L Pavilion is an extension to an existing traditional Queensland cottage within an established character area of Indooroopilly. The program required an addition to the existing dwelling that would harbour the principle living and working space for the parents. This included the addition of a master bedroom suite, living, dining, kitchen and two individual study spaces for the professional couple. The existing cottage was to adapt as accommodation for their only child, a teenager looking for some independence, as well as providing a guest room and secondary living.
Project Name: L Pavillion House
Studio Name: Loucas Zahos Architects
Completion date: 2016
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones
The addition of the pavilion reorientates the main living to the rear of the site towards a central, open-air, grassed courtyard. The new living and study spaces are arranged around two sides of the courtyard, whilst the third side is hemmed in by the existing cottage. There is a sense of scale and intimacy generated by the size of courtyard and the relationship the pavilion has with both the adjoining Cottage elevation and the adjacent neighbouring house, which bounds the fourth side of the courtyard.
There is an order to the sequence of rooms in the pavilion that generates a helical form, wrapping around the centralised courtyard. One arrives at the pavilion at the lower level through the entry portico, followed, by the succession of living spaces. Proceeding up a set of stairs to the high point of the pavilion is the second study; a writer’s room.
At the apex of the pavilion, this study space overlooks the courtyard and beyond to the Street in one direction and towards Mt Coot-tha forest in the other direction. Access to an intimately sized balcony encourages further connection to the adjacent urban and natural environment.
The internal living area opens onto an outdoor loggia, which forms a backdrop to the adjacent courtyard. This outdoor loggia extends internally to become a reading room, separating the more private lower level study and master bedroom from the rest of the house. The outdoor loggia and adjoining reading room are divided by a sliding door that can be retracted in day-use to create a single open space. The ceiling of both the outdoor loggia and reading room share the same material treatment, two layers of twin-wall polycarbonate overlayed with a perforated metal sheet, creating a level of translucency.
The sectional profile of the pavilion is defined by a skillion roof, which rakes constantly towards the adjoining cottage. Whilst the sectional profile if “peeled out” would create a continuous linear form, the increase in elevation and wrapping of the pavilion around the courtyard allows a connection to the central outdoor space. The envelope is articulated at high level, with vertical mullions between glazing, which permeate natural light onto the living spaces.
All high level glass is double glazed for insulation with the exception of the intermittent louvres that permit cross flow ventilation. The material pallet is restrained to plywood, concrete, steel and aluminium. These materials contrast to the planted green walls, which provide a soft edge to the courtyard perimeter.
