Optimum Resource Architects (ORA) designed this house located at the southern end of the beachside suburb of Cottesloe in Perth, Australia.

Full description after the photos….

Description from Optimum Resource Architects:

Located at the southern end of the beachside suburb of Cottesloe this new residence is sited on a long thin lot running east-west between two converging streets.

The eastern elevation is modest and reserved in nature, its roof form curved at both the northern and southern sides to reduce its mass in relation to its two single story neighbours.

The western elevation in contrast is much more open, featuring extensive glazing to take advantage of the magnificent views out towards the Indian Ocean and to Rottnest Island while providing generous overhangs to protect against the harshness of the summer sun. The western side of the residence has been raised above the street level to provide an appropriate level of privacy to the external decked area and ground floor living areas.

The curved form, which can be related back to previous projects by ORA in the Cottesloe area relates primarily to the local environment, curving over on the southern side to minimise overshadowing to the southern neighbour and protecting the residence from the strong south-westerly winds. A number of small openings have been provided to the southern façade to allow for natural cross ventilation and natural lighting to the southern rooms.

The North-Western walls to the upper floor are clad in a double skinned translucent grey polycarbonate that provides a soft natural light to the adjoining rooms during the day while all the time maintaining a level of privacy for both neighbour and resident.

CREDITS:
3 Curtin Avenue, Cottesloe, WA.
Project Name: Curtin Avenue Residence
Architects: ORA
Principal Architect: Paul Odden
Project Team: Paul Odden, Mark Petley
Builder: Dianella Homes
Engineer: Scott Smalley Partnership
Time to Complete: 18 months
Date of Completion: January 2006
Gross Floor Area: 435sqm
Photographs: Acorn Photo Agency

Armon Choros Architects have designed the Chalkidos Street Residence in Larnaca, Cyprus.

The architects were asked to produce an introverted residence, with an internal yard where the water would constitute the main element of the space. The architects were also tasked with making use of the south-east sun and the western air, as well as creating spaces that have height and light, but were also plain and hospitable to the art collection of the owner.

CHALKIDOS STREET RESIDENCE
Larnaca, Cyprus

Private House.

Architect: Eleftheria Serghidou, Vasilis Pashiourtides
Structural Engineering: Nicos Kalathas, George Demetriades
Mech. Engineering: Giannos Zempylas
Photographer: Christos Papantoniou
Design: 2000
Completion: 2007
Construction cost: € 500,000

It was asked for an introvert residence, with internal yard where the water would constitute the sovereign element of the space but also of the whole work. Exploitation of the natural parameters to the best possible means, being the south-east sun and the western air, the spaces to have height and light and also to be plain and hospitable to the art collection of the householder.

The reference to the westwards neighbouring thicket was considered that besides to be a direct factor, it had to intervene decisively in the format of the work.

That is why the compact skin, which encompasses the residence and enclose the open space, revealed on the west. The natural elements enter the residence, changing gradually in colours and being filtered at the top of her volume. As for the water, being free and erosive is piercing the skin to a point at the south.

The access is tangent to the curve and the spaces refer to the interior, while the “public space” of the living room, being transparent, sees outside with a view to the thicket. The internal circulation in the ground floor organizes, separates and unifies the inside with the outside, while in the first floor it recedes leaving the spaces in free optic to the yard. The plantings outdoor are allocated freely and not, up to the limit of the plot.