Mooloomba House

Nestled sleepily amongst the the trees on Stradbroke Island, this house was designed with the intent of accomodating a simple series of holiday activities: sleeping, eating, bathing, reading and relaxing. The house provides these needs in the most basic of ways, with a definite focus on communal living, and sharing time together, allowing users to reconnect with loved ones over the holiday period.

The intricate framework of local hardwood, forms a single skin around the building which interacts with the surrounding forest, giving a sense of being 'at one' with nature, almost as if you were living amongst the trees. For the architects, Andresen and O'Gorman, playing with the properties of this locally sourced hardwood was one of the biggest inspirations behind the project, as they sought to find strength in the material, while leaving a subtle rawness to it which adds to the natural feel. Some of the local timber still has bark left on it. The mooloomba house filters the environment perfectly, with only the slightest distinction between the branch of a nearby tree, and the timber cladding around the walkways of the building.

The house fits in with the local setting at Stradbroke, with the area having a big emphasis on coastal designs and the incorporation of local wood. Sleeping 'boxes' are tight modules, with only enough space for a bed and small amount of storage. However this is no flaw in design, but a calculated move towards building communal space, and encouraging users to relax outside, while enjoying the surroundings instead of staying in bed all day. Overall, the Mooloomba house is the idyllic holiday retreat, reminiscent of a treehouse hideaway. The closeness with nature allows its occupants to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, relax, unwind, and enjoy each others company.

A true escape.

References

Beck, H. & Cooper, J. 1996. On Andresen and O’Gorman’s Stradbroke Island house, UME 3, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, p.12 ff.


Brit Andreson Projects. 2000. Mooloomba House. http://www.ozetecture.org/tutors/andresen/projects_Andresen_mooloomba.html (Acessed 13 March, 2010)