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Architect Richard Cole created the Bluff Farm House, a contemporary take on a traditional farmhouse in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.
We are a small practice of four people based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Living in a beautiful part of the world next to the ocean you are constantly immersed in the elements and open to the state of the environment around you. Our practice tries to create buildings that facilitate this awareness.
What was the design brief for the Bluff Farm House project, and what was your vision for achieving your client's goal?
The essential concept of the house reflects the way in which the owner has always used this place: setting up a table on the grass under the shade of the large eucalypt adjacent to the site. The brief called for a robust house that could accommodate either a couple or a large group of friends or family. The house uses large sliding doors to open up or shut down depending who is using the place. The site was quite exposed and encompassed by a really strong landscape so the response required a singular gesture.
Were there any challenges in trying to achieve your vision for this project?
Trying to find a really good builder who understood the concept and could work to the level of detail we required was challenging. Jeff Towler who built the house did a fantastic job and was a pleasure to work with.
You used Centor A6 sliding systems in this project. Why did you choose Centor over other systems?
We used the A6 track system as it had a scale and industrial aesthetic that was appropriate to the scale and agricultural character we were trying to invest in the building. The sliding doors were very large and made from recycled Tallowwood, so we needed a system that could easily accommodate the high loading. We were exposing the steel structure of the house and I love the way that every component of the A6 system is visible; you can see how it works. We also extended the track beyond the doors and used it as a picture rail to hang paintings down the corridor. The simplicity yet inherent flexibility of the system was impressive.
Have you had any feedback from the client about the Centor A6 sliding doors?
There have been no complaints! The one comment that I always receive about the house is how people love the big sliding doors.
Your practice has a focus on sustainable architecture. Describe how you have used Centor A6 sliding systems to achieve a sustainable outcome.
The large sliding doors allow parts of the house to be closed down when not in use. This restricts areas that require heating in winter. In summer, rooms can be easily purged of heat by opening them right up to cross ventilation. We have used large openings on the side of the prevailing breezes and smaller openings adjacent to intensive use areas and bedrooms so that the air velocity is increased, encouraging convective cooling. Sliding doors allow the door leaf to be slid completely past the opening, making a visually clean opening but also maximizing the area for airflow.
How have you found using Centor hardware?
I have a large solid core door in my house on a Centor A6 open rail and my young kids use it easily. Because it uses very robust components I know that it will last a long time, which is another sustainable consideration. The Centor systems I have used combine beautifully resolved details with systems that work really well.
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