The timber-framed Burridge Read Residence by Australian practice David Boyle Architect stood apart for its use of a variety of new and recycled timbers, hand-crafted timber joinery and various wood sculptural elements. Judges were impressed by the manner in which timber was used to meld the house into the surrounding national park.
Inspired by the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, the textural fragment is at once pinned to the earth and projected towards the edge. The accommodation includes new entry, open plan living areas, partially covered stepped decks and a master bedroom with ensuite cantilevered over the existing parking area.
The use of timber was critical to realising this initial design concept. The timber- framed structure has been twisted, stepped and stretched to the edges of the site. The exterior will weather and develop a patina of clear finished FC and random vertical Cedar battens to sit quietly within its environment. Subtle scale shifts in the battens and screens offer a sense of depth and some of these have been clear finished to highlight the natural beauty of the timber.
The interiors feature recycled Blackbutt flooring, which has been left half sanded to retain some of the original green paint reminiscent of the adjoining wharf. All joinery was hand crafted on site including mixed North Coast Hardwood for the 4m-long kitchen island and hoop pine veneer marine grade plywood for other joinery, internal sliding doors, wall panels and shelving. The vanity and another triangular bay window in the bedroom, projects from the walls like hanging rock shelves. These have a sculptural quality made possible by the flexibility of timber and the local trades-people.
Recycled railway speelers were used for the driveway and bench seating and economical structural ply bracing was used as a surround to the doors to the deck. Random width Blackbutt was used in the decking and Blackbutt was also used for the handrail framing.
Australian Timber Design Awards is considered as Australasia’s most recognised stamp of excellence in timber design. Winners were announced at the National ATDA Presentation Night on 29 October 2010 at Luna Park, Sydney.
