Cape Schnack House, Melbourne
The Cape Schanck House, Melbourne is situated near rugged coastline subject to strong prevailing winds and sits within an expanse of native tea trees. The flows through the site inform the linear site nature of the east and west decks that extend into the landscape. The pattering of the pavers was based on the nearby rock platform, where fast-cooling lava forms into sequential patterns of pentagons and hexagons.
The central element of the internal space – the large bulb-shaped tank – contributes to the environmental performance of the house in two ways: it collects and stores rain water harvested from the entire roof surface, while the 6mm mild steel tank walls keep the water at a temperature close to 21?C, ambiently cooling the house interior.
