Description
Down to Earth is a rammed earth extension to a Californian bungalow in Brunswick, Melbourne, designed by Steffen Welsch Architects around the everyday rather than the spectacular. The practice set out to let the architecture recede so that the life inside it could come forward. Spaces are linked so a parent can keep an eye on a child across rooms or start a conversation across a threshold, bathrooms are treated as social rather than purely private, and small pockets are built in to make routine activities more enjoyable.
Materials and details were chosen for what they offer in daily use. The rammed earth walls store and radiate solar heat, openings draw natural ventilation through the plan, timber posts are sized to lean against, and a bench is robust enough for children to climb on to reach the basin. The single-storey extension covers 193 square metres on a 445 square metre site and was completed in 2018, with passive solar principles applied throughout. The project budget was around USD 820,000.
Architect: Steffen Welsch, Steffen Welsch Architects. Photography: Rhiannon Slatter.
Gallery
Company
Industry
Sector
Details
- Project Size: 193 m2
- Building Levels: 1
- Project Budget: USD 820,000
- Completion Date: 2018
- Photographer: Rhiannon Slatter
Region
Discuss
A private and exclusive forum for Architecture & Design professionals and students.
Backed by industry specialists, it’s where you can engage in meaningful conversation, make connections, showcase your work, gain expert insights, and tap into curated opportunities to advance your career or strengthen your studio.
A private and exclusive forum for Architecture & Design professionals and students.
Backed by industry specialists, it’s where you can engage in meaningful conversation, make connections, showcase your work, gain expert insights, and tap into curated opportunities to advance your career or strengthen your studio.
