Bunkeren

National Award for Residential – Houses (New) – 2021 National Architecture Awards

Bunkeren | James Stockwell Architect | Photographer: Patrick Bingham-Hall

National Award for Residential – Houses (New) – 2021 National Architecture Awards

Bunkeren | james stockwell architect

Traditional Land Owners: The Awabakal People

Whitebridge, near Newcastle was famous in the 1800’s for a 60 acre garden, ‘Bulls Gardens’. It was described at the time as a botanic wonderland of a large variety of plants, visited by national and international guests.

We collectively set out on this project with the idea of arriving at a garden and the coastal view. The house bookends the garden as the headlands do the beach. A shared love of the war time coastal bunkers in Europe and Australia, and the climatic benefit derived of integration with the landscape meant the house is half buried for climatic stability, bushfire protection and increased habitat and biodiversity.

The house has hovering platforms of earth and planting, under which to shelter. The site is more landscape than house and the robustness of concrete endures the interaction with the surrounding geology and earth. The Danish client refers to the house as the ‘Bunkeren’.

Bunkeren | James Stockwell Architect | Photographer: Patrick Bingham-Hall

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

“Our primary objective was to create a home that provided a balance of shared and private spaces for our large family. The communal areas flow seamlessly on the same level allowing family and guest to spend time together or seek intimate spaces. Our kids can play inside or in the garden within sight but without feeling watched. The bedrooms and work spaces are more secluded and give privacy. An escape into ones own space. The stone room and cellar are our hidden gems that we use as a quiet retreat individually or as a family.

Practice team:

Jeremy Sieczko, Graduate of Architecture

Elise Okunew, Other, Office Manager

Construction team:

Professor Max Irvine Pty Ltd, Structural Engineer

Darren Nichols Design, Landscape Consultant

Lotte Kjeldsen, Lighting Consultant

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