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.
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.
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.
‘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.’
‘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.’
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.
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.
Photography by Will Watt via Australian Interior Design Awards.