MF House

The client’s brief asked for a modern family home for a growing family of four, with sustainability and spaciousness in mind; we decided to emphasis spatial and form configuration as a means of achieving sustainability innovation, such as optimizing the building's layout to make the most efficient use of space. Special attention was given to the experiential quality of the house while limiting the use of expensive materials, allowing for a perfect balance between requirements and budget. This design focuses on providing as much natural light to the living spaces as possible, specifically orientating them towards the north. With its north-east glassy façade, low-angle winter sun is allowed to fill the space and the cantilevered first floor effectively shades out high-angle summer sun from the undesirable north-west. On warmer days, the space can be extended by opening the column-free corner between the dining and living area. The addition of a steel cable trellis during summer can provide shade on hot days with a green canopy created by climbing plants, while also allowing sunlight and views of the sky through in autumn when leaves start to fall. Spaces are planned around a central void in an interconnected manner, the void not only allows sufficient air circulation but also room to add features which provide comfort as well as enjoyment; play areas, stairs and an operable skylight all encourage the flow of new ideas and opportunity. The minimalistic approach employed, utilizing simple materials and design, results in a spacious yet homey modern house.