Earth-Ship

Winner: People’s Choice Award

With Luigi Rosselli Architects’ Earth-Ship, project, the concept of adaptive reuse and connection to the environment that ‘earthship’ architecture embraces is extended with the revitalisation of an existing home, whose original design was akin to that of a drilling platform, hovering above, and entirely disconnected from its craggy and precipitous surroundings.
The aim with Earth-Ship was to bring the existing two storeys of the house down to earth by adding a further two storeys below them to create a direct link to the garden and natural topography. The nautical accent of the waterfront façade speaks to the energy of Sydney’s foreshores. The rammed earth street entry stands solid and discrete, giving only an indication of what lies below, whilst still distinguishing itself from the neighbouring homes. Earth-Ship is another expression of the many ways Sydney can attempt to redefine how a sustainable home can present itself on the contemporary scene.

Sustainability

The project embraces many sustainable design principles. For example, the use of rammed earth in the construction, and the tiered levels that respond to the natural topography of the site, therefore requiring less excavation and soil displacement. Also, stepped balconies and strategically placed skylights provide solar protection without compromising solar access.