A Sense of Home, is a House as a research entity for my Bini Oculus Institute, a Binocular Vision Research Centre where data and new information forms its architecture.

It currently houses a female PHD student, specialising in Disability Studies, she is also a strong activist for the young blind on social media.

The architecture is built around the senses other than sight.

Sitting in between two existing homes, it has a discrete presence. Its long and narrow footprint creates a linear floor plan and avoids maze like planning. This makes it easier for the user to navigate and memorise the space.

All rooms are open to the inner courtyard, in order for my client to enjoy the senses of the outdoor in a safe and private way.

I researched architect Charles Moore and Richard Olivier’s house for a blind client who’s brief was to “design a house whose impact would be more than merly visual, that would embrace a broader range of sensual experience.” Through his detailed description of the house, I incorporated some key elements such as a water feature for sound quality and the attraction of birds. The journey during the climb of a long ramp and the importance of a hand rail and its role of leading a path. This ramp wraps around the entire home, it is a large feature similar to Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, to break up the length of the ramp, I designed for a split level office space looking down at the courtyard and up to her bedroom.

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Light is an important aspect of the building. The occupier like most blind people does not see darkness but is sensitive to the glow of light, its intensity and warmth. The windows, skylights and courtyard aren’t to capture a view, but to capture natural light. Giving a sense of time, and a connection to the outside world, like the weather for example.

There are changes in texture on the floor, this informs the occupier she has entered a different space, it also affects the sound of her foot steps and the feel under her feet.

The sentence “A Sense of Home” is used on the entrance facade of the house.

Where the void in the brick represents each dot in a braille sentence. I chose a warm toned brown reclaimed brick in order for the new build to blend with its surrounding. Molten glass brick is inlayed within the braille brick creating a smooth surface at body level for the occupier to feel and lead her to the front door. This feature allows light and some movement to peer through, again creating a discrete and private sense of connection to her surrounding context.

 

Style of drawing inspired by Architecture firm, Atelier Bow Wow.