clear polycarbonate sheeting (a building material that’s both light and strong). At daybreak, rays of sunshine flood the home with light and warmth, soon waking up the inhabitants.
Designed and owned by Wright and Baracco, Garden House is an example of the minimalist’s design dictum “less is more.” It is, after all, merely a raised platform covered by a transparent “shed.” “We wanted something more like a semipermanent tent than a house,” says Wright of their eco-sensitive plan to live lightly in their bush environment.
Yet, even though the structure is just a thin but sturdy membrane over a metal frame, designed to provide rudimentary shelter, as a concept, it offers its inhabitants a new way of living: to truly cohabit with nature in a house that tries hard not to disturb ecological systems.
Yet, even though the structure is just a thin but sturdy membrane over a metal frame, designed to provide rudimentary shelter, as a concept, it offers its inhabitants a new way of living: to truly cohabit with nature in a house that tries hard not to disturb ecological systems.
Adding to the sense of the house being both “there” and at times “not there,” double-height sheer walls slide open to artfully blend the indoors with the outdoors, allowing the bush to grow, well, wherever. There is as much indigenous vegetation intended to grow inside the house as there is surrounding it, so that when the family members garden, they often do it indoors.
“These plantings came about as a result of us instigating a revegetation-rehabilitation regime called the Bradley method,” Wright says. This bush regeneration program was developed by Sydney sisters Joan and Eileen Bradley in the 1960s. It involves methodically clearing small areas in and around healthy native vegetation so that each area can be recolonized by native plants, replacing weeds.
“These plantings came about as a result of us instigating a revegetation-rehabilitation regime called the Bradley method,” Wright says. This bush regeneration program was developed by Sydney sisters Joan and Eileen Bradley in the 1960s. It involves methodically clearing small areas in and around healthy native vegetation so that each area can be recolonized by native plants, replacing weeds.
“Our weeding has revealed a lot of indigenous vegetation,” Wright says. “And over the years, it has re-established.” She points out that a stand of swamp paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia) has started to spread inside behind the daybed sofa, “so our plans to plant indigenous species in the indoor garden have been suspended to allow for the natural vegetation to make its own way through.”
As architects, Baracco and Wright are interested in the role vegetation has on larger sites. They design buildings that work into the landscape and take physical conditions into account. Close to their hearts is a project called Regenerated Towns in Regenerated Nature, for which they rethink urban design from an ecologically empathetic position, with special consideration on how to reinvigorate natural environments close to towns, such as wetlands.
As architects, Baracco and Wright are interested in the role vegetation has on larger sites. They design buildings that work into the landscape and take physical conditions into account. Close to their hearts is a project called Regenerated Towns in Regenerated Nature, for which they rethink urban design from an ecologically empathetic position, with special consideration on how to reinvigorate natural environments close to towns, such as wetlands.
It’s because of their interest in how the infrastructures of towns and cities can be more mindful of their environments, ecosystems and local landscapes that their work began to align, in a complementary way, with Greening Australia’s Habitat 141 project. Habitat 141 is a long-term environmental rehabilitation initiative aiming to restore and reconnect the iconic landscapes along the 141st longitude, spanning almost 44.5 million acres.
“Mauro approached us some years ago,” says Jessica Gardner, an ecologist for Greening Australia. “In the Wimmera [a rural region of Victoria], there are a number of small towns with declining populations. We were both interested in exploring how architecture could assist in rebuilding towns within landscapes that are also a priority for conservation.”
By exploring with this home new ways to tread lightly – for example, building the garden inside – Baracco and Wright are part of a greater initiative that acknowledges the local landscape and considers a town’s role within a wildlife corridor. “It’s important to consider this in the context of needing and wanting people within the corridor, and creating the necessary local economies that go with that,” Gardner says. “It’s time to look at future ‘green’ economies as a way of ensuring people have sustainable and complementary livelihoods in these regions.”
“Mauro approached us some years ago,” says Jessica Gardner, an ecologist for Greening Australia. “In the Wimmera [a rural region of Victoria], there are a number of small towns with declining populations. We were both interested in exploring how architecture could assist in rebuilding towns within landscapes that are also a priority for conservation.”
By exploring with this home new ways to tread lightly – for example, building the garden inside – Baracco and Wright are part of a greater initiative that acknowledges the local landscape and considers a town’s role within a wildlife corridor. “It’s important to consider this in the context of needing and wanting people within the corridor, and creating the necessary local economies that go with that,” Gardner says. “It’s time to look at future ‘green’ economies as a way of ensuring people have sustainable and complementary livelihoods in these regions.”
Located about 60 miles away from Baracco and Wright’s home in Melbourne, the one-third acre on which Garden House is sited is adjacent to cow pastures. To create a “nature” corridor for wildlife through neighboring farmland, the couple not only left native flora intact, but also promoted its regeneration.
“The land always had some good vegetation and beautiful trees on it,” Wright says. And, thanks to the family’s “gardening,” it now has more, including messmates, swamp gums, wattles, heaths, kangaroo grass, wallaby grass, and native lilies and orchids.
“The land always had some good vegetation and beautiful trees on it,” Wright says. And, thanks to the family’s “gardening,” it now has more, including messmates, swamp gums, wattles, heaths, kangaroo grass, wallaby grass, and native lilies and orchids.
The property is basically a strip of bush that terminates at the coastline of Western Port Bay. “We bought the land because we wanted to explore the options of sailing on the bay, and, as a surfer, I was keen to find somewhere close to a good wave,” Wright says. “We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the surf beaches of Phillip Island.”
Baracco and Wright bought the land in 2009 and camped on-site for a few years before building. “This is how we became so intimate with the vegetation and where to put the house,” Wright says. “We also learned that the site flooded occasionally.”
By building a raised floor or deck, the couple hoped that floodwaters could move under the building. “This has happened once,” Wright says, “and it wasn’t a problem. The water subsided, and the ground dried out naturally.”
There are frequent visitations by local wildlife, Wright says. A blue-tongue lizard regularly comes and goes, and occasionally kangaroos hop past. In the late afternoon, the trees fill with birds, especially water birds and kookaburras. Fortunately, Wright has never seen a snake, but she is sure that they’re around. “We keep any grass low and take the usual precautions,” she says, such as wearing shoes in snake season. “There’s quite a few spiders. They don’t bother us too much; sometimes we move them on.”
There are frequent visitations by local wildlife, Wright says. A blue-tongue lizard regularly comes and goes, and occasionally kangaroos hop past. In the late afternoon, the trees fill with birds, especially water birds and kookaburras. Fortunately, Wright has never seen a snake, but she is sure that they’re around. “We keep any grass low and take the usual precautions,” she says, such as wearing shoes in snake season. “There’s quite a few spiders. They don’t bother us too much; sometimes we move them on.”
Neighbor Amanda Ritson shares the same view to farming paddocks as Wright and Baracco. Even early in the Garden House’s construction, she could see that the couple showed a sensitivity for the environment. “They clearly intended utilizing the setting in an atypical way to make the most of the bush,” she says.
Now that the block has been revegetated and native trees are growing not only around the house, but inside it too, Ritson is both “delighted and relieved” to see that the building has lived up to the envisaged potential. “The rapid growth of the vegetation, and the way it has transformed how the building works, continues to surprise,” she says. “When viewed alongside the more typical or traditional structures of its nearby neighbors, Garden House appears more fitting to the area and thereby inherently appropriate. In that regard, its uniqueness now lies in its harmonizing with the environment rather than with its modern build.”
Now that the block has been revegetated and native trees are growing not only around the house, but inside it too, Ritson is both “delighted and relieved” to see that the building has lived up to the envisaged potential. “The rapid growth of the vegetation, and the way it has transformed how the building works, continues to surprise,” she says. “When viewed alongside the more typical or traditional structures of its nearby neighbors, Garden House appears more fitting to the area and thereby inherently appropriate. In that regard, its uniqueness now lies in its harmonizing with the environment rather than with its modern build.”
Simple concrete pavers create a garden path that leads up to the raised floor.
As Garden House is ostensibly a kit shed with a few modifications to the openings, erecting the building was remarkably quick — it took just two weeks. Construction was also relatively inexpensive, had minimal impact on the site and produced very little waste. “It was a very efficient build,” Wright says. “We produced only about [35 cubic feet] of waste, most of which was recyclable.”
As Garden House is ostensibly a kit shed with a few modifications to the openings, erecting the building was remarkably quick — it took just two weeks. Construction was also relatively inexpensive, had minimal impact on the site and produced very little waste. “It was a very efficient build,” Wright says. “We produced only about [35 cubic feet] of waste, most of which was recyclable.”
The raised floor or decking of the house is made from cypress-pine, sealed with a whitewash varnish. It’s surrounded by a perimeter garden that occupies the 3-foot space between the deck and the walls.
“The garden also has a ‘floor,’” Wright says. “It’s eucalyptus mulch, which is a soft covering good for the plants and bare feet.” To get to the toilet, one follows the garden path along pavers set indoors.
The plumbing for the toilet and bathroom are simple but adequate. “We did install a ‘gully trap’ that is designed especially for flood prone-areas,” Wright says. This stops water from entering the sewer system and is common in this sort of project.
Behind the toilet, and tucked away to the side of the raised floor, is the bathroom. It is lined in plywood and includes a rudimentary shower enclosure. “This allows you to have a relatively free-standing shower box without having to incorporate the tiling of a more conventional bathroom,” Wright says.
Wright and Baracco wanted to maintain the good parts of camping “where you are in touch with where you are,” so they deliberately created an atmosphere indoors almost as spartan as a summer camp.
There are just three zones inside: a 43-square-foot bathroom at ground level, a bedroom loft of almost 97 square feet accessed by a ladder, and the living area, which is bordered by a small kitchen. “The most ‘separate’ room would be where we sleep,” Wright says. “Up on a mezzanine, there is a double bed and a little child’s bed. You can also sleep on the daybed sofa.”
Wright says that when she sometimes wakes up during the night, she loves to trace the path of the moon and stars as she looks up through the roof. When it rains, it’s very loud, but Wright loves both the experience of being immersed in her natural surroundings yet comforted by the security of being sheltered.
The largest “zone” in Garden House is the living area. It incorporates the dining area, kitchen, and a place for sitting and relaxing. This “space” is the only section of the house that is defined with a ceiling.
In this under-loft area, the couple have fashioned a sitting area with an eclectic mix of comfortable furniture. “The couch is a 1960s Danish frame, and we had cushions made for it from Zepel fabric. The cane chair is from a great shop in Northcote, in Melbourne, called Retro Vintage. We also have an original Butterfly chair and some Ikea Frosta stools. It’s all very low-key.”
In this under-loft area, the couple have fashioned a sitting area with an eclectic mix of comfortable furniture. “The couch is a 1960s Danish frame, and we had cushions made for it from Zepel fabric. The cane chair is from a great shop in Northcote, in Melbourne, called Retro Vintage. We also have an original Butterfly chair and some Ikea Frosta stools. It’s all very low-key.”
Wright bought a couple of tables from Ikea to join together when needed. The family uses them for dining, work and play.
The modern kitchen is stylishly simple. It’s positioned on the southern side of the house.
Kitchen basics include a stainless steel countertop and sink, and a portable two-burner electric cooktop. Under the counter is a bar fridge, a washing machine, and plenty of storage space for dinnerware and cooking utensils. This is hidden by a white curtain that runs along the length of the counter.
The house does get cold in winter and hot in summer. As trees grow up around — and — in the house, casting shade, the summers are becoming increasingly more pleasant. “Our hope is that, in the years to come, they will create an internal canopy that will create even more natural shade,” Wright says. For now, she and Baracco cover the roof in summer with a large shade cloth to reduce the heat. They also make use of a small floor fan.
When they were making design modifications to the house, Baracco and Wright included extra windows for cross ventilation. As for dealing with condensation, they have little worry of moisture streaking walls or floors. “It’s not really a problem,” Wright says. “Any droplets just drain down into the garden.”
A wood heater, the Nectre 15 LE model, is apparently more than sufficient for heating during winter. “With little heating, we can maintain a good ambient temperature on most winter days,” Wright says.
One of the delights of living in the Garden House is how sunlight creates patterns in the home. “The rays of sunshine are really beautiful, as they filter through the cladding at different times of the day,” Wright says. “One beautiful image that comes to mind is when the shadows of birds appear on the floor as they fly over the house.” At night, large orb lights illuminate the living area.
Ritson also enjoys the glow that emanates from the house at night. “We regularly pass the house and enjoy simply walking by to view the changes in the vegetation and the mellowing of the materials, our favorite time being the evening,” she says. “The effect of watching the night sky from within its protective and translucent, chrysalis-like enclosure is a thoroughly delightful experience and one not easily forgotten.”
Ritson also enjoys the glow that emanates from the house at night. “We regularly pass the house and enjoy simply walking by to view the changes in the vegetation and the mellowing of the materials, our favorite time being the evening,” she says. “The effect of watching the night sky from within its protective and translucent, chrysalis-like enclosure is a thoroughly delightful experience and one not easily forgotten.”
As the sun goes down in the west, Baracco sits and reads, gazing out to the pastures beyond. He isn’t bothered by insects because all openings have sliding screens to keep out mosquitoes and flies.
“After our morning weeding and gardening, and depending on the weather, the swell or tide, we often go surfing,” says Wright of the family’s usual routine. “When we come home in the afternoon, we spend time in the garden again, reading and playing with Frank.” Wright considers the late afternoon especially lovely and her favorite time of day. “It’s when all becomes still, and the low sun shines through the clear cladding, making everything golden.”
As the sun begins to set, the glow emanating from Garden House is ethereal. “The way the home illuminates at night is really quite beautiful,” Wright says.
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Who spends weekends here: Louise Wright, Mauro Baracco and their son, Frank
Location: Western Port, Victoria, Australia
Size: A footprint of almost 689 square feet (64 square meters) with a floor area of just over 355 square feet (33 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Architects: Louise Wright and Mauro Baracco of Baracco + Wright Architects
Year built: 2013
Budget and costs: About $45,180 U.S., not including land