edition office combines pair of arched concrete shells for house in hawthorn, australia

edition office’s latest house in hawthorn, australia, is defined by two concrete arched shells that structurally support the house with its own skin, while providing the framework for how interior spaces relate to each other and to the external environment. each with its own proportion and personality, the two shells enclose communal living areas on the ground floor, which provide direct connection to the exterior landscape, while bathing and sleeping spaces are located on the first floor, where each of which looks out onto its own private courtyard full of plants, sky and tree canopy.

all images by ben hosking

‘our primary design response for this project was to first recalibrate the entire project site into a large and singular terrace,’ explains the melbourne-based studio. ‘one grand outdoor theater for living which peels upwards at each title boundary to form a lush garden backdrop that would appear at every viewpoint from the living areas of the home.’ within this large terrace, the residence is defined by the pair of concrete shrouds, linked together by a walkway and courtyard garden. living, cooking and dining spaces of the ground floor are directly connected to the exterior landscape through floor-to-ceiling glass walls, while carefully ensuring enough privacy from the neighboring context. on the upper level, bedrooms exist as their own elevated islands, surrounded by the three grand tree canopies of the site.

the project uses passive solar-design principles throughout, with glazing offset from the outer concrete shells to provide a passive eave to the northern façade., allowing winter sun to flood into each living space, whilst shielding the strong summer heat load. the house benefits from significant thermal mass in the concrete walls and the hydronically heated concrete floors which in winter also retain the warmth of the direct penetrating sunlight. high levels of cross ventilation help to keep the house naturally cool in the summer months. the elevated rooftop contains a solar pool heating system as well as a significant solar pv array.