The Oxlade house, is contemporary single-family residence located in New Farm, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The Oxlade house project completed in 2009 by studio Arkhefield.
“The Oxlade Drive residence explores the idea of a singular graphic form extruded and stepped along a narrow inner suburban site. The internal spaces are captured by a boldly sloped rear concrete wall and steel roof. These elements create an armature to the rear whilst the full northern frontage visually and physically extends out into the external living spaces.”
The Oxlade house explores the idea of a singular graphic form extruded and stepped along a narrow inner suburban site. The internel spaces are captured by a boldly sloped rear concrete wall and steel roof. These element create an armature to the rear whilst the full northem frontage visually and physically extends out into the external living spaces.
Whilst unapologetically contemporary in its expression, the house is an absraction of traditional housing typologies of a legible expressive roof form capping a grounded heavy weight base. A finer palette of crafted screening and cladding materials made from copper, timber and steel add texture and detail to soften the forms. An uncluttered, open planning arrangement maintains the clarity of the dynamic section internally and allows the focus to remain on the outdoor living areas.
Two simple ideas are explored in this project – a form based on a distinctive sectional extrusion, and materiality. The shape of the extruded section directly responds to the side boundary setback requirements, overlookin issues and northern orientation whilst creating a bold graphic statement to the street frontage. The form is reinforced and humanised by a bespoke, crafted approach to detailling and the materiality of concrete, timber and steel.
The internal spaces are arranged as a linear progression through the site commencing with the more private abd contained rooms ad a filter to the street, the moving into the more open and family-oriented spaces. The plan has been kept deliberetaly simple and uncluttered to ensure the form of the csectional extrusion is legible. All spaces have a simple and direct angagement with the pool, deck and garden which form the focus for the house.
This project continues the pattern of contemporary and eclectic urban renewal elements added as infill to New Farm’s existing Character Housing fabric. The provision of a filtered veranda to an elevated living room along the street frontage ensures as angagement with the street is maintained despite the sequestered environment created beyond the garden wall.
Whilst the aim was to create a bold, distinctive concept, the design also had to fucntion as a comfortable and robust family home for young children. The use of natural materials and crafted detailing contribute to a relaxed, liveable environment. The engagement with the outdoor living areas from all spaces, and the interconnectivity of the open plan ensures family life remains the focus of this project.
Photos by Scott Burrows; Source: Arkkhefield
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