Australian Capital Territory
River View House, a long linear design, takes advantage of expansive views to the Molonglo River corridor and across to the Arboretum. Unlike its neighbours, who demand attention through excessiveness and scale, the house is quiet and humble through its lowline single storey form made from neutral earthy materials.
The form comprises a simple skillion roof which kicks up to the north to take in winter sun to warm the house. Shading devices protect it from the summer sun. Brickwork and textured pre coloured fc cladding have been used as a response to a client request for low maintenance.
River View House is subtle and subdued in an area that has been built up to the boundaries. Its connection to site, thoughtful planning, and practical design following simplistic principles, is a testament to the fact that even in later stages of life, one can still have the great Australian dream.
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
River View House is a simple, yet well-considered solution for attainable housing.
The house is arranged as a series of double-brick blades which dissect the landscape into rooms. The blades create articulation of the façade, within the careful bounds of a low-lying roof.
Internally, double-brick blades create thermal mass. Spatially, the blades gently delineate internal spaces, while framing external views of the garden and river beyond.
The River View House delivers a sustainable, future-proofed, and delicate insertion into Canberra’s new suburbia.
Award for Sustainable Architecture
The River View House sets the benchmark for what is possible for sustainable housing design in new suburban subdivisions.
The house is a simple, strong, linear design, with north-east orientation built into its siting. The single storey scale illustrates the efficiency of the plan, while making effective use of an irregular-shaped block to achieve ample garden and deep root planting zones. The garden incorporates onsite rainwater retention, vegetable patches and composting.
The house is in stark contrast to surrounding larger-scaled houses, proving what is possible with less. The River View House sits low and polite, creating no over-shadowing or interruption of neighbour’s views.
Using standard construction techniques, standard windows, and attention to building wrapping for airtightness, a highly efficient 8-star house is achieved. Eaves and shading are built into the form, and internal brick walls serve as thermal mass. The home has a solar PV system, with ability to meet a zero-carbon outcome for the life of the building.
Accessibility and ageing-in-place are seamlessly incorporated into the design. The efficient layout accommodates future wheelchair access, accessibility circulation, and grab rails.
The River View House illustrates the power of thoughtful planning to create enduring, yet attainable single housing.
This is a modernist home that capitalizes not only on the NE orientation but also the views of the river and parkland beyond. The simple, elegant design by our talented architects provides large thermally efficient windows that capture the views, and the high ceilings and cross ventilating windows have made the house cool in summer and warm in winter. We love the light, the airiness and the connected but distinct spaces that make this a comfortable home to live in. The architects were brilliant through the process and are now close friends.
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.
