Thornbury House
A collaboration between the clients and architects Bent Architecture delivered a simple brief. Build a home that would be easy to occupy and maintain, that was environmentally sustainable, and that offered abundant natural light and connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The design: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, open plan kitchen, dining and living (concealed butler’s pantry), laundry and lock up garage with workshop facilities.
The dwelling appears as a single-story home, cleverly accommodating a second story to maximise space, ventilation and allow the natural northern light to penetrate deeper within the house. The design implements traditional construction techniques, cost effective building materials and sustainable practices within tight budget constraints.
The home reduces building costs by minimising the buildings footprint without compromising the internal space. Visual links between internal and external spaces create an expansive feel within the open living areas with large sliding doors. The home uses hardwood battens that conceal joints in the cladding and add texture to the façade. The pitched roof cleverly hides the bedrooms, while maximising space.
Energy efficient measures such as ceiling fans, natural cross ventilation, double glazed windows offer optimal energy performance. Eaves were added to protect north-facing rooms from the harsh Australian summer heat, whilst facilitating solar access in the winter. Polished concrete flooring capture and release heat during the colder months.
The exterior plywood cladding were coated with AQUAOIL OMEGA (Onyx - 1/2 strength) an exterior, penetrating, solid opaque stain that changes the colour of the surface without concealing the surface texture.
- Environmentally responsible - made from bio based, ecologically sustainable products
- Non-toxic, low odour
- Water repellent, helps to prevent the swelling & shrinking of the timber that causes cracking & splintering
- UV resistant
- Mildew resistant
- Easily touch up weathered areas without having to do a full recoat
While the recycled hardwood battens over the external cladding including external door, window frames and external doors were coated with TIMBRE PLUS VERTICAL (Transparent) a unique, water reducible, oil based coating that has outstanding UV resistance and surface toughness. May be tinted to one of Quantum’s Transparent Stain Colours.
- Environmentally responsible – made from bio based, ecologically sustainable products
- Non-toxic, low odour
- UV resistant, contains UV absorbers
- May be tinted to Quantum transparent stain colours
- Touch up weathered areas as they occur, no need for a full recoat
All these design considerations create a beautiful, low cost, energy efficient home that addressed the simple brief; a home that would be easy to occupy and maintain, that was environmentally sustainable, and that offered abundant natural light and connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
