Lae House, Papua New Guinea
Sited on a large sloping property located in PNGs second largest city of Lae, this project provided a unique opportunity to explore tropical indoor-outdoor living alongside some very location specific parameters of security, seismic design and all working within the abilities of local trades and suppliers.
Our approach at concept is always to explore the brief and the possibilities of the location through a number of design options and more so in the unique context of PNG
Due to security constraints and a lack of long range view, our approach was to orientate the house within its own tropical garden in a way that maximised the green aspects of the site and to ensure any surrounding properties were out of view. The site benefits from a number of significant existing trees and these were used to screen neighbouring buildings and to anchor the design around.
The use of materials explored are those suitable for the tropical climate and applied in a way that allows to maximise passive cooling and heating. The floorplans are conceived on the basis of a gradient of privacy, something critical to the client’s brief; public spaces that are ideal for entertaining family and friends while the more private spaces allow for moments of quiet, cool reflection and rest.
This two design concept allows for a gradient of privacy and security between floor levels and allowed us to position the building high up on the site in a bold “L” form to create a dramatic sense of arrival from the driveway.
The private upper floors are screened here for both thermal control, privacy and dramatic architectural aesthetic. The perforated masonry façade appears to float above a more public and entertainment programme at ground floor.
The plan form creates two distinct courtyard spaces on site, an expansive entertaining lawn and pool area to the front and a more private tropical garden including nature play spaces and kitchen garden planting to the rear.
Within the internal enclosure dramatic double height volumes are incorporated to maximise air movement, connection to curated views of treescapes and to create drama and light.
Project details
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Floor area
Photography
Architectural Team
Engineering Team
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Exploring Site and Concept Option 1#
Concept 1 was perhaps our initial idea for the site and also potentially the more obvious scenario in responding to the Client’s brief. This two storey option allowed for a gradient of privacy and security between floor levels and allowed us to position the building high up on the site in a bold “L” form to create a dramatic sense of arrival from the driveway.
Exploring the Site; Concept Option 2#
This option was somewhat more controversial as it seeks to explore a single storey scenario and how aspects of privacy and security can be achieved on one level. The architecture is testing an aesthetic that plays with the local vernacular in a highly contemporary form. A courtyard house in arrangement this plan connects a series of pavilions within the landscape, where the hierarchy of space is defined as progressively more private the further through the plan you go.
