Contemporary Timber House

Contemporary house design

Did you know that myths can inspire modern design? If you didn’t, then it’s about time to introduce you this innovative design house in Howthorn, Melbourne, Australia. It is inspired by the Virgil’s epic tale of the Trojan House which – according to the legend – was a huge wooden horse constructed by the Greeks who hid a select force of men inside. Now that is called forward-thinking! Obviously ancient Greek designers knew that innovative ideas help a lot. Even in the time of war!

Timber house design

Timber house design by Jackson Clements Burrows

This 21^st century Trojan House was designed by Australian architects Jackson Clements Burrows and represents a modern timber home design. The wooden “horse” provides space for a young growing family with 3 children under the age of 10. Its initial idea was challenging the conventional ‘box on the back’ type addition by sculptural form that came out of site restraints thus maintaining as much back yard as possible.

Modern home design

The house design is inspired mainly by the rooftop topography of hips and valleys of the existing Edwardian house. All individual parts of the house are unified by a skin of timber whose idea is carried through to the detailing of operable timber shutters scattered across the façade. There are three kids bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs placed cantilevering above the garden and connected to the living spaces downstairs by a communication void that doubles as a thermal chimney allows conversations. The corridor and the thermal chimney void enable cross ventilation to all bedrooms and draw warm air up and out of the living spaces below during summer.

Modern house with outdoor pool

Modern house with outdoor swimming pool

Water collection on site has been considered for pool restoration and garden use with 11,000 l. of water storage available while grey water system has also been provided to irrigate the garden. The addition incorporates cost efficient waterproof fibre cement cladding system with timber battens and rainscreen over. Jackson Clements Burrows Architects