Nature inspires architecture in the latest project from London-based architects Undercurrent.
January 14th, 2010
A brief to create an outbuilding in the grounds of a New South Wales residence lead the Undercurrent Architects – with Didier Ryan and German Perez-Tavio at the helm – to construct ‘Leaf House’.
In the gardens overlooking the Pacific seascape, the unique contemporary space blends into unique leafy surroundings, cascading downwards in response to the terrain’s sloping gradient.
Like the vegetation that the form emulates, the structure grows from tubular steel foundations, which weave like branches to provide the structural support for the self-contained space.
Surrounding the weaving white steel ‘branches’, striking moulded glass protects from the elements, whilst showcasing uninterrupted ocean views and creating a sense of immersion in the verdant environment.
Limited work was done on site. “Complex steel and glass forms were produced from standardised templates: glass being formed from 1 mould, flipped and rotated and inverted to get apparent variations from a repetitive shape,” explains Ryan.
The steel fabrication used industrial boat building methods, making it fast to make and leaving it with a “hand-made quality rather than sharp precision normally associated with building steel.”
Overlapping ‘leaves’, made from corrugated iron, provide a canopy over the structure whilst allowing light to seep in through the gaps.
Undercurrent Architects
undercurrent-architects.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Hamish Dounan, Director of Sydney-based landscape architecture studio, CONTEXT, shares his insights on the possibilities of outdoor learning in education design.
The revival of Sydney’s Paddington suburb continues as architecture firm Scott Carver unveils ambitious plans to transform the historic Verona cinema into a mixed-use cultural hub.