Pavilion in a Native Garden

2020

The property owner is committed to supporting flourishing bird life. An early intention to subdivide on the rear and northern part of the property would have meant the loss of two very large Marri trees. The owner settled for a granny flat instead in order to retain the trees. The proposal is a small footprint and a sustainable design as an unobtrusive pavilion in the garden, using passive solar design principles. Scroll past images to read more.

The proposal required custom application and assessment by the City of Fremantle, mostly addressing purposeful non-compliance with LPP3.7 which dictates the form and proportion of new dwellings - the main argument being that site specificity should have precedence over appearance - and the context of a highly valuable site specifity is something this particular property has in spades. The build addresses the vertical scale and root zone health of tall mature nesting habitat trees for endangered birds, works with passive solar principles, uses recycled materials and a textured palette.

This build demonstrates care for soil health, rain infiltration and seed bank by way of avoidance of concrete over root zones, instead using the gentle stumps, joists and bearers of traditional timber floor framing. It utilises a practical orientation and eaves at a design angle which exploits the high angle of the northern sun for light and not heat in summer, but employs the low winter sun for heat. It makes use of cross ventilation from the local prevailing wind, the Freo Doctor: it has operable windows high where hot-air gathers; a sensible cross-flow from one side to another, weaving through the main space and with a differential in height (a low opening one side, a high one the other).

As with most of our projects, this one was a delightful close collaboration with the property owner, so likeminded in attitudes and values. We are glad to have found ourselves involved in such projects.