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| Barkala House |
This magnificently designed house is a breath of fresh air. It was designed by James Cutler, renowned for his ability to capture "the nature of the place."
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This magnificently designed house is a breath of fresh air. Well, at least that is the idea behind it. It was designed by James Cutler, renowned for his environmental sensitivity and ability to capture "the nature of the place."
The house stands in a pocket of rainforest above Sydney's Pittwater and Bayview area. It is the first home to be built on Barkala estate — a 19 lot community title designed to preserve the last natural environment in the area.
In 1988, the Council caught a developer dumping approximately 400 truck loads of rubbish onto the land. He intended using the rubbish as land fill to even the ground and obtain permission to subdivide and build. The Council took him to the Land and Environment Court and won. They were granted a remediation order to restore the land to its original condition.
In order to preserve the natural environment, Barkala's home buyers will have to pay a levy for the upkeep of the community's green belt in the same way that people in traditional luxury estates bear the cost of shared amenities. There are 31 acres in total — 19 building sites with the remaining 12 acres maintained as bushland. The 19 owners will have equal access and ownership of the land.
Barkala's new developer bought the estate from the mortgagee and spent the next few years applying for different development proposals. Finally, council approved the subdivision and in 1998 building began.
James Cutler was chosen for the Australian project because of his award-winning design of the "Gates House" residential and wetlands regeneration in Seattle, Washington. That project was commissioned by Microsoft chief, Bill Gates and gave James international acclaim.
James studied at the University of Pennsylvania under famous architect Lou Kahn. Like his teacher, James imposes his values and beliefs on his work. His philosophy is based on the idea that by recognising a site's natural beauty, its owners will cherish and protect the land themselves. He is horrified by humankind's destruction of the natural world.
James is one of the rare contemporary architects who has converted an infinity with nature, environmental technology and an ecologically responsible choice of materials, into art.
The Cutler house has been designed to demonstrate what careful choreography can achieve. The unobtrusive residence has been constructed with careful consideration to the terrain and vegetation. The architectural effect is a floating presence among the trees.
James' objective was to create a "space in which the soul can play." Many modern home owners want to get more in touch with nature and Barkala's hallmark is its environmental sensitivity.
Part of the Cutler approach is to show how the house has been constructed. It takes great skill to create a sense of effortlessness — no skirting boards, no cornices, and the framing and studs are exposed. The home is also built to complement changing fashions and not to date.
While James holds an infinity for the bush, he is aware of its dangers. His house is designed to ward off major bushfires with a series of sprinklers positioned under the eaves. Each sprinkler can spray six litres per minute for 90 minutes during a major blaze, soaking the roof and walls. The water is drawn from purpose built 22,000 litre tanks under the house.
It is a three bedroom house with an office, open fireplace, dining room, kitchen and internal access to a double garage. Access to the home has been designed around large angophora trees. There are no curtains or blinds, despite the bathrooms being 80% glass. However, the position and design of the house offers complete privacy.
The unique nature of each part of the house is created by its view. The living room takes advantage of a view on three sides. The master suite directly above the living room is private, appealing to the soul by closing off to the bush but opening to large vistas. High windows frame extensive views and treetops.
Heavy galvanised steel beams and columns provide structural support for the huge amount of framing timber and steel rafters. Exterior walls are clad in corrugated slate grey Mini-Orb to blend with the bush.
Exterior timber is finished with a new protective wood finish from Canada called Bio-Wash Supernatural. Pigment and sealer is applied to the wood and a UV inhibitor helps maintain the integrity of the stain. Handrails are teak, strung with galvanised wire rope and western red cedar covers the decks and entry boardwalk.
All kitchen carpentry and custom pieces specified by the architect were built of imported rock maple.
Land prices on Barkala Estate start at $575,000 while Cutler's home is expected to fetch about $2 million.
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More Info
For enquiries about the house or development ring the estate agent:
Kerrie Paterson
Remax Mona Vale
Ph: 02 9979 8655
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Disclaimer
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