After graduating in Architecture 8 years ago in Victoria, Daniel Ash travelled the globe working for various architecture firms in the UK and Ireland. Three years ago he returned to Melbourne, and this year started his own practice, daniel ash architects. With a focus on creating modern housing with an eco sustainable edge, daniel ash architects are well underway having recently completed the Shank Hill House on the outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, in addition to undertaking a number of other ongoing projects.
Designed for permanent living, the Shank Hill House is a wonderful example of how housing can be designed to be considerate of its’ surroundings, and relate strongly to its users. Windows have been double glazed and placed strategically around the house to maximize cross ventilation, and smaller slot windows maximize light whilst minimizing solar heat gain. Calculated eave overhangs shade all northern windows for summer, but also allow winter penetration.
Different sized water tanks totaling 120,000 litres supply all domestic water to the house. A worm farm waste system accessed by a hatch in the eastern exterior deck takes all black and grey water as well as household scrap, and reduces them to water suitable for irrigating.
Spotted gum (FSC certified) used throughout the house provides an organic natural warmth, further enhanced by the natural wood burning heater and hydronic heating powered by an modulating boiler pre-boosted with solar hot water panels.
Task and low level lighting feature strongly in this abode. Individual fittings have been placed over window seats, the kitchen bench and dining table. Concealed perimeter lighting also provides soft low level light for the rest of the house.
And this property would not be complete, without the complimentary natural food sources – further plans are afoot to include a chicken shed, vegetable garden, orchard and kitchen garden.
Daniel now has a number of other projects on the boil, ranging from designing one room additions, to houses and multi residential developments….and somewhere in between snuck in some time to answer our questions:
What inspired you to be an architect? I come from a building background. My father is a residential builder so I grew up around construction sites and helped out on our houses which he built among other projects. I had always been interested in art and design, and studied art and graphics at high school.
Architecture combined my interests in art, design, structures and construction together while enabling me to have a career that is people focused. Architecture creates a great opportunity to positively impact the way we live.
Your practice has a strong green ethos – What “green” design do you like to incorporate in your houses? ‘Green design’ for me is more than just something we incorporate into a design. It forms the basis of a design methodology and represents a response to the way in which our cities (Melbourne in particular) are spreading and the types of housing and developments we are seeing. It’s important to design housing which truly meets the user’s needs rather than, for example, a huge house which allows for every possible present and future use.
Taking a huge step back at the beginning of the project, I like to analyse the client’s brief and really work out just how much space they need. Reducing the total building size, designing multi-use or adaptable spaces and designing in for future change have a huge impact on decreasing the buildings environmental load before the real design has even begun. Careful consideration of solar access, orientation, ventilation, zoning and the incorporation of green systems are all the more effective on an appropriately sized house.
What challenges did you experience when designing this house? The site presented a number of challenges. It has amazing views to the south, sunset views to the west and ferocious storms which roll in from the Otway Ranges. The challenge was to provide a house which maximised these views while creating some protected space for outdoor living. The clients had a moderate budget to work with and we started with a large list of ‘eco’ inclusions. Throughout the project we had to regularly re-assess the benefit of the different eco systems and materials and work out which ones were best suited to the house and the budget.
Where can we find your designs? A selection of my recent works is available to view online at www.danielash.com.au
What would your ideal home design incorporate? I don’t have one ideal home design as such. Every design is so responsive to site, climate and situation that my dream home is constantly evolving. I would love a sustainable country home; something compact and cosy, a window seat with amazing views, huge decks and an outdoor kitchen. Something that is intrinsically rural, built from local materials and built to last. I love recycled materials against modern forms and materials.
What can we expect to see from Daniel Ash Architects in the future? There are a number of residential extensions and new builds on the drawing board at the moment, ranging form one room additions to new houses and multi residential developments, and they vary greatly in style, size and budget. It’s exciting to be working with a number of new clients and designing new homes especially for them. The aim at the moment is to make a positive impact on every project, to challenge each client and their expectations of a what their house should be.
If you would like Daniel Ash Architects to design your dream “eco” home, they are now looking for new design challenges for 2011. Can’t wait to see them!
Photographs by TRENT PERRETT PHOTOGRAPHY and OLIVER FORBES PHOTOGRAPHY
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