Located along the winding ridgelines of the quaint township of Fish Creek, Australia, the Fish Creek House is a remarkable example of architectural innovation and environmental consciousness. This project, designed by the Melbourne-based architecture studio Edition Office, highlights the firm’s dedication to material and spatial experimentation while emphasizing a deep respect for the natural and cultural contexts of its setting.
Fish Creek House Technical Information
- Architects: Edition Office
- Location: Fish Creek, Victoria, Australia
- Topics: Brick in Architecture
- Completion Year: 2017
- Photographs: © Ben Hosking
The Fish Creek House integrates sustainability into its core, using a concrete slab mixed with fly-ash and waste slag for hydronic heating and solar gains, alongside on-site rainwater capture and waste treatment, embodying an environmentally responsible design.
– Edition Office Architects
Fish Creek House Photographs
Innovative Design Amidst Rugged Landscapes
Edition Office, led by Kim Bridgland and Aaron Roberts, has crafted a unique narrative through the Fish Creek House, where the dialogue between the built form and its surroundings takes center stage. The house is strategically positioned to battle the strong local winds and to embrace the breathtaking views of Wilsons Promontory’s coastline. Its design features three black timber pavilions, each pulling away from one another and from the northern edge of a meticulously crafted rough brick wall. This configuration allows sunlight to penetrate the living spaces, creating a harmonious blend of sheltered, planted courtyards that foster an intimate connection with the outdoors.
The choice of materials speaks volumes about Edition Office’s philosophy. The external brickwork wall, characterized by its highly textured and rugged appearance, acts as a protective shell around the timber pavilions. Inside, the warmth of timber-lined walls contrasts with the solidity of black-pigmented concrete floors and black form-ply ceilings, creating an atmosphere that is both inviting and introspective.
Sustainability is at the heart of the Fish Creek House. The project employs a concrete slab that incorporates a blend of fly ash and waste slag, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of traditional concrete. This slab also houses a hydronic heating system fueled by the kitchen’s wood-fired oven/stove, which additionally supports the solar hot-water system. Such innovative use of resources exemplifies how architectural practices can lead the way in sustainable living solutions.
Further, the house’s passive design optimizes solar gains, shields its inhabitants from harsh winds, and promotes cross-flow ventilation, ensuring a comfortable living environment throughout the year. With a 60,000L capacity for rainwater collection and an on-site worm farm composting treatment system for waste management, the Fish Creek House is a model of self-sufficiency.
Fish Creek House Plans
Fish Creek House Image Gallery
About Edition Office
Edition Office, based in Melbourne, Australia, is led by Kim Bridgland and Aaron Roberts. This architecture studio focuses on exploring and experimenting with materials and design techniques to create buildings unique to their environment and responsive to their client’s needs. The practice emphasizes a deep engagement with each project’s physical and cultural context, aiming to produce work that is honest in its use of materials and thoughtful in its impact on its surroundings. Through their projects, Edition Office seeks to investigate and challenge the traditional boundaries of architectural design, resulting in spaces that are not only functional but also meaningful in their relationship to place and community.
