From a once vacant unkempt block with discarded furniture strewn across it to a charming family dwelling, this project is a standout.  Ben Milbourne from Bild Architecture and artist and photographer Tanja Milbourne were the owners of the project, and live there with their daughter and family dog. The couple wanted to build a home that was fluid in form, one that would aptly accommodate their family’s needs over time. “We were also conscious of the rich built heritage of North Melbourne and really wanted to engage with and contribute to this layered history in a contemporary way,” says Ben.

As it was his own home, Ben enjoyed the autonomy that went with that. “As an architect, the freedom of our own project allowed me to test new ideas and approaches that perhaps I would not have been able to on projects for other clients,” he notes.It was a decision that certainly paid dividends. The final project is a design coup in beautiful functional living in a very compact 8mx8m site.

The three-storey house incorporates three levels of functional living space and a terrace with outdoor stairs to the rooftop garden, where you can immerse yourself in the magical city views beyond. There are three bedrooms, bathroom, master bedroom and ensuite, kitchen, dining and lounge room, opening out onto a small terrace on the third level. The ground floor houses a single garage and self-contained apartment.

Ben says given the tight parameters, with the footprint covering the whole house, the garden was moved to the rooftop. “There’s no left-over or wasted space in the house; rain-water tanks are tucked under the main stairs on the ground level and the ensuite shower under the stairs on level one, storage units are squeezed into void spaces that in other projects would have been left unused,” he says. In some cases, spaces within the home had to serve multiple functions.

Another challenge was site access for construction. To overcome this, they incorporated pre-cast concrete structures, fabricated off-site and then trucked in an erected in one day.

Ben is a senior lecturer in architecture at RMIT University. “I was interested in how, in historic buildings near our site, the areas around windows and doors have increased surface articulation to draw your visual attention and also to deflect water and dirt from these openings,” he says. “In this project I interpreted this trait using an algorithm that simulates magnetic fields, creating a turbulent surface around the windows and doors of a 3D model of the building. “We then used a computer-controlled milling machine to carve the turbulent surface pattern into plywood panels, which were used as moulds into which the pre-cast concrete wall panels were poured and set, imprinting the complex surface pattern into the walls of our home,” he explains. Ben says the exterior of the project was deliberately monochromatic to highlight the textured and patterned concrete skin of the building.

The interior spaces are infused with life and colours that add a splash of playfulness. In each of the bathrooms, for example, there are brightly coloured vinyl finishes in yellow, blue and green. There is also warm timber that offsets the coolness of the concrete surfaces. For Ben and Tanja, their favourite part of the project is the garden. “We both love our rooftop garden; it allows us to grow our own food and is our sanctuary in the city,” enthuses Ben. As they worked on the project during COVID-19, Ben says they did tweak it a little. The third bedroom became a work space from home for Tanja, with a fold-down bed hidden in wardrobes for when visitors stay.

Ben says one of the most memorable moments of the project was witnessing the large panels arrive. “Watching the pre-cast concrete panels arriving on site and being lifted into place (some weighed more than 14 tonnes) in a single day was pretty astonishing and, to be honest, more than a little terrifying,” he recalls.

This article originally appeared in Grand Designs #11.5 and can be purchased here: https://www.universalshop.com.au/products/grand-designs-australia-magazine-issue-11-5?_pos=1&_sid=478f9d3f3&_ss=r 

The post From Vacant Block to Stunning Family Home: A Look at Ben Milbourne’s Architectural Project in North Melbourne appeared first on Completehome.

When viewing this vast landscape from above, you would be forgiven for not spotting this grand design. Hidden low in the hillside like a “fold in the landscape”, this bunker-style sanctuary is an architectural marvel. Featuring complete wheelchair access, the single-level Earth House is an important retreat for its owners, especially wheelchair-bound Trevor.

“Trevor is a paraplegic, so wheelchair accessibility needed to be integrated into every aspect of the house,” says Jeanette Robinson, homeowner and wife to Trevor. “The single level allows for full wheelchair access to every part of the house, including the decks, storage areas, driveway and the earth roof.”

All of the home’s rooms flow seamlessly into each other and feature a stunning panoramic view of the picturesque landscape named after the 100-year-old fig tree that welcomes you at the entrance of the property.

“To gently wake up, press a button to open the curtains and see nature at its best is both calm and relaxing,” says Trevor. “When I go there, the blood pressure goes down, the world is okay.” The rooms can be cleverly sectioned off for privacy or opened completely for when entertaining guests.

To create this tranquil respite, the homeowners had to move heaven and (literal) earth. With Trevor as project manager, he faced a multitude of challenges, from cost blowouts to delays due to council and even a lengthy hospital stay for spinal surgery. “That delay (caused by council) just became a nuisance. It cost us a lot of money,” says Trevor. “At one stage of the game we thought, yeah, let’s not build it. I got very despondent.”

Even once the build had started, the homeowners from Canberra did not escape mistakes and mixed messages with the project. “While pouring the slab, Jeanette noticed that a doorway was missing,” says Trevor. “In their enthusiasm to insert a reinforcing steel bar in the slab, the builders inserted steel in the doorway!”

Luckily Jeanette spotted it with her keen eye and a handy angle-grinder fixed the problem quick smart. Yet with all these challenges, the Earth House became a reality, blending beautifully with its surrounding landscape. The entire underground haven is completely off-grid, with each room spilling out onto the deck, effectively doubling the area of the house. Sustainability was a must, with the home achieving an 8.5-star energy efficiency rating.

As the soil wraps around and over the home, this highly technical building can be temperature-regulated internally while also shielding against both the hot and cold extremes of the local climate. The slight north-east orientation of this hideaway maximised solar gains in winter and the earth roof above extends out to block summer sun.

The polished concrete floor that stretches through the home is not only beautiful, but also soaks up the heat throughout the day and releases it at night. Solar-powered hydronic heating within the slab acts as a booster when it is overcast over extended periods.

“We wanted to both minimise our impact on the visual amenity of the Goobarragandra valley and limit our impact on the environment,” says Jeanette. “Building an earth-sheltered house fulfilled both these goals.”

The underground laundry and garage also negate the need for air-conditioning as it acts as a reservoir of cool air which is pulled through the house by the hot air rising off the deck. “Energy efficiency was paramount. Earth-sheltered houses by their nature are energy efficient,” says Trevor. “As the Earth House is off-grid, appliances, lighting and heating also had to be highly energy efficient. One goal was to limit the palette and texture of materials in order to complement the natural environment.”

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom home was crafted using plywood and polished concrete, blending beautifully into the surrounding landscape. Plywood was chosen as it was low maintenance and it paid homage to the local forestry industry. It also exudes warmth and tranquillity, something both Jeanette and Trevor want to feel more of.

“Viewing the Goobarragandra river and valley with its kookaburras laughing, kangaroos feeding, wedge-tail eagles soaring on thermals and an ethereal mist drifting through the peaks and troughs of the ranges can only reassure oneself that all is right with the world,” reflects Trevor.

This article originally appeared in Grand Designs 11.3 – subscribe today.

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