Nowhere is this continuity more evident than in and around the stairwell of the V House. The off-form, concrete-walled stairwell rises up and under a curving concrete ‘bridge’, the underside of which features the afore-mentioned Oregon textured finish.
These two elements, the ‘bridge’ and the stairwell, read as one continuous flow of concrete, - down one side of the stairwell, continuing into the first tread of the stairs and up the other side to reconnect to the ‘bridge’.
The design of the V House was largely dictated by a funnel-shaped building site.
From across the river, the home presents as a linear series of modules. Delineated by concrete walls, floors and roof, it exhibits a lightness and sense of transparency.
At the rear, a second pavilion angles away from the main one. The resulting ‘V’ creates a private, north-east courtyard and pool area. Within the courtyard, the wall of the main pavilion is clad with timber slatting – acting both as a shading device and a foil to the other materials.
Another big plus for concrete, according to Lockyer, is its Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) credentials.
“Thermal mass, in my opinion, is still the best way to moderate the temperature of an environment,” he says.
“When we use concrete, we’re always going to get a house that is more thermally consistent.”
Lockyer describes his ‘go to’ palette of concrete, timber and natural stone as ‘living breathing materials’.
“If you want perfection, go and buy a Swiss watch,” he says.
“We like to work with materials that overwhelmingly get better with age; that embody a spirit and character that’s real.”