Jinjella House by Lande Architects

Mid-century architectural principles from Frank Lloyd Wright, one of its most lauded forebears, has inspired the design of this home in Victoria that intuitively connects with its landscape and a modern family lifestyle.

Drawing inspiration from mid-century buildings, Jinjella House by Lande Architects presents a family home crafted at the intersection of modernism and Usonian philosophies. On approach, the house manifests as a staunch, understated presence, which gives way to a delightful surprise of openness, embracing the expansive views of the greater Melbourne landscape.

Drawing inspiration from mid-century buildings, Jinjella House by Lande Architects presents a family home crafted at the intersection of modernism and Usonian philosophies.

It was Frank Lloyd Wright who pioneered the term ‘Usonian’ to describe the recognisable design strategies that underpin much of the mid-century architect’s work. The collection of houses was defined by features such as cantilevered eaves, clerestory windows and a symbiotic relationship between interior and exterior spaces. Lachlan McArdle, director at Lande Architects, explains that Jinjella “intended to lean on the Usonian philosophy to prioritise privacy to the street and bring nature into the house,” another defining element of Wright’s ideals.

Anchored confidently on a sloping site in Victoria’s Geelong, Jinjella maximises an elevated position in the landscape with views of the Barwon River, Port Phillip Bay and the sprawling vista of Melbourne beyond. “Well-established planting provides a sense of both vastness and privacy,” says Lachlan of the site, the topography of which he describes as inherently challenging. “The slope is something that we have not dealt with very often,” adding that the constraints were not without the benefit of north-facing light and breezes.

Anchored confidently on a sloping site in Victoria’s Geelong, Jinjella maximises an elevated position in the landscape with views of the Barwon River, Port Phillip Bay and the sprawling vista of Melbourne beyond.

In addition to the natural features of the site, the built environment of the quiet residential street guided Jinjella’s design strategy. Lachlan acknowledges the prominent presence of the mid-century modernist style in the surrounding houses, which supplemented the design process with “limitless inspiration”. The home is composed of several volumes working together to shield the interior from the public domain without revealing the interior occupation. One is greeted with a composition of timber and brick masses under a seemingly floating roof plane – hallmarks of the modernist inspiration – that conceals the interiors. It is only the clerestory windows that allude to the experience within.

Once inside, landscape views are gradually revealed, curated to enhance the journey of moving through Jinjella. A large central skylight, positioned above the stairwell, floods the spaces with natural light and illuminates a rammed earth spine wall functioning as the primary structural axis of the building. The deep eaves of the roof plane provide shading in the summer without preventing the sun’s warmth from entering in the winter months. In alignment with the Usonian design strategy, the north facade is opened up to the natural surrounds and the experience of the outdoors is woven into the enclosure of the home; recessed joinery and level transitions are used to achieve minimal intervention between indoor and outdoor living spaces.

The brief stipulated critical requirements for the young family’s active lifestyle. “The house had to be flexible, easily entertain friends and family and capture the views,” says Lachlan, adding that the occupation was resolved in a staggered layout – owing to the sloping topography – so that living and entertaining can occur downstairs (close to the pool) or upstairs (close to the view).

The landscape beyond the edges of Jinjella is defined by mature, established vegetation, and new ground planting serves to soften the transition from hardscape to gardenscape. The use of natural materials further integrates the building sympathetically with its environment. “To work with such rich materials was a joy,” says Lachlan, “and brings a very peaceful feeling to the home.” The rammed earth spine wall is complemented with a conscientious use of natural timber and custom clay bricks, the tones of which have been closely controlled to craft a cohesive material palette.

One is greeted with a composition of timber and brick masses under a seemingly floating roof plane – hallmarks of the modernist inspiration – that conceals the interiors.

“To work with such rich materials was a joy,” says Lachlan, “and brings a very peaceful feeling to the home.”

Lachlan describes the selection of materials as being underpinned by principles of sustainable design to ensure ethically sourced and recycled products were used as much as possible, in ways that would enhance the performance of the home. Crushed recycled concrete makes up much of the rammed earth wall, which subsequently functions as a thermal mass, storing heat during the day for radiant release once the sun has gone down. Such strategies, coupled with hydronic heating, thermally broken joinery and passive solar benefits, result in a building with little reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

When asked to reflect on the success of Jinjella House, Lachlan responds with pride in the outcome: “The project settles into the surrounding neighbourhood character very well.” He goes on to reconnect his thoughts with the ideals of Usonia: “It reveals little from the front but surprises you as you move through the home.” The success of this residence, however, is not limited to the sympathetic contextual integration, nor to its commitment to the design narrative. The success instead lies in the combination of these complex concepts coupled with an intelligent use of a site in a manner that permits this home to add interest and intrigue to those lucky enough to spend their days in it.

Architecture, interior design and styling by Lande Architects. Build by Murphy Built. Engineering by Maurice Farrugia & Associates.