Is This the Best Modern House in the World? (House Tour)

Summary

The Bunkeren is a landscape-based architectural project in Australia, inspired by the Awabakal people's land and a botanic garden from the 1800s. Named for its Danish bunker-like design, it experiments with integrating the house into the natural environment, featuring hanging gardens and minimal structural obstructions. The house prioritizes family life, with a focus on cooking, gardening, and enjoying nature, while supporting local art and inherited furniture. It boasts a human-scale architecture with intimate rooms and an approach that emphasizes the landscape over the building itself. The design also addresses challenges like light and ventilation, creating a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor spaces.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The Bunkeren is a landscape-based project inspired by a botanic garden from the 1800s, aiming to grow the landscape around the house.
• 🏠 The name 'Bunkeren' is Danish for bunker, reflecting the building's design as an earth-integrated structure.
• 🔍 The project focuses on the essentials of a house and attempts to make them exciting and adventurous.
• 🏞️ Located on a rocky edge in Australia, the Bunkeren features hanging gardens and minimal structural obstructions for freedom of design.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The house is designed for family gatherings, emphasizing quality in everyday activities like cooking, gardening, and raising children.
• 🎨 The Bunkeren incorporates local art and inherited furniture, aiming to create a home that reflects the family's lifestyle.
• 🌡️ The design takes advantage of the climate, with the house contouring along the landscape and rooms that are intimate yet open to the elements.
• 🌱 The roofs are planted, creating a living facade that will blend with the surrounding jungle over time.
• 🏡 The approach to the house is designed to feel like entering a landscape first, with the entrance subtly indicated.
• 💡 The challenge of light and ventilation is addressed with skylights and strategically placed openings for natural light.
• 🏡 The Bunkeren includes a cellar carved out of the rock, integrating the building with its natural surroundings.
• 🛋️ The interior design is minimalist, using materials like concrete, brass, and wood to create a cohesive internal and external aesthetic.
• 🌅 The house is oriented to take advantage of morning and afternoon sun, with the ability to open in different directions based on wind direction.
• 🌳 The landscape is the central focus, with the house designed to complement and enhance the natural environment.
• 🏞️ The favorite part of the house is where it blends with the rock, symbolizing the harmony between humans and nature.

Q & A

What is the location of the Bunkeren project mentioned in the script?

The Bunkeren project is located just south of Newcastle, in the area traditionally inhabited by the Awabakal people.

What inspired the landscape-based design of the Bunkeren project?

The design was inspired by an incredible botanic garden from the later 1800s that existed in the area, which allowed the landscape to grow up around the house.

What does the term 'Bunkeren' mean and why was it chosen for the project?

Bunkeren is Danish for 'bunker'. The name was chosen by the owners, reflecting the project's concept of an earth-integrated building that resembles a bunker.

What is the main focus of the Bunkeren project in terms of design?

The main focus is on creating an adventurous and exciting home that incorporates important functions while also emphasizing family, landscape, and quality of life.

How does the Bunkeren project address the issue of views in its design?

The project does not obsess over views. Instead, it focuses more on family and landscape, aiming to create a home designed for gatherings and quality experiences.

What are the advantages of the earth-integrated building design in the Bunkeren project?

The design offers advantages such as reduced risk of bushfires, protection from storms, no need for gutter cleaning, prevention of mould and termites, and no need for painting, despite the complexity of building with concrete.

How does the Bunkeren project incorporate light and ventilation into its design?

Light and ventilation are incorporated through the use of floating concrete platforms and skylights, which also create a feeling of elevation despite the building being half-buried.

What unique feature did the owners request for the Bunkeren project?

The owners requested a less commonly used room that would be more interesting, which led to the creation of a cellar carved out of the rock.

How does the Bunkeren project blend the interior and exterior materials?

The project uses the same materials both internally and externally, such as concrete, brass, and wood, creating a seamless transition between the building and the landscape.

What is the significance of the landscape in the Bunkeren project?

The landscape is central to the project, with the house designed to allow the landscape to thrive and grow around it, emphasizing a sense of appreciation for the land.

What is the designer's favorite part of the Bunkeren project and why?

The designer's favorite part is the area that blends rock and house, as it serves as a reminder of the coexistence with nature and the shared responsibility for the environment.