Architecture

Other Architects envisions new official residence for Australia's Prime Minister

Other Architects envisions new official residence for Australia's Prime Minister
Other Architects' concept for the Australian Prime Minister's official residence, called "A House That Floods"
Other Architects' concept for the Australian Prime Minister's official residence, called "A House That Floods"
View 13 Images
Other Architects' concept for the Australian Prime Minister's official residence, called "A House That Floods"
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Other Architects' concept for the Australian Prime Minister's official residence, called "A House That Floods"
The Upper House occupies the crest of the hill which the house is situated upon
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The Upper House occupies the crest of the hill which the house is situated upon
Going underground, a defensible zone is hidden beneath the hill
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Going underground, a defensible zone is hidden beneath the hill
The Lower House contains the private residence of the PM, in addition to a number of guest suites
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The Lower House contains the private residence of the PM, in addition to a number of guest suites
The ceremonial space is located beneath the lake's surface
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The ceremonial space is located beneath the lake's surface
The ceremonial space is revealed by displacing the water within and flooding the land
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The ceremonial space is revealed by displacing the water within and flooding the land
The ceremonial space is located beneath the lake's surface
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The ceremonial space is located beneath the lake's surface
The ceremonial space is revealed by displacing the water within and flooding the land
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The ceremonial space is revealed by displacing the water within and flooding the land
Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
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Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
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Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
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Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
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Architectural sketches of A House That Floods
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View gallery - 13 images

The official residence of Australia's current Prime Minister (known as "The Lodge") was only ever intended to offer temporary accommodation when constructed back in 1925. To celebrate this year's Canberra centenary celebrations, the University of Canberra and the Gallery of Australian Design invited architects to produce a modern replacement for the venerable lodge. Sydney-based Other Architects duly produced its "A House That Floods" concept.

Other Architects carried out some historical research on Canberra's origins and discovered that the planned city's location on an empty dry lake was inspired by an earlier proposal by artist and architect Charles Coulter. Coulter's design placed Australia's capital city on the mostly dry but flood-prone Lake George. Needless to say, modern-day Canberra's location near the Molonglo River ultimately won out as the chosen location.

However, Other Architects was inspired enough by Coulter's vision to use it as a starting point for a residence which made use of a nearby lake to allow entire areas of the building to appear or disappear, as desired.

The ceremonial space is revealed by displacing the water within and flooding the land
The ceremonial space is revealed by displacing the water within and flooding the land

A House That Floods' Upper House occupies the crest of the hill which dominates the plot, and is intended to host state functions. The Lower House contains the private residence of the PM, in addition to a number of guest suites.

A defensible zone is hidden deep within the hill, and the concept even calls for lake water to be vaporized into a cloud above the house to hamper satellite surveillance, drone strikes, and paparazzi.

The most novel feature of the residence is a ceremonial area located just beneath the lake's surface. Usually filled with water, the space is brought into use by displacing the water that fills it. This action floods the nearby land and cuts off foot access from the foreshore, in addition to concealing the Lower House from view while ceremonies are held.

Source: Other Architects via ArchDaily

View gallery - 13 images
2 comments
2 comments
Bruce Mawby
You could in bad taste call it the "Harold Holt Lodge"
The Skud
And the 1st idiot who smuggles in a small Semtex charge sinks the whole thing? At, last - a practical architect-designed feature! Build 500 of them, one for each politician! If you don't please the public ... you swim! Save on all those elections at least.