Long house
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How to increase density in suburbia without diminishing the ideal of suburban life? The typical suburban lot in Brisbane is 10m x 40m. The standard model of housing in this context is the detached Queenslander. Is it possible to extend dwellings to the edges of the boundaries and provide opportunities to maximize density? The long house proposes a division of the standard block into two narrow plots while still allowing occupants to have their own back garden, privacy and front door. By working with the existing plot sizes in this way a gradual densification is possible. A plot on Newmarket road was chosen as a testing ground. A fall of 4m along the length of the site is used to advantage.
A northern court is created in order to engage the street while also creating a buffer to the busy road and providing light to the dwelling. A more sheltered southern court is used in the summer months. A large brick wall runs the length of the house. It is a guiding and linking element as well as provider of light and ventilation. It is capped by a curved concrete beam with embedded brick slips in order to continue the brick surface to the high level window where the gentle modulation of the light on the texture of the brick can be appreciated. Austral bricks classic range was chosen in order to relate to the red brick of nearby buildings and for its warm colour.
