CREATIVE OVERVIEW: COORABELL SPRINGS

Nestled in the hinterland of Byron Bay, Coorabell Springs offers a modern minimalist hideaway.  Our client’s brief was simple: to provide a contemporary and timeless 4-bedroom home which champions the landscape, one that is as equally well suited to entertaining as their day-to-day rituals.  Sustainability and environmental impacts were also important considerations for our clients.

Situated on 4 acres of land featuring a natural spring-fed dam surrounded by picturesque rolling hills, from an architectural perspective the site was very design-friendly.  The main challenge was in achieving the best siting to allow for an easy and natural relationship between the house and the dam.  Ed explains: “we were wanting to create “a house over water” and were excited by the idea that passing moments, reflections and light from the dam could be drawn into the home”.   The main design challenge was the vehicular access to the house from the north and the ensuing design of the driveway.   By siting the house as close to the dam as possible, the northern and eastern views from within were not dominated by the driveway and vehicles.

The black timber cladding was primarily chosen for its sustainability, as well as its low maintenance and non-toxic properties.  From a design perspective, this dark external palette enables the building to subtly merge into its landscape, settling the home unassumingly and comfortably into the hillside.   The polished concrete throughout the living spaces continues seamlessly to the outdoor entertaining decks, whilst the spotted gum timber floors throughout the entrance and bedrooms gives warmth and softness underfoot.  Timber battens were used on the ceilings for their warm tones, their long lines also contributing to the sense of spaciousness throughout the living zones.  By continuing these battens through to the external covered decks, the indoor-outdoor flow is visually enhanced.  Off-cuts from the external timber cladding were used on the kitchen island bench to “bring the outside in” as well as being an effective way to minimise waste.

In addressing sustainability and environmental impact, the passive design of the modest-sized home was paramount and given precedence from the start.  While the aspect of the site faces east, the living spaces face both eastwards towards the view and northwards to draw in the winter sun.  This dual aspect living together with the slab-on-ground allows for the internal temperature to be stable all year round.  The main living wing almost becomes a separate “pavilion”, with windows on three sides maximising the benefit of crossflow ventilation.  The private bedroom wing creates separation, privacy, and the illusion of spaciousness.

The resulting home is one of elegant simplicity, one which will increasingly blend into the landscape as the garden matures.  As Ed explains “there is a certain timeless, understated feeling to the house which is equally carried from the exterior to the interiors.  We would hope that in 15 years’ time this house will still look as good as it does today and still be giving the occupants their daily dose of joy and serenity”.

Publications:

Habitus Living “Timeless Lines Framing the Landscape”

Project Credits:

Architecture: Davis Architects – Ed Davis & Ximena Venegas // Builder: Webber Build // Engineer: Lucena Engineers // Photography: Andy MacPherson , last 4 images Annie Buck // Videography: Xmedia