Amado House

by Studio Bright

Amado are external sliding timber screens used on traditional Japanese homes to protect the inner layers of shoji screens from the weather. The Amado House by Studio Bright adapts sliding screens to address Australian conditions, moderating harsh sun and discouraging blowflies with flywire replacing rice paper.

The Amado House is an Essendon period home that has been refurbished and contrasted with a new backyard pavilion featuring its own formalistic expression. Studio Bright‘s design has accentuated the qualities of spaciousness, transparency and warmth, whilst the less desirable traits of the original home have been brought under temporal control through a range of devices.

The pavilion has been designed in the style of a utilitarian building. The substantial height of the space is balanced by drawing the roof sheeting down the walls like a lowered brow, with a light-taming switch to perforated material performing the visual trick of giving solid mass externally and a glowing veil of translucency within. This duality neatly reverses itself at night, another reading of spatial transparency.

Sliding amado screens form an outer skin that is highly adaptive to daily circumstances. The screens stand forward from an openable glass line, forming a space that blurs the inside/outside distinction and offers many options for sitting, strolling and occupying. The space, traditionally the engawa or Japanese verandah of vernacular houses, brings great subtlety in the variety of ways opening glass and opening screens can work together to adapt to the unfolding weather.

Through the Amado House project Studio Bright created a design that would temper the natural light and give subtle degrees of environmental control. Studio Bright’s design allows the home to balance shelter and transparency in order to overcome the extreme nature of the Australian climate. 

The Amado House creates a contemplative mood that supports a quiet family life. A formal ‘genkan’ shoe removal entrance sequence and display recesses for family treasures are included in accordance with custom. A deep Japanese bath with its adjoining space for soapy washing and designated places to drink tea, are examples of design choices taken to enhance the pleasure of being at home. These familiar routines and spaces have helped ease the home owners transition from Japanese to Australian culture.

The Amado House by Studio Bright has received critical acclaim by the following architectural awards.

2017 Intergrain Timber Vision Awards: Residential Exterior: Winner

2017 Houses Awards: House Alteration and Addition over 200SQM: Commendation

2017 Houses Awards: Heritage: Shortlisted

2017 Houses Awards – Sustainability: Shortlisted

To view more Studio Bright Inspired Architecture Archives head to their TLP Designer Profile.        

Keep up to date with The Local Project’s latest interviews, project overviews, collections releases and more – view our TLP Articles & News.

Explore more design, interior & architecture archives in our TLP Archives Gallery.