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Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

Residential, Interior Architecture

Highgate Hill Residence

The new residence integrates the landscape into the living areas.

Location
Highgate Hill, Queensland

Status
Completed 2007

Gross Floor Area
420m²

Context

The Highgate Hill Residence is located on a south facing ravine adjacent to one of Brisbane’s oldest ridgeline roads – Dornoch Terrace. The steepness of the rectangular site has resulted in a verdant and mature landscape consisting of a mixture of native and exotics, which created the opportunity to place the house within a rich landscape environment.

As a result of the steepness of the site and the desire to connect the house to an outdoor ground plane the house adopts two distinct identities – the north (landscape) and east (street) is a diminutive floating single level volume hovering over fine steel pins – the south and west (distant views) the vertical and monumental character is revealed of the tall three level residence.

Concept

To the North and East, the living level embraces the landscape as the upper level hovers over the ground plane as a protective canopy. In these areas where the building is more intimate, the materials and detailing are deliberately fine and diminutive. To integrate the landscape with the living spaces on the middle level, the external openings are of a significant scale so that the internal floor plate opens up completely to the outdoor spaces that consist of a series of floating platforms of constructed ground planes of timber decking or turf.

The kitchen sits directly next to this opening, taking full advantage of the appropriated outdoor space. The kitchen is made from American Oak veneer which provides a durable finish for a busy space. The simple lines and planning shift the focus to the outdoor spaces, while maximizing functionality. The double height space adjacent to the kitchen, used for living and dining compliments the monumental scale of the south / west identity of the residence. The ceiling is finished in painted battens, allowing filtered light through to the interior. This recalls the veil-like timber screens of the façade and reinforces the idea of layers laid over and within a building volume.

Richard Kirk's Highgate Hill house takes the Queenslander into new territory. Trademark stilts are there to straddle the site, and timber is the driving material but connection to the landscape is more finely tuned, as is all the detailing

Alice Hampson and Sarah Foley, 2008
Monument Magazine

Lower Level Plan
Ground Level Plan
Upper Level Plan
Section
North Elevation
East Elevation

Drawings

Team Publications
Structural & Civil Engineers Farr Engineers
Electrical and Hydraulic Engineers Norman Disney & Young
Landscape Architect Arbour Essence
Contractor Charlie Woodward Builder
Photographer Jon Linkins
Indulge Spring 2014 Eco House Download PDF
West End Magazine April/May 2011 Highgate Hill House Download PDF
 The Courier Mail 2010 Timberland Download PDF
21st Century Houses 2010 Highgate Hill House Download PDF
Interior Design 2010 Embracing the Landscape Download PDF
West End Magazine June 2010 Richard Kirk Download PDF
Atlas 2010 An Insular Continent? Australia and New Zealand, Propositive Regionalism' in Atlas: Architecture of the 21st Century Download PDF
Brisbane Magazine 2009/2010 Stunning new houses Download PDF
La spirale di Graz Dec. 2009 Highgate Hill House Download PDF
Cubes 2009 Are we there yet? Download PDF
Contemporist 2009 The Highgate Hill Residence by Richard Kirk Architect Download PDF
The Australian House 2008 Highgate Hill Residence Download PDF
100 Dream Houses From Down Under 2008 Highgate Hill Residence Download PDF
Monument Magazine Aug/Sept. 2008 Modern Queenslander Download PDF
Placemakers: Contemporary Queensland Architects 2008 Richard Kirk Architect Download PDF
Houses 2008 Careful Hands Download PDF
Vogue Living July / Aug 2008 Download PDF
Courier Mail April 2003 Best House is an Apartment Block Download PDF

Related Projects


Hawthorne Residence

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Dornoch Terrace Residence

Residential
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