Architecture

One Wybelenna home is for the birds

One Wybelenna home is for the birds
The One Wybelenna home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The One Wybelenna home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
View 47 Images
The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Low-e (or low emissivity) glass is used to reduce the sun's heating effect on the home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Low-e (or low emissivity) glass is used to reduce the sun's heating effect on the home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna is based in Brisbane, Australia (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna is based in Brisbane, Australia (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The One Wybelenna home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The One Wybelenna home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was built in part using recycled timber (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was built in part using recycled timber (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Low-e (or low emissivity) glass is used to reduce the sun's heating effect on the home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Low-e (or low emissivity) glass is used to reduce the sun's heating effect on the home (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Cross-ventilation features throughout the property (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Cross-ventilation features throughout the property (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Cross-ventilation features throughout the property (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Cross-ventilation features throughout the property (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Both a swimming pool and tennis court feature in the plot (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Both a swimming pool and tennis court feature in the plot (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was built in part using recycled timber (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was built in part using recycled timber (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
A 140,000-liter (37,000 US gallon) swimming pool has been retained from the original property and repurposed as a water tank (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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A 140,000-liter (37,000 US gallon) swimming pool has been retained from the original property and repurposed as a water tank (Photo: Scott Burrows)
A turf roof serves as home to a family of local plover birds (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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A turf roof serves as home to a family of local plover birds (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Both a swimming pool and tennis court feature in the plot (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Both a swimming pool and tennis court feature in the plot (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
A 140,000-liter (37,000 US gallon) swimming pool has been retained from the original property and repurposed as a water tank (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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A 140,000-liter (37,000 US gallon) swimming pool has been retained from the original property and repurposed as a water tank (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property is styled after the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House, by late Australian architect Richard Neutra (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The large thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Cross-ventilation features throughout the property (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Cross-ventilation features throughout the property (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Both a swimming pool and tennis court feature in the plot (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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Both a swimming pool and tennis court feature in the plot (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
A turf roof serves as home to a family of local plover birds (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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A turf roof serves as home to a family of local plover birds (Photo: Scott Burrows)
The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
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The property measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft) (Photo: Scott Burrows)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
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Architectural drawing (Image: Shaun Lockyer Architects)
View gallery - 47 images

Located in Brisbane, Australia, One Wybelenna is a luxurious property designed to achieve a high level of sustainability – as evidenced by its turf roof which not only provides insulation but also serves as home for a local species of bird. The stone cottage, originally designed by Australian architect Robin Gibson, was recently extensively renovated by Shaun Lockyer Architects with striking results.

During the renovation, Shaun Lockyer Architects made full use of all available stone from the cottage which previously occupied the plot, and One Wybelenna's guesthouse is actually built upon the basic dimensions of the former dwelling.

The main building is rather more ambitious however, and is heavily influenced by late Australian architect Richard Neutra. This certainly shows, and One Wybelenna bears more than a passing resemblance to the iconic Californian Kaufmann Desert House that is amongst Neutra's most recognized works.

One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)
One Wybelenna was completed last year (Photo: Scott Burrows)

One Wybelenna measures 1,012 sq m (10,893 sq ft), and was constructed with a view to being as environmentally friendly as possible, as per the client's wishes. A 140,000-liter (37,000 US gallon) swimming pool was retained from the original property and repurposed as a water tank (a new pool was also installed), and 300 new trees were planted during the build.

In addition, the property was designed with some thought to passive cooling, taking into a account the northern sun and prevailing wind patterns. Low-e (or low emissivity) glass has been used to reduce the sun's heating effect on the home, and thick stone walls help to maintain a steady temperature. Cross-ventilation also features throughout the property.

Solar panels produce 15 kW of electricity, and the home was built in part using recycled timber. Perhaps the most charming green feature though, is the turf roof which serves not only as insulation, but also as home to a family of local plover birds.

One Wybelenna was completed last year.

Source: Lockyer Architects, via Arch Daily

View gallery - 47 images
2 comments
2 comments
JDS
Turf roofs are so old technology! They were the rage in the USA in the 1970's with homes built into the side of a hill with turf roofs, etc. to be highly energy efficient.
Martin Hone
"a high level of sustainability" Well, that might have been the case 15 or 20 years ago, but there is nothing in what has been mentioned in support of this that is new or innovative. I see mention of lighting either, so other than the grass roof and the fact this house was built on the site of another and some of the materials were re-cycled, there is nothing that makes this any more 'sustainable' than any modern home, and possible less so than current 6-star designs.