Architecture

CABIN 2

23rd August 2014

I’ve been meaning to post about this fantastic project since I laid eyes on it – when I spotted Cabin 2 on the 2014 Australian Interior Design Awards shortlist for Residential Design. If you’ve been following Copperline for a while you’ll already be aware of how much I admire Australian architecture and interiors, and the AIDA list is like a goldmine of great design.

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Situated at Blairgowrie in Victoria, Cabin 2 is the work of Maddison Architects, who added a 105 sq/m extension to an existing 1960s log cabin set on a sloping site. This self-contained retreat includes living spaces and storage, with a bedroom and en-suite upstairs.

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The architects say this about the project: ‘The surrounding coastal Moonah woodland forgivingly hides a suburban-like density of houses and network of winding roads free of formed kerbs, gutters and footpaths.

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‘The new architecture is informed by and embedded into this landscape.  The folding roof grows out from the topography to act as a new type of landform. Its supporting pre-fabricated skeletal frame appears influenced by the prevailing wind forces that shape the surrounding Moonah trees.’

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‘The roof directly reflects the internal volume, and the skeletal frame is fully exposed inside and out to convey a structural and architectural honesty.  The monolithic plinth is purposefully part sunken into the land and hollowed out to emphasise a feeling of refuge and physical engagement with the site.’

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I look at this house and think, what an exciting living space. I love the crisp geometry and the natural palette of materials. I can imagine sitting in that voluminous living area, curled up on the sofa, warmed by the log-burner, and surrounded by the tactile surfaces of polished concrete and timber. And that burst of red is a brilliant accent to this backdrop, creating a vibrant arrival at the house.

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Unsurprisingly, Cabin 2 has been shortlisted for a number of awards, and was the 2014 Houses Awards Winner in the category for House Alteration and Addition under 200m2. You’ll find more photos here on Maddison Architects’ site.

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Photography by Will Watt via Australian Interior Design Awards.