New South Wales
Coconut Crab is a ceramic studio designed in collaboration with the client, Casa Adams Fine Wares. Their aim is to encourage preservation and curiosity of marine life through meticulously painted, handmade porcelain plates. The biggest example being the giant tiled Coconut Crab climbing the facade. The studio design flexibly caters to ceramic production, educational workshops and business administration. It is located to the rear of the site, across from their existing family home.
The dwellings equally share a thriving native landscape which supports vulnerable endemic frog, bird and insect species and an edible garden. The strategic planning and placement was further complemented by the use of recycled materials, recycled double glazed doors and windows, along with a highly insulated and an airtight building envelope and HRV system. This ensures the users have a comfortable and durable working environment which can be easily readapted for future uses such as a secondary dwelling.
The design of the studio gives Casa Adams greater capacity to educate through our handmade ceramics which are meticulously painted to reflect real marine species. Through increased workshops on site led by marine scientists and production in our new, considered and flexible studio which is open to the public, we hope to ignite the spark of curiosity about our marine life to encourage preservation. The maximised permeable garden enables us to create a native habitat for local vulnerable fauna, and to passively engage with our family home… all under the watchful eye of the giant Coconut Crab.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
