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Kurreki @ Seal Rocks
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Completion date: October 2008
Seal Rocks is a small, unique village. Many existing dwellings are basic weatherbeaten fishing shacks, now mostly used for holidays. Named ‘Kurreki’, ('Bush Myrtle' in the Worimi language), the feel of the house is one of luxury camping. The intention was to build an uncomplicated holiday house, which could also be let out for rental income. The existing original cottages are slowly being lost as properties change hands, so the approach was to build in a way that retains the language of the existing built forms of Seal Rocks and to be respectful of context.
Design concept and solution: There is a gentle rise on the site to the rear and an outlook to the bush, front and rear. The Rural Fire Service placed a 10-meter setback to the rear, enforced a fire fence, and dictated that all the buildings in the street had to be partly flame zone and have level-three bushfire protection. The building is oriented toward the central space to minimize the amount of external glazing, thus reducing the amount of expensive bushfire treatments. It improves the sense of privacy and enclosure to the outdoor living area. The surrounding internal roof edge allows protected circulation under the eaves, reduces the built form, and blurs the indoor/outdoor transition. It also frames a sky view animated at night by the lighthouse beam passing overhead.
The ability to close the outer perimeter makes all rooms able directly accessible to the central deck, allowing dwellers to sleep under mosquito nets with a view of the night sky. A wide shaded entry foyer is for storage of surfboards, hanging towels, and wetsuits, while a shower nearby reduces sand spreading throughout the house.
Materials throughout relate to the context of the village, are economical, and corrosion resistant. The walls are lined with 9mm CFC cladding and aluminium channels, much like the existing buildings of fibro and cover batten. Locally milled blackbutt decking and custom orb roofing are other dominant materials that are consistent with the existing buildings in the region. Construction methods and detailing are intentionally basic. Steel is avoided and items such as the plastic external light fittings were chosen both for economy and long life. Floors are polished particleboard, all joinery uses formply as a finished face. The exterior colors are simple—grey and silver—while the interior is colorful, inspired by rockpools and neighbouring bush.
A wet composting worm farm treats sewage, the roof feeds to 27,000 liters of water storage for domestic use, with an additional 15,000 for firefighting. For extra protection a pump supplies the fire-fighting sprinklers at roof and garden level with the domestic supply. Some of this lands on the roof, then recirculates, extending the protection time.
Total construction cost: $275,000
Architect:
Bourne Blue Architecture
P.O. Box 295
Newcastle
NSW 2300
Australia
P: 61.2.4929.1450
F: 61.2.4927.1623
www.bourneblue.com.au
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