Architecture Wednesday: Bellbrid Retreat

Bellbird Retreat is a weekend escape to a stunning Australian bushland reserve and encourages a dialogue between the man-made and the natural environments. And sustainability in a climatically extreme environment was Job One, from rainwater and electricity harvesting to passive design measures utilizing the building's mass and orientation to create year-round thermal comfort.

In addition, with the site susceptible to bushfires—and we’ve seen those in the past month—a fire-resistant steel roof design eliminated combustible timber rafters and still created a single span structure with unsupported cantilevered eaves.  

Those eaves allow the winter sun to penetrate the home, reserving heat in the concrete slab to make nights warm and enjoyable, while in summer, the eaves limit the sun’s rays from heating the slab and open window walls allow breezes to cool of the slab’s mass.

Bellbird Retreat does appear fortress-like with the pleated steel roof crowning three pivoting brick blades that shelter the building from wind, sun, and fire. The building is practically carved into the landscape, positioned to maximize the surroundings for recreational use; in addition, the sliding corner peel back and that concrete floor slab cantilevers out from the home to provide an impromptu seating while discouraging wildlife from accessing the interior spaces.

Past a welcoming bench and covered entry, the modest open-plan interior expands to a breathtaking view beyond.  In the bedrooms, however, windows are smaller, though strategically placed toward ‘morning’ views, while the living spaces capturing ‘evening’ views through walls of glass. The interior is simple, restrained and minimal, a  perfect counterpoint to the beauty of the natural landscape.

It’s small, rustic, rural, modern, sustainable, fireproof, and, for Carlos, snake and critter proof.

I’d say it’s darn near perfect.

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