Mosman Bay House

Iredale Pedersen Hook

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

© Peter Benetts

The Mosman Bay House explores two contrasting spatial experiences. One is dynamic and fluid, the other passive and contemplative; one focuses on the distant views to the river and city; the other is embedded within the garden. These contrasting qualities respond to the programmatic requirements of communal and private spaces: on one hand, living, dining, and cooking areas; and on the other, rooms for sleeping, working, and bathing. In a reference to the Eames’s Powers of Ten, the design team explored multiple scales of relating to the site, fluctuating between distant views and engagement with the garden and the pool.

Scale-model views and design sketches

North elevation

South elevation

West elevation

East elevation

 

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The house is on a long and narrow site in an east-west orientation. This greatly influenced the house’s environmental design of the house, as it enables the interior spaces to be configured for optimal northern passive heat gain in winter.

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Perspective view

Section A

Section B

Section C

The roof detailing continues the meandering profile and incorporates Pittsburgh seams developed in close consultation with the builder and roofing contractor. While steel might not be the most obvious material for this project it is specifically designed and adapted to be high performing environmentally and structurally.

Perspective view

The materials chosen for the exterior have a tactile quality and are designed to weather naturally. The upper floor—clad in recycled and lapped Jarrah—is conceived as a vessel that meanders above the ground floor of white sand-rendered walls. It expresses the dynamism of the activities that take place in the interior.

The upper level shifts further north to create a continuous veranda protecting ground-level spaces from summer sun, while allowing the southern neighbor to still enjoy winter sun.

 

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A pergola undulates in a dialogue with a meandering river in the vicinity. Supported by a steel tube and a structural flat-bar fascia, it protects the lower-level glazing from summer sun.

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The south-facing sculptured wall was modeled to allow north-facing light and heat gain. It is also specifically shaped to facilitate southwestern wind drafts that blow over cooling ponds and into the house via low-level windows.

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A hidden space with gas fire pit and flowing recycled water allows one to “drift” on the edge of the property.

Second-floor plan

Ground-floor plan

A.	Gallery
B.	Garage
C.	Laundry room
D.	Study
E.	En suite bathroom
F.	Walk-in closet
G.	Master bedroom
H.	Bedroom
I.	Bathroom
J.	Guest’s studio
K.	Pool
L.	Fire pit
M.	Cooling ponds
N.	Drying and bin cover
O.	Dining area
P.	Kitchen
Q.	Living area
R.	Powder room
S.	Deck/balcony
T.	Planters
U.	Sleeping loft
V.	Void

The house extends along the east-west axis of the site, the lower-level spaces all facing north onto intimate and personal gardens, collecting winter sun and passive heat gain.

 

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A long, narrow space open at both ends extends along the entire length of the house, admitting the southwestern winds into the house. A series of small cooling ponds are placed adjacent to ground-level awning windows.

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The ground-level spaces can be compartmentalized to allow easy heating and cooling and individual control. Fans are provided to the ground-level spaces for additional cooling. There is no air conditioning in these spaces.

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Ferns create a secluded and lush natural screen for the study and bathrooms on the ground floor. The materials chosen for the bathroom reflect green light into the study and bathing areas.

The Mosman Bay House exploits the potential of lighting to enhance the formal qualities of the design. Lighting is critical to the unfolding of the spatial experience, which is sometimes subtle, sometimes overstated.

 

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Inside, dark floors were chosen for their ability to absorb the heat of solar rays in winter, while light-colored materials were selected for the roof and exterior masonry walls to reduce heat gain.

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The veranda and profile of the upper level were shaped by solar modeling that assessed winter sun penetration to lower levels and by considering of the functional requirements of the upper level.