Whyatt House by Robinson Architects

Doonan / 2013

materials: steel, timber

The Whyatt House is located at rural Doonan on the Sunshine Coast.

The house was designed for a professional and creative family with three young children as a long term family home.

The family originate from the country and shared with the architect a mutual interest in Australian bush architecture. This established the direction of the building.

The steel house frame was prefabricated and bolted into place by a local shed company, saving both time and cost. The steel is combined with more conventional materials such a block work and timber.

The building consists of two wings, one for sleeping, the other for living. Large sliding doors, large eaves and operable windows keep the building cool. An outdoor arbour will have a creeping plant trained up and over, adding a splash of bright colour as well as shade to the mix of materials.

Environmentally, the house will sustain itself. It responds to both its landscape and climate. Rainwater is harvested and waste water treated on site.The house

The house is self-sustaining. It responds to both its landscape and climate.
It will also provide an uplifting environment to live in that can readily adapt to the evolving needs of a growing family in the longer term.

Key sustainability features include:

-pivoting the building to the north to shield it from the potentially damaging western sun;

-using large eaves and roofing over the deck to shade the building. Large operable doors and windows provide natural day lighting and cooling cross ventilating breezes;

-insulating the external walls and roof;
-installing a steel sub floor, reducing the necessity for structural timber;

-harvesting rainwater, with the family's water needs being entirely met by 3x26000 litre tanks;Part of the brief included a 6 bay shed.

A shed company was commissioned to build the shed We designed a family house and six bay shed for them, both built using shed componentry, other than the block wall along the back on the spine of the building.