BOAMBILLY HOUSE
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
Soaring cliffs, snow-covered mountain peaks, roaring waterfalls, and lush fertile valleys covered in towering redwood forests, the Yosemite Valley is iconically California. Located in the central Sierra Nevada mountain ranges Boambilly House is an exploration of framing experiences in a rectilinear minimalist form. Designed for art collectors, the house not only boasts extensive galleys to showcase art collections, but the house is in itself a sculptural evoking piece of art.
Without rules, without dogma and with all freedom, the philosophical approach towards Boambilly House explores design ideas emerging naturally through the exploration of simplistic forms in architecture and interiors and contrasting them with the organic forms of nature.
The protagonist of the exploration of form is through human sensations, proportions, and scale being manipulated to induce certain emotions and perspectives. Light and shadow heightens the sensations for proportion and scale and ignites the building to make it come alive.
Nature has been brought inside, with the interior materiality a celebration of natural materials, from poplar timber screens and joinery, greyscale terrazzo flooring throughout, bespoke metallic kitchen with calming green hues, the interior is an experiment in reflective metals and polished stones infusing with warm absorbing timbers and neutral fabrics.
Project
Art collectors HOME
Job Type
Concept House
Year
2020
Software
SketchUp
Enscape
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe InDesign
VISUALISATION MOVIE
BOAMBILLY HOUSE
SITE LOCATION
YOSEMITE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
The landscape of the Yosemite National Park is dramatic and dynamic, the specific site of the house sits halfway up the Sierra Mountain range with panoramic views of the Yosemite Valley and iconic Yosemite granite dome mountains. The context of the site is that it commands views above the valley, yet is still dominated by the mountains above. The site sits in a rainshadow so it receives less rainfall than surrounding areas, therefore the landscape and flora are more exposed and of a drier variety, such a pine trees, shrubs, and exposed granite.
The sparseness of the vegetation allows for the Boambilly House to become a refined sculptural focal point in the untamed rugged landscape, yet inspired by the colours, textures and geometry of the environment to fit in harmoniously
and celebrate a truly unique location and site.
Map images via Google Earth
CONCEPT
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
A house designed for Art Collectors
MOOD BOARD
GEOMETRY & NATURE
CONCEPT BOARD
SCULPTURAL & LINEAR
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MATERIALITY
Tempest Steel
Weathered
Lush Hosta A248
Aspen Raw HW31016
Morning Dew
Soapstone
Travertine
Quasar White
Terrazzo
Supplied by:
Dekton
Supplied by:
Dulux
Supplied by:
Havwoods
Supplied by:
CDK stone
Supplied by:
Erp Bros
Supplied by:
CDK Stone
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
ANALOGUE MODEL SCALE 1:50
INITIAL CONCEPT SKETCHES
DESIGN VISION
Enlightened Rationalism is an appropriate architectural and philosophical approach to Boambilly House. Its rational square and linear rectangular form require respect and admiration for its purist simplistic form which eliminates confusion and personifies traditional qualities of home in the idea of security and safety. Boambilly is almost monolithic in form which exudes strength and confidence which leads to the idea of the relatively artificial form of the house being contrasted with the organic natural forms of the Yosemite National Park. In designing of Boambilly house, I seek to explore the idea of an art collector’s house, not only being a canvas to showcase art, but become in itself a form of sculptural art to be admired.
The linear lines of the house lead itself to a rigid floor plan, which will allow me as the architect and designer to curate the experience of the occupants. For me to guide them through an experiential journey of movement through the house and my vision of the space, leading them into my internal universe and triggering the experience of the interior design on a latent level within themselves. Overall the vision of Boambilly house is to be the exploration of minimalist sculptural form and pushing the functionality of rooms to become an exploration of experiences within themselves.
experimental concept sketches
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
REFINING IDEAS
The evolution of my design and the concept of designing a house that respected the original form of Boambilly House, celebrated the landscape of Yosemite National Park and allowed for the identity and lifestyle of two art collectors seemed overwhelming initially as I looked at these requirements very literally. Originally my idea manifested as a house of galleries, a place where art could be hung and appreciated. This later evolved into the house and its interiors becoming sculptural art as well. Through the exploration of sketching and building abstract and experimental models in SketchUp the inclusion of screens which filtered sunlight and allowed penetrating glimpses of space also became a prominent theme in my design development.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
INFLUENCES
The house needed to celebrate its natural environment and execute it in a way that is contemporary and sculptural. These vistas and the framed moments within the house complimenting and exaggerating each other. I have had several ideas for the bathrooms, and how the views and sculptural elements of the bathroom fit out could be incorporated to create a indulgent and relaxing experience in a surreal landscape.
Initially the house was going to be a long corridor with rooms and experiences following off the main central gallery which connected the society of rooms, though I have found myself pushing the house out on its western boundary. This has realigned al the house experiences facing the dramatic view like an amphitheater over the pool. This realignment of the house outlook has completely changed the look and feel of the experience, and I am excited to see where this takes Boambilly house.