2021 National Architecture Awards shortlist
Traditional Land Owners: Bundjalung People
The Federal House provides a vessel through which to enable habitation and the ongoing experience of a particular place and time. Within the folding hills of its hinterland site, the home acts as both experiential container for this place and as a conditioning object, consciously aware of its outsider status within the traditional ownership and legacy of this landscape.
The project establishes a relationship between “site and modifier”, between place and object, and is envisaged to enable multiple readings, from beyond and from within. A reverberation of the settler colonial homestead typology, the home carries verandah DNA into a tightly controlled envelope allowing modestly scaled living and bedrooms spaces to expand into a covered outdoor living space.
Grounding the project is a subterranean pool linked to a garden void at the heart of the home, and to a northern aperture framing the view to the valleys and hinterland horizon beyond.
Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?
“We love the different moods of the home. There are light and open living areas where we enjoy time together with family and friends, but with three busy and active children, we also enjoy the calm, quiet rooms and courtyards to read, study, and relax. The fusion between the indoor and outdoor spaces gives a sense of being surrounded by water, greenery, blue sky and ltered and reflected light. The house imparts a feeling of history and solidity, and we are looking forward to the home embedding in the landscape as the garden gradually drapes, climbs and entwines. *clientnamenotpublishedpleas “
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.
