Proposed Cabin Design

From the completion of the first sketch to the inception of the final form the Cabin design was underpinned by Glenn Murcutt's concept of "touch the earth lightly". The main architectural features of the Marika-Alderton House were analysed and integrated into the design wherever possible - creating a cabin inherent with the qualities of Glenn Murcutt's architecture.

Cabin as an Environmental filter

A successful interpretation of Glenn Murcutt's work would render a cabin whose structural forms are dictated by the environment. The proposed cabin design achieves this requirement. In cases of extreme weather the cabin enters a 'locked' state whereby all openings are closed and the building envelope is minimised. When the weather permits the entire cabin can be opened up, revealing a skeletal structure which allows breezes to flow freely through the cabin. These design elements epitomise Glenn Murcutt's ideals of climatically responsive architecture.

Cabin as a Container of Human Activities

To contain human activity within a built form would be to deter from Glenn Murcutt's concept of architecture that interacts with the environment. Privacy for the occupants within is always available, however, it is the 'open' state of the cabin that manifests Glenn Murcutt's ideal of responsive architecture.

Cabin as a Delightful Experience

The cantilevered approach to elevating the cabin above the ground gives the illusion of a 'floating' construction. From both the exterior and interior of the cabin no direct relationship between the built and natural forms can be established. This instills a sense of delight in the occupants and satisfies Glenn Murcutt's requirement for architecture that blends with its surroundings.