This building is a concept of modern urban house designed for the young family and boisterous young boys. Located in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia, the Butler House was designed by Andrew Maynard Architects is vertical and architectural pinnacle, fills the void that effects so many inner-city dwellings and a lack of outdoor space. This warehouse apartment consist a rooftop terrace with a difference and complete with canopy and grass.
The Butler House was a tricky project to approach. The defined nature of the boundaries meant a creative approach had to be adopted in order to make the most of what was available. The result is an adaptable home design that will grow and alter over time, just as the family will. Butler House designed to reduce sound transmission, but not to a point of isolation. A very open, vertical path of stairs allowed sounds to travel to all corners of the home design, where their path aided by ubiquitous reflective surfaces in steel and concrete.
Where the rooftop pod sits, atop the vertical spine, it sits within the home existing structure. The existing roof structure was simply cut at the collar-tie and refashioned in a manner, minimising steel use, to allow a bedroom for the rooftop pod – a bionic upgrade of sorts. A trafficable glass floor on the roof, next to the spiral staircase, allows a visual connection and solar access to the living areas below. The effect of the newly- penetrated light throughout the three-storey apartment cannot be downplayed. Again, the adjustable louvres and blind help control the light admittance.
The dark, Butynol clad roof of the pod responds in size and pitch to the neighbouring rooflines, but affords residual spaces to either end, open to the sky, with glimpses to the city skyline beyond. The turf covering is both practical and playful, bolstering tension against the adjacent corrugated tin. With doors wide open, the continuity of turf well and truly blurs and line between interior and outdoor. The kitchen functioned, defined and connected. The overhead joinery was added for further storage and as a point of connection to the living space beyond. Incorporated was the spiral staircase from above, tying it into the architecture design of the space.
The existing mezzanine floor was somewhat of an acoustic pitfall within the house. Used primarily as a rumpus room for the children, it’s openness was at times detrimental. The challenge was to cordon off the space to use as a bedroom, without obstructing the all-important windows. The solution came in covering the gap between wall and floor in playful joinery, whilst a cavity to allow light and ventilation to the living room below. The joinery not only successfully dislocates the spaces, but becomes a bed, storage, robe and table. To the other side of the room, in-lieu of a dumb wall, oversized sliding doors offer acoustic and thermal isolation when needed.
