Situated amongst traditional miners cottages provides a beautiful juxtaposition of tradition and modernity, yet fundamentally rooted in the same rich history of the area. Our design concept is built around the layering of the context in a historical, layout and aesthetic sense. The space responds to the public nature of Learmonth Park and aims to provide a more protected and private habitat within, encouraging a connection between indoor and outdoor private space based on the connections of family and lifestyle within the home. The courtyard draws conceptually on the history of the site, emulating the image of a mine shaft slicing through the layers of earth.
The inclusion of the private courtyard within the fabric of the built form creates a blurred relationship between the internal and the external, and encourages a connectivity throughout all areas of the design. Natural light is drawn into the heart of the dwelling and, by integrating the outdoor room, encourages an intimate visual and physical interaction between the inhabitants throughout and across the space. The house opens itself up and embraces the outdoor element, creating an introspective, private, and wholly connected dwelling for the family to inhabit.