A short-term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

A short-term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons



Robert Nichol & sons were engaged by the clients to design a short-term residential building to complement their existing suite of buildings on site, which consists of a homestead, another short-term rental, and agricultural outbuildings. These clients had engaged architects with the previous builds, so in their mind, this would not be a standard domestic outcome.

40099 1024x683 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

1

The site is one of the most beautiful, spectacular, and highly visible in the area and as such, architects knew their design had to respect and connect with this stunning location. This region has a plethora of available short-term stays, but given the unique potential this site offered, connection to the landscape was critical.

2 2 685x1024 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

2

There was also a need for privacy toward the homestead – that guests and owners would each not be aware of the other’s presence to enjoy dual occupancy with limited physical interaction and the architects also looked at the most robust viewpoints to achieve the best vistas while sheltering views back to the homestead.

3 2 683x1024 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

3

The decision was made very early on to remove any dedicated circulation space, instead adopting a simple sequence of arrival into the open plan living, transitioning through the dressing and bathing zone and finally into the bedroom. It enabled a tight layout of 70sq/m to present as a series of new volumes, each with a strong identity, discovered as one moves through space. Because of the site’s exposure to the weathering elements, the clients wanted a building that didn’t require ongoing external maintenance, so the architects started to explore the various cladding options available.

4 2 1024x683 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

4

The outcome for this was very site driven and by a desire to ensure the design would work with the land, not against it. Robert Nichol & sons decided the material for all facets would be the same, as opposed to separate wall and roof finishes, so that the dwelling took on an object quality, like a folded piece of sculpture. They finally selected corten for its aesthetic appeal and ability to blend and for its class to evolve and change with time and season.

5 2 1024x683 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

5

To achieve a refined finish technical issues, the architects engaged the builder, metal fabricator, and the installer into designing phase. They broke the roof into two forms, creating multiple ridges and a valley not unlike the distant hills – this introduced more angles for the cladding to express itself.

6 1 1024x683 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

6

The resultant form evolved to lift itself as the ground fell away – to counteract this float they also developed a long solid masonry wall, of handmade dark bricks, to create a solid anchoring device that grounds the folded form and acts as a counterpoint to the Corten finish.

7 1 1024x683 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

7

The project successfully met all the clients’ expectations and more – they look out to a sculptured mix of corten form and long masonry blade, which reads neatly as a connection to the landscape rather than an inhabited space. Meanwhile, visitors enjoy spectacular framed views from the carefully placed and shaped windows and a level of internal amenity rarely offered on the market.

8 1 1024x683 A short term residential building by Robert Nichol & sons

8

Photography by Jack Lovel