The practice of Feng Shui finds its origins in China, going back about 6,000 years. It literally translates to “wind and water” and is a concept aiming to design and plan buildings and their surroundings for harmony and happiness. Feng Shui calls on you to organize objects to allow for the flow of what is referred to as natural energy seen as moving through a space and all living things. In this context it is understood that a building’s layout, colours and materials affect the flow of energy.
▼住宅外观 © Shannon McGrath
appearance of the project
Feng Shui design applies three core principles: allow energy to flow, balance between natural elements with their own sets of attributes including colour, texture and shape, and place objects that represent your life’s journey within a space. To a Westerner only vaguely familiar with some of the specific theories and ideas, there is a surprising correlation between Feng Shui and what we would call “good design”: sun light access, air and ventilation, balance of natural light, equal relationship between inside and out, comfort and privacy, balance of materials, a well organized environment. Plan and images of this home make the brief self-explanatory, so let’s talk about our design decisions, a series of small and considered moves based on the study of Feng-Shui principles.
▼由主入口走廊看餐厅 © Shannon McGrath
viewing the dining in hallway of the entrance
▼流动的空间与自然元素呼应了“风水”理念 © Shannon McGrath
flowing space and natural elements echo the concept of feng Shui
The old terrace was restored, a new curved timber wall at the end of the hallway works as both a link between old and new and a barrier to the street. The extension is separated with a courtyard for sunlight into the old, and natural light and ventilation into the new house. The hall linking terrace with extension was widened for a study with outdoor access. The curved timber wall, enclosing a store, leads into the kitchen planned to greet visitors at arrival and overlooking courtyard and study.
▼书房，餐厅与厨房概览，overall of the dining and the kitchen and the study © Shannon McGrath
▼由书房看餐厅与厨房 © Shannon McGrath
viewing the dining and the kitchen from the study
▼由书房看庭院 © Shannon McGrath
viewing the yard from the study
The best form of interaction is the coincidental and the skill lies in planning the coincidence. Some layout and design decisions were made for this purpose evident in the brick platforms for seats facing dining space or lounge to allow for interaction.
▼餐厅前的砖砌桌椅 © Shannon McGrath
the brick platforms of the seat facing dining space
▼ 座椅平台下部可以储物 © Shannon McGrath
store underneath the seat
Behind the store a stair void appears. The back is coloured reflecting light into the space below. Colour and materials only reveal themselves gradually, a design move often applied by Mexican architect Louis Barragan and one of my favourites.
▼休闲角的后部为楼梯间，behind the store a stair void appears © Shannon McGrath
Between stair and kitchen, we placed the dining room, a busy, engaging and open space, designed to encourage conversation. The timber floor of the dining continues into the ceiling of the adjacent lounge, a retreat with a sense of calmness looking back into house, courtyard and out into the garden.
▼餐厅与厨房 © Shannon McGrath
the dining room and the kitchen
▼餐厅细部 © Shannon McGrath
detail of the dining room
The upstairs rooms, more exposed to sun, wind and rain are formed and finished to achieve a balance between shelter from elements and exploring views into the distance.
▼二层的房间拥有良好的景观视野 © Shannon McGrath
the rooms on the second floor have good views of the landscape
For an economic house on a narrow block a compact footprint seems logical. However, logical is not always best. The lounge room walls were skewed and stretched, drawing sunlight and garden into the dining room. The stairwell itself forms a large void prioritising space over utilities. It appears oversized. However, the benefits are obvious: elevated beyond providing access, the stair creates a light filled and generous living space on a small footprint.
▼楼梯间形成舒适宜人的生活空间 © Shannon McGrath
stairwell forms comfortable and pleasant living space
skylight above the stairwell brings daylight into the interior © Shannon McGrath
▼楼梯细部 © Shannon McGrath
detail of the stair
Build less, accomplish more
Like any building project, the Feng Shui house aims to balance user needs with cost, both financial and environmental. To build climate conscious requires building less, and in order to be accepted we need to build better qualities with lesser means. We trust this has been achieved by applying principles of balance, meticulous planning and playing with space and scale.
▼首层平面图，ground floor plan © Steffen Welsch Architects
▼二层平面图，upper floor plan © Steffen Welsch Architects
▼剖面图，section © Steffen Welsch Architects
Location：Inner North, Melbourne
Project size：134 m2
Site size：202 m2
Architects：Steffen Welsch Architects
Engineers：Strutcom Consulting Engineers