Rivers Residence is located on a narrow elevated site, near Monument Hill in Fremantle. Evoking the local maritime and industrial context via its form and materiality, this contemporary architectural composition is sculpted to embrace the unique view potential. The external form, materiality, textures and natural colours form a strong composition. The form is resolved horizontally, with an undercroft expressed as a recessive base. The two storey residential ‘container’ appears buoyant above the undulating limestone landscape, differentiated with a sinuous stainless steel skin.
The original brief required a small house capturing the full potential of the elevated site. Two bedrooms were needed, with ancillary spaces such as a study, gymnasium, library and a modest pool.
Breezes cool the dwelling in summer and glazed openings have overhangs resulting in minimal reliance on air conditioning. On site electricity generation is via roof mounted PV cells. Rainwater storage tanks have been incorporated. Biomat has been utilized with R3 insulation to the upper ‘lightweight’ levels to maximise thermal inertia. Reclaimed Baltic Pine was repurposed as screening elements.
The result from an interesting brief is a dwelling that extends the residential vocabulary of Fremantle and adds interest to the public domain.
