Lyons Architecture

Two Hulls

TWO HULLS

Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects

Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
Canada

CATEGORY
Houses

Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

Text description provided by architect.

This project is situated in a glaciated, coastal landscape, with a cool maritime climate.

The geomorphology of the site consists of granite bedrock and boulder till, creating pristine white sand beaches, and turquoise waters.

Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© James Brittain
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

The two pavilions float above the shoreline like two ship's hulls up on cradles for the winter, forming protected outdoor places both between and under them.

This is a landscape-viewing instrument; like a pair of binoculars, first looking out to sea.

A third transverse 'eye' looks down the coastline, and forms a linking entry piece.

Two Hulls
© James Brittain
Two Hulls
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

A concrete seawall on the foreshore protects the house from rogue waves.  This is a full-time home for a family of four; consisting of a 'day pavilion' and a 'night pavilion'.

One approaches from the understated land side between the abstract, library ends of the two pavilions; then either passes through toward the sea, or left into the living pavilion, or right into the sleeping pavilion.

Two Hulls
© James Brittain
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

One structure contains a central core, while the other contains a side core. The seaward ends of the two main forms (living and master bedroom) delaminate, creating protected outdoor porches, or night time 'lanterns' over the water.

The third linking form contains the generous entry foyer, core, and the kitchen.

The great room contains a floating 24' totemic hearth. The house remains a fertile research vehicle in the education of an architect.

Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

This is a steel frame house, with a wood skin. Its white, steel endoskeleton resists both gravity loads and wind uplift.

The 32' cantilevers and concrete fin foundations invite the sea to pass under without damage.

The wooden rain screen consists of 8" vertical, board-on-batten on the two 'hulls', while the linking piece is a monolithic block of weathered wood inside and out, clad in 4" horizontal shiplap. The lantern ends dematerialise by eliminating the 1" channel joints.

Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson

The fenestration of the 'binocular' ends is minimalist curtain wall with structural silicone.

The side elevations contain storefront glazing. The concrete floors contain a geothermally heated hydronic system.

This sculptural, yet calm and mature project contains generous white volumes on the interior, and exhibits the ironic monumentality of boats on the exterior.

Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson


Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© James Brittain
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson


Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson
Two Hulls
© Greg Richardson


Two Hulls
Floor Plan
Two Hulls
Plan 01


Two Hulls
Section
Two Hulls
Plan + Elevation


Two Hulls
East Elevation
Two Hulls
West Elevation


Two Hulls
Sketch
Two Hulls
Sketch

Lyons Architecture
T +61 3 96002818 F +61 3 96002819
Lyons Architecture
3/246 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Mackay & Partners
T +44 20 76081177
Mackay & Partners
50 Farringdon Rd, London EC1M 3HE, United Kingdom