Immersive Solitude – Wollumbin House by Harley Graham Architects

A home of interesting contrasts, Wollumbin House straddles the concept of removed solitude within the inner weaving of residential life of its urban surrounds in Byron Bay. Harley Graham Architects carefully navigates a sloping site to embrace the lushly landscaped setting and create a home of complete immersion within place.

Perching out from its steep terrain below, Wollumbin House uses an upward and outward projection to take advantage of its elevated setting. Through the rising of the form and the home’s planning over several levels, an optimised outlook is captured and a feeling of being removed from its otherwise densely populated suburban surrounds is created. Facing west, deep overhangs allow for a control of the sun, while balconies wrap the home and allow the living spaces to spill out beyond the building edge and out toward views of the Pacific Ocean. Inspired by its location, Harley Graham Architects responds to the environmental considerations of the home’s placement and propose a home of lasting fortitude.

Operable façade elements also make up the shell of the home and enable the building itself to respond to the changed climatic conditions, ensuring a passive comfort throughout the year.

Built by Anthony Adams Constructions, Wollumbin House combines an inherent robust resilience in its front to the salt-dampened air and winds from the coast. As a result, brickwork ensures a weighted anchoring to site, while timber and louvred screens encourage a natural flow and ventilated cooling to pass through open spaces. Fabric screens are also used to soften the edges and to control the incoming sun as needed. Operable façade elements make up the shell of the home and enable the building itself to respond to the changed climatic conditions, ensuring a passive comfort throughout the year.

Framed views act as a reminder of the home’s enviable location in Byron Bay and through the elevation of spaces and funnelling views, there is a deliberate feeling of being removed and isolated. The contrast between the open and the closed, between the heavier materiality and the expanse of glass and timber all act to balance one another and propose a home of purpose. Openings into treetops and canopies and lush landscaped settings further reinforce this notion and connect with living elements. Water retention tanks are tucked in on the ground level behind the arrival space, allowing for both cars and people. Ascending upward, the middle level sees the passive sleeping spaces sit quietly, while the upper level houses the shared living, dining and kitchen and is the more active and enlivened part of the home.

Openings into treetops and canopies and lush landscaped settings further reinforce this notion and connect with living elements.

Through a consistent openness, Harley Graham Architects’ Wollumbin House feels at one with its place, emphasised through the generous operable and moving façade features.