Houses Australia – August 2019

46 TENERIFFE HOUSE

Delightfullysculpturalandelegantlycrafted,thestriking

TeneriffeHouserespondsexplicitlyandexquisitelyto

threeessentialcriteria:“responsetocontext,”“experi-

mentationandinnovation,”and“housebecomeshome.”

Thearchitect’sresponseisrespectfulofthe

culturallysignificant 1909 Brisbanehouse,which

wasoriginallydesignedbyABWilson.Celebratingthe

existingpavilion,thestumpshavebeenreplacedwith

a “shadow”ofindoorandoutdoorrooms.Considered

thresholdsprovideseamlesstransitionsbetween

ground-levellivingspacesandthegardenplane,using

inlaidbricks,smooth concrete surfaces and clipped

lawn platforms.

Experimentationandinnovationareexpressed

throughdynamicformscladintimbershakes,providing

a freshandenigmaticpresencetothestreetscape.De

Chirico-esqueoff-formconcretearchesarereminiscent

ofinternaltimberarchesupstairs,anddifferentiation

betweenoldandnewisachievedbywhite-painted

existingmaterialsbalancedwithnewjoineryelements.

Thehouseprovidesa sanctuaryforan

extendedmulti-generationalfamily,usingintimate

contrastingvolumesconnectedbywhatthearchitect

callsthe“stairroom,”mediatingbetweenhouseand

garden.It’seasytoimaginegardenpartieshere,with

guestspromenadingthroughthecloisteronarrival.

SubtropicalBrisbaneisblessedwitha caring

additiontoitsrichtimberQueenslandertraditionin

thissublimecontribution to the landscape and fabric

of the city.

FromtheHousesAwardsjury.

For further coverage see Houses 128.

TENERIFFE

HOUSE

BY VOKES

& PETERS

BRISBANE, QLD

JOINT

WINNER

2019

HOUSEALTERATION

ANDADDITION

OVER 200M²

AwardforHouseAlterationand

Addition over 200m² is supported by