Alexandra Buchanan Architecture

Dundas

Sommerset, QLD

Dundas House sited on a spectacular 250 acres within D’Aguilar National Park QLD, sits perched at the top of the site with 360 degree views to Lake Wivenhoe & Beyond.

Designed as the forever home of a young growing family, the proposal is articulated as 3 intersecting volumes, exploring the relational qualities of dwelling and site by sitting in, on and over its landscape perch. The material palette is rich & tactile; natural stone helping to connect the built form within the site.

The form of the volumes are inspired by rural, agricultural buildings ubiquitous to the area. Each volume shifts 10 to 15 degrees, negotiating sloping terrain and oriented specifically to take on particular vistas. The interstitial space between the 2 main volumes; the public and private domains, forms a naturally enticing entry sequence that gently rises with the landscaped approach to start to reveal the views.

Project details

Siting

The siting of the Dundas House formed the starting point for the design more than most. Negotiating sloping terrain and oriented specifically to take on particular vistas relative to the spaces within the conceptual "rural out buildings" dance around each other within the landscape

Planning

As a forever home we needed to plan this house with the intention of future growth and allowing for the privacy requirements of growing humans! The proposal is articulated as 3 intersecting volumes, exploring the relational qualities of the dwelling. A main living volume, a more subservient dormitory volume and the garage.

Conceptual Form

The form of the volumes are inspired by rural, agricultural buildings ubiquitous to the area. Each volume shifts 10 to 15 degrees within the landscape. We explored a number of "barn style" iterations of the design at concept, opting for the resulting, more traditional form.

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