Ngunnawal & Ngambri people
Australian Capital Territory
Batten House is a new family home and studio in Curtin ACT adjacent to the Yarralumla Creek open space network. The project responds to its highly visible location next to a public cycle network, and to beautiful southern parkland views.Â
The response to the proximity of the cycleway and parkland resulted in provision of a centralised courtyard space, or buffer zone, that can be screened from the public realm by a series of operable screens. This allows the residents to select the levels of visual privacy desired at different times of the day and year. The house incorporates a reverse brick veneer construction system and high levels of internal thermal mass to passively regulate temperatures. The use of dry pressed face brick, recycled hardwood cladding for walls, eaves and ceilings, honed concrete slabs and timber joinery provides a delightful textural paletteÂ
We wanted a modern, efficient house with mid century modern design and loved Ben’s drawings from the start. What we didn’t expect was just how good it would feel to live in the house and how much more it would give us. Each room has unique views of the sky, pool, garden and parklands and despite the exposed block, we feel like we are living in a secluded refuge. The raw natural materials are calming and tactile and the internal climate of the house is consistently perfect. We love to travel, but this house makes us love home.
Ben Walker, Design Architect
Marshman O’Neil Engineers, Structural Engineer
Powerhaus Engineering, EER Consultant
Plot Design Group, Landscape Consultant
Thors Hammer, Recycled Timber Supply
Canberra Genuine Landscapes, Landscape Construction