A Conversation with Time – Alvie Cottage by Adam Dettrick Architects

Concealed from approach, the low-lying and anchored forms of Alvie House nestle into its lake-side site, respectfully sitting within the landscape. Adam Dettrick Architects combines a robust and textural approach in conjuring this rural retreat, encouraging patina as an expression of a conversation with time.

Sitting amongst the slight undulations of its site, Alvie House is located in Victoria’s north, in Lake Gnalinegurk. Its positioning takes advantage of long stretching views of beyond, and from inside, curated apertures capture select portals. The complete immersion within its rural landscape is an embrace of its remoteness and allows occupants to feel disconnected from both neighbours and the familiar residential urban condition. The deliberate low-lying structure ensures an anchoring of the home to its site while also allowing for minimal disturbance of the view, resulting in a naturally occurring form. Adam Dettrick Architects has expressed the essence of its location through materiality that imbues a robust and resilient nature, expressed through texture and patina over time, inviting an engagement with the landscape.

The complete immersion within its rural landscape is an embrace of its remoteness and allows occupants to feel disconnected from both neighbours and the familiar residential urban condition.

Built by Spence Construction, Alvie House is focused on key views to the north and west toward both Lake Corangamite and Lake Gnalinegurk. The internal comfort and ability for the home to react to its environment is embedded into the core spatial planning, with orientation a key consideration. Responding to the sun, openings and overhangs allow for passive heating, while also deterring unwanted heat gain in the summer. Set along two axes (one due west) and the other (south/west), these two linear planes connect and signal the central entry point to the home. The home is awarded a 7-star energy rating, and the retention and reuse of water on site is a large part of its inherent self-sustainability.

Inspired by Danish summerhouses, the timber clad structure sees locally sourced untreated timber encase the home. Aligning with the Scandinavian philosophy of softly muted colours that sit in harmony with the landscape, Alvie House also takes cues from its surrounds. Sitting amongst the soft grass that covers the gently shifting terrain, the home in its rectilinear nature offers an element of balance while still laying low and flat. The timber is intended to age and patina over time, softening and becoming greyer, while expressing additional texture and character as time goes by. Internally, the same muted approach is focused on the views and home’s siting, with further timber elements to add warmth and exposed concrete to draw and retain heat, while also cooling at the same time. The combination of resilient and robust properties infers the contributing parts of this home all work with its remoteness, not against.

Aligning with the Scandinavian philosophy of softly muted colours that sit in harmony with the landscape, Alvie House also takes cues from its surrounds.

Alvie House is both full of the familiar while being so remotely located that its positioning becomes a disconnect from the traditional residential setting. Embracing its site, Adam Dettrick Architects has created a time-wearing and enduring home that respectfully engages with its surroundings, while offering a quite a protective reserve at the same time.