C House

The C House has been cited by many architectural critics as being one of the most significant houses in 20th century architecture. One can identify Palladio, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Scarpa and modern japanese architecture as influences in the large suburban home. In this design, Tim Hill relishes in the use of concrete, marrying the homogeneity of the heavy substance to lighter materials often found in japanese architecture, often overlaying it with intricate wooden structures.

"When working with concrete, you can fashion the landscape, the wall, the roof, the floor, the structure, the openings, the edge, the finish" - Timothy Hill

Of interesting note is the way the house is set out. Whereas most developers have rows of compact buildings set out in the middle of their lot, Donovan Hill have pushed most of the elements of the C House to the boundaires of their plot, allowing for a central garden space similar to those seen in Islamic architecture. Many elements of Arabic architecture have been included in the design, due to their accomodation for hot climates. For example, the timber lookout at the front corner of the house, or the separation of the kitchen from other spaces.

Another element to the design of the C House is its ability to anticipate change, being able to function as a family house, a shared house, a multi-residence or home-office without expensive modifications. This versatility in design allows for a multitude of users, and ensures that it will not lose purpose with age.


References


Australian Design Review, 2009. Idea Awards: Donovan Hill. http://www.idea-awards.com.au/round-02/donovan-hill/. (Accessed March 8, 2010)

Croft, Catherine. 2004. Concrete Architecture. Laurence King Publishing: London