River House by Furminger
Centred around the garden in a palette of concrete and brick, River House by Furminger embraces practical family living with sleek aesthetics.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson I Photography: David Chatfield
Photo: David Chatfield
‘As the project changes and the landscape reclaims the site, we are presented with the client’s new favourite part,’ says Christopher Furminger. Photo: David Chatfield
‘In this instance, our role as the architect/builder allowed us to meet the project challenges by adapting the contemporary delivery of buildings. By building the structure and developing some of the details and some of the spaces as we progressed. Allowing for change and adaptation to the design in a more organic way,’ says Christopher Furminger. Photo: David Chatfield
River House by Furminger tests the limits of architecture through a conceptual layout, one that embraces the exterior. Located in a low-lying riverside environment in Brisbane, construction welcomes the landscape while a concrete wall envelopes the home, protecting from floods.
‘Concrete and brick were chosen for their abilities to withstand the river — only needing to be hosed down or cleaned after a flooding event,’ says architect Christopher Furminger.
Furminger was brought on board to expand on the old weatherboard house, adding space for a new garden, entry, carport, studio, bootroom, and en-suite. The result is a ‘ruin’ like effect wrapping the original building.
‘The initial brief began as they usually do with a list of rooms and requirements; our design process was to amalgamate these with the demands of structure and functionality,’ the architect continues. ‘This led us to imagine the site as a large walled garden to hold program for daily activities.’
The clients are civil building contractors who work with earth and concrete on a daily basis. ‘This familiarity with heavy materials helped direct the method of construction and material finish,’ says Christopher.
To balance the raw materiality, Furminger employed refined timbers and natural stone to add texture, visual softness, and a ‘delicate’ approach.. This direction is in line with the philosophy of modernist architect Lou Kahn — one that reveals the story of construction while upholding the aesthetic and functional needs of the clients.
‘A hard outer shell of concrete and brick has been used to protect the site from flooding damage. To offset the roughness of the concrete and brick externally, refined timbers and natural stone were used internally. A more delicate approach where the user comes in contact with the building,’ says Christopher Furminger. Photo: David Chatfield
“The work of Lou Kahn is always a starting point — his use of heavy structure and pure dark void. ”
‘By maintaining as much of the existing building fabric as possible and working with the existing plan, we developed a strategy to wrap the building with new structure and maintain the central spaces within the home,’ Christopher reveals. ‘This enabled the clients to live on-site during the construction of the new built works.’
This organic approach to building allowed for the architects (who were also the builders) to manage challenges on-site and reflect on the process. Importantly returning the site to the landscape, understanding the way the environment shifts and changes—much to the delight of the clients.
‘We have been invited back on many occasion,’ says Christopher. ‘As the project changes and the landscape reclaims the site, we are presented with their new favourite part.’
For Christopher, his favourite feature is the ‘tilt up concrete panels as the main structure’. ‘[They are] not your typical form of residential construction,’ he explains. ‘It requires space to build the panels on the ground while maintaining enough room to bring in a mobile crane to lift and install. This meant that we not only designed the building but the process of its construction.’
River House by Furminger reveals the breadth of architecture that results in both a home, an environment, and a form of construction. It exposes the balance of light and dark, soft and raw, in progress and complete.
