Bunkering down

A CREATIVE collaboration has designed a striking and bushfire-resistant concrete home to be constructed on a steep hillside in Wye River.

The “Wye Concrete Bunker”, a three-storey house at 18 Iluka Avenue, is a joint project between Oliveri Design Construction’s Damian Oliveri, Myne by Prudence Caroline artist Prue Oliveri and Lachlan Shepherd Architects director Lachlan Shepherd.

The ground floor (entry) level provides one study room, a W.C., living/kitchen/dining zone and covered outdoor entertaining area.

There is a main bedroom/associated ensuite, WIR and private deck area on the first floor, while the lower ground floor has two bedrooms, a sunken lounge, laundry/kitchenette and bathroom.

A spiral staircase connects all three levels.

“I’ve worked with Damian and Prue on several projects in the past and we’ve developed somewhat of a synergy when we work together,” Lachlan said.

“We each bring our separate design strengths into one tangible outcome.

“Prue is fantastic stylistically and has a superb sense for finishes, textures and overall composition.

“Damian brings expertise in concrete construction and attention to detailing.

“My role when working with two other creatives such as Damian and Prue is to apply a holistic, measured design approach – founded on my own architectural aesthetic – and bring everything together.

“Prue and Damian developed the name as we were developing the design, due to the nature in which it ‘anchors’ itself into the hillside and steps down.”

Lachlan said the house’s design was largely influenced by the need to respond to the bushfire danger in the Wye River area, and all of the materials to be used had inherent bushfire-resistant qualities.

“Concrete is a robust and proven solution against bushfire threat. While there are large areas of concrete when including floor or roof slabs, the form actually acts as an exoskeleton, whereby it is juxtaposed by large areas of lightweight, infills of steel and stud framing, lined with fireproof insulation/cladding and covered with a fire-resistant aluminum skin.

“There are inherent thermal-mass qualities with concrete, which makes it a great thermal-sink once heated to allow for more consistent internal temperatures in the right environment and given good solar access.

“It also has the advantage of longevity with little to no maintenance.

“So, while the initial outlay and embodied energy to produce the concrete is high, the life-cycle costs are comparatively low. Also, the design solutions and form possibilities area almost limitless.”

He says the house effectively steps down the hillside and anchors itself at each level, which decreases its visual bulk down the gradient.

“This has the dual purpose of firstly responding to the planning overlays on the site and secondly to assist engineering/buildability.”

On the outside, the material palette has been selected to complement the surrounding bush of Wye River, with recessive and natural tones/materials used to harmonise the building with the site.

Significant areas of glazing further enhance the quality of materials and work to decrease visual bulk.

Interlocking profile aluminium cladding provides increased articulation to the building form and references the verticality of nearby trees.

The Colac Otway Shire’s planning permit for 18 Iluka Avenue was challenged by some neighbouring residents at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, but the tribunal recently upheld the shire’s approval of the project.

“The decision completely validates our position that the design is appropriate for the Wye River/Separation Creek area and that it satisfies the intentions of the relevant overlays/controls for the site,” Lachlan said.

He said construction would likely start in a couple of months, possibly in May or June.