Timber Screens Expand And Define The Perimeters Of The Jan Juc Studio

The simplicity of form and clarity of intent marks The Jan Juc Studio by Eldridge Anderson architects. The structure is an architecture studio and residence beneath a canopy of eucalyptus. This building in Australia interacts with the site’s elements through a veil of operable timber screens that define its perimeter. It admits light and sea breeze into the interior depending on the screen’s position and time of the day. The team envisions a building that would function well and age gracefully while involving the landscape. The house combines the practices of architectural interests with personal experience.

“The screens are simultaneously surface and aperture, encouraging engagement between building and inhabitation. As the screens are activated according to the season and time of day, transparency and animation are introduced, allowing the richer finish of the main timber structure and lining to become evident .”

Eldridge Anderson Architects

The 200-square-meter structure has an open plan that exhibits simplicity and a humble feeling of living on a deck among the bush. For the owners, the most enjoyable aspect of the site was sitting under the eucalyptus. The idea of a floating deck came into play as they wanted to recreate the scenario all year round. The building’s layout makes it flexible as it poses as a single space that can be zoned or modified accordingly. The midsection incorporates more privacy while permitting movement and circulation on its sides. The house is free from traditional rooms with walls and doors. The zoning extends to the landscape where the house opens with external screens as a medium to expand or define the physical perimeter of the area.

To add, using timber resolves the structural requirement of flexibility while also adding to the design. The team utilized the smell of wood and hardwood floors’ acoustics by highlighting each functionality. Aside from the structure and floors, hardwood is also present in the cabinetry, cladding, and wall lining. Regarding the interior atmosphere, passive cooling and a single heat source regulate the home’s temperature.

_{Photos are from Ben Hosking.}