Gully House

BVN Architecture

Located in a verdant Brisbane gully, near the river in Brisbane’s inner southern suburbs, this small house seeks to take full advantage of its secluded site and intimate views over the lush sub-tropical vegetation in the immediate surrounds.

By its location in the lower lying areas of the suburb and being close to the river, the site is subject to severe flooding in periods of intense rainfall. The need to raise the living areas above flood level whilst also retaining significant existing trees on the small site influenced the decision to arrange the house over 3 levels, maintaining a small footprint. The lower floor under the flood level accommodates cars, storage and rainwater tanks. The main floor accessed by a long bridge across the gully enjoys views to both the north and east over adjoining gardens and provides large living areas, study, guest room, kitchen, laundry and guest bathroom with the living areas opening onto a large north facing deck with stairs connected to the garden. The upper level which overlooks the large, almost 2 storey high, living spaces includes a generous master bedroom with bay window toward the river views and a mezzanine studio.
The character of the house and the method of construction responds to the particular physical characteristics of the site including the fragile nature of the soil conditions where the house straddles both a storm-water and sewer line, the close proximity of neighbours to the west and the dense tree canopy providing high levels of shade over the site. More specifically, the house employs a lightweight construction system supported on a grid of steel columns to the lower level with a hybrid timber and steel frame to the upper levels, clad externally generally with black stained plywood to diminish the apparent bulk of the house but with small aluminium cover strips to the plywood joints signifying the constructed nature of the object. Other elements including the fire place, bay windows to the study and master bedroom, and an extension to the guest bedroom which protrude from the main body of the house are clad in zincalume sheet. Large expanses of glass enable maximum advantage to be taken of the intimate views over the surrounding gardens but arranged in a way to afford an appropriate level of privacy.
Notwithstanding the restricted budget and the construction difficulties of the site, the house is remarkably private and enjoys a strong but complimentary character to the sub-tropical landscape.

Location:

Yeronga, Queensland

Awards:

RAIA Brisbane House of the Year (2006)
RAIA Regional Commendation (2006)
RAIA Qld Individual House Award (2006)