A multisensory sanctuary – Federal House stretches the concept of indoors and outdoors
The Federal House by Edition Office is located in New South Wales, Australia.
Design: Edition Office
Location: Federal, New South Wales, Australia
Completed: 2020
Gross area: 424 m2
Lead architects: Kim Bridgland and Aaron Roberts
THE FEDERAL HOUSE, located in New South Wales, Australia, stands firmly connected to its surroundings. Completed in 2020, the eye-catching building appears as a shadow against the landscape opening up to the vast Australian hinterland view – on the one hand as a foreign element, and on the other hand, providing shelter for experiencing the environment to the fullest.
Drawing from the ideologies of Juhani Pallasmaa and Peter Zumthor, architects Kim Bridgland and Aaron Roberts created a stunning example of sensuous materiality. Experientialism and a multisensory approach were keywords that guided the Federal House design project from the beginning.
Brutalist, black in-situ concrete and the deep-black façade made from wooden battens create an extraordinary shadow-like contrast to the surrounding landscape.
“Federal House is a home that stands as an outsider element within its landscape, establishing a relationship of connected departure. The interior of the home becomes an island of texture and shadows from which to witness and observe the natural surroundings,” describe the architects.
A skillfully designed interplay of shadow, light, and tactility offers a multisensory experience unlike no other. Grand panes of louvre windows throughout the building provide a natural airflow.
The large verandah connects the inside and outside space, doubling as an intimate buffer between the two worlds.
The sharp, geometric shape of the low-rise building blends in with its surroundings surprisingly well – the façade, crafted from black wooden battens, gives the house a unique, tactile sense of materiality that bridges the gap between organic and artificial. The natural light filtered through the slats brings captivating movement to the interior as the lights and shadows sweep across the space at the pace of the sun.
The serene heart of the home – the cloister fern garden – both binds the rooms together in a charming way and adds a feeling of breathtaking continuity to the space.
A reference to the Colonial Homestead imagery, the large verandah stretches the sheltered interiors outwards, connecting them to their surroundings while acting as a softening, intimate buffer between the inside and outdoor areas. Panes of louvre windows provide natural ventilation, allowing the space to maintain a pleasant temperature without artificial air conditioning.
The dining area and living room blend harmoniously into one grand lounge area. HAY's Result dining chair was designed by Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer.
Simultaneously minimalistic and abundant, Federal House carries both calming and stimulating qualities.
Warm, natural tones of wood set a wholesome, appeasing mood.
Nature and the surrounding landscape stay continuously present throughout the building. The Tiki sofa is by Swedish brand Fogia.
Warm-toned wooden floors, walls, and ceilings of the moderately sized rooms contrast with the dramatic black tint of the façade and underscore the sheltered, hideaway feel of the structure – as do the giant ferns planted in an enclosed atrium in the middle of the building.
The serene cloister garden, which serves as the heart of the home, both binds the rooms together in a charming way and brings a feeling of breathtaking continuity to the space: the gaze is allowed to wander freely through the ferns from one room to another and ever further into the surrounding landscape.
A sunken fern garden further emphasizes the feeling of a sheltered sanctuary.
The black exterior creates a powerful contrast to the green ferns, connecting natural and unnatural in an exquisite way.
Beneath the living area lies an astounding, austere pool made from black concrete.
With a view over the surrounding landscape, the cavernous space evokes images of a natural swimming hole.
However, the most breathtaking surprise of the desert oasis lies beneath the residential floor, which houses an underground swimming pool. The unique surfaces crafted from deep-black pigmented concrete, a still body of water, and a stripped-down, cavernous space are more reminiscent of a natural spring than a man-made pool, providing a grounding sensory experience – a genuine escape from everyday life.
See also:
• Follow @editionoffice on Instagram >
• Design Stories: Beneath the concrete skin of Hawthorn House beats a warm heart full of life >
Text: Mira Ahola Images: Ben Hosking
Published on 15 Sep, 2022
