Box House is a private residence located in Strathfield, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by Zouk Architects in 2013. The beginning of this project goes through complex analysis of the environment, starting with the surroundings directly affected by the conservative town planning regulations. The analyses singled out planning controls positively contribute to the immediate surrounding which determined the final shape and envelope of the building. The building envelope and composition of “The Box House” consists of series of boxes interlocked in an organized and formal manner. The rigid formation, however, is “deformed” with the insertion of an organic element in the form of a bamboo courtyard to the centre of the dwelling. This courtyard serves as an incision to the lineal planning of the dwelling in order to provide emission of natural lights and serves as an extension to outdoor spaces.
From the street, the dwelling is designed to be well grounded to the immediate surrounding with the curved retaining wall fluidly descend from the façade to the landscape. Sandstone cladding formed the heavier element on the exterior ground level with careful insertion of timber element to compliment the earthy tone of the dwelling. In contrast, however, the zinc cladding provides a fresh and unique element which signifies the new built and punctuates the otherwise conservative conventional streetscape.
