'3 Houses at Pokolbin'

‘3 houses at Pokolbin' is the first project of egresStudio. Set on a 25 acre vineyard in the Hunter Valley, this project involves the design and construction of three tourist accommodation houses.

Externally, the building is designed in the style of a rural structure, incorporating recycled cladding and flooring from an old woolshed in Western Australia. This timber wraps into the building, contrasting with modern materials such as insitu concrete and plywood. Living areas become breezeways with the opening of large corrugated steel sliding walls, and sun penetration is controlled through passive design measures. Attention to water harvesting and solar collection detail was an integral part of the design to ensure an environmentally responsive design solution.

The documentation and construction detailing of the project was undertaken by a team of Newcastle University students coordinated by Jo Baker and Dean Williams. Throughout 2011/12 the team was joined by students from across Australia and internationally. This stage also involved material and product selections by the egress student team with the help of our sponsorship partners. By obtaining product manufactures input into the design process, we learnt the most effective use of products and how best to incorporate them into our design. Students signed up for short term work experience, assisting the egresStudio team as unskilled labourers, working alongside qualified trades people.

This project was a self-funded venture which relied heavily on the generous support of our sponsorship partners. Any profits gleaned from this venture will be used to fund local and international architectural aid projects. For more information go to www.thelonghouse.net.au

Drawings
Construction | Completed Project
Events