Kyneton House
This silhouetted house operates as a sculptural pavilion within an expansive rural setting.
Located on a vineyard, this house has a simple plan divided into three rectangular zones and a complex roof.
The roof creates a silhouette, a striking geometry floating above the bucolic landscape. The approach is from a long driveway that winds around the back to a rear courtyard. This contemplative space creates a pause before a view of tree-covered hills to the north is revealed on entry. Only a narrow vertical slot in the blank wall gives a teasing glimpse, like a geologically layered sample of the view.
Once inside, floor to ceiling glass connects the main living space with the landscape. The floating roof defines this space. It’s cut and folded up to form skylights, or cut and folded down to create shade to the north.
The incised plane hovers above the roof level of the rest of the house, the gap between ceiling and walls made up with glass. Only one piece of joinery strays from rectilinear simplicity - a unit surrounding a wood-fired heater. This centrepiece to the living area acts as an explanatory maquette for this house.
The placement was calculated so the house axis lined up with the grape vine rows.
The plan maximising northern exposure is divided into three zones, or pavilions. The garage is connected to the guest pavilion, which provides bedroom and study/office functions.
The site is within a sensitive water catchment area, and multiple storage dams provide water for the vineyard and the roof structure was used to maximise the harvesting of water into large storage tanks for domestic use.
The house is located in southern Australia’s rural climate which presents a variety of environmental challenges.
The fireplace steel workings – normally intended to be covered – are instead exposed to view and the fireplace's industrial character appreciated.
The fireplace is supported on a folded steel plate that returns on itself, enfolding stacked hardwood blocks that form the structural support for a stack of firewood.
The house is embedded into the site fall to shelter from prevailing winds.
It was decided a courtyard style house would be the best response to what is a fairly tough environment with strong winds and extreme temperatures.
