Ribbon House

This home responds to its context – a solid masonry structure carved into a steep slope supports a lightweight upper floor. Extensive timber windows maximize light and views towards the mountain ranges on the horizon, whilst a carefully considered ribbon band hides the neighbouring properties. A horizontal standing seam ribbon band responds to the client’s need to shield themselves from the neighbouring context.

The materiality throughout the interiors is calm and considered with a neutral palette and budget conscious selections, allowing the timber windows to become the hero and bring warmth into the space.

Given the sites’ unfavorable orientation for passive design principles and steep slope conditions, design decisions which aided in passive performance were integral.

Maximising the views resulted in a lot of east facing glass, however, the introduction of  a horizontal band and batten screens in combination with strategic cross ventilation and the thermal mass of the concrete slab ensured its environmental performance, whilst making it a durable, low-maintenance home for contemporary family living.

Cross ventilation on both levels as well as the central stair void encourage a chimney effect, naturally cooling the home and when opening the central entry door the pool provides for evaporative cooling.