Part C

Stretto Hut

The Stretto Hut is a response to Holl’s Stretto House. Dominant themes which run through the Stretto House such as its reflection of the damns and spring fed ponds and its reflection of Bartok’s Music for Percussion, Strings and Celesta is what has mostly inspired the design of the Stretto Hut.
A small stream runs along the Eastern side of the site. The cabin is situated adjacent to the stream. The Eastern side of the cabin responds to the stream by reflecting its form and flow. Light materials have been used for the walls on this side. Internally, spaces have been organised to look out at the stream while at the same time flowing down the slope with each space trickling into the next. The bedroom and bathroom is not attached to the rest of the cabin. These rooms reflect the theme used in the guest house of Holl’s Stretto House. Roles are inverted as the heavy walls become curved and the roof is flat and rectilinear. The rooves covering the rest of the cabin are light and curvy. As well as drawing inspiration from the stream, the Stretto Hut incorporates aspects of music into its design. Aspects such as the stretto, fugue and heavy and light sounds. The South-Western side of the house is made up of concrete block walls, representing heavy percussion instruments, whereas the North-Eastern facing side of the house uses lightweight steel framed walls. This allows for the curvaceous form, giving this side of the house a form mirroring the sounds of the light stringed instruments.

Internal spacing has been organised in such a way that rooms flow down the slope into each other. Entry to the cabin as at the top of the site. The space in which you enter into contains the kitchen and dining areas. This space is then overlapped with the next, which contains living and working areas, connected by a small set of stairs. Doors are not used to connect spaces within this house as they restrict the downward flowing movement and interconnection of space. The bedroom and bathroom are the only exceptions. The workspace extends to the outdoors from the living area, blurring the definition of inside and outside spaces. An area of reflection sits amongst the work space as the two activities rely on each other. Peaceful times of reflection increase productive work. From the living area a covered walkway, accessed via a large opening in the wall, connects the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom is only accessible via the bedroom. This area is where the theme of fluid, downward movement ends and a restriction of movement by the use of doors occur. This happens because these are private spaces and the themes running through the cabin are inverted as mentioned earlier.

Aspects of passive design have been applied to the Stretto Hut. Passive ventilation was one of the main focuses. Windows and openings have been placed in such a way that westerly breezes enter via the dining area and flow right through the house exiting via the living area. Breezes from the East and the North will enter the bedroom and living and working area and will flow up into the kitchen and dining area. The cabin faces North-East which is the most desirable aspect for the region. This allows for maximum exposure to natural light during the day. Large doors and windows have been placed on the North-Eastern wall to achieve this. Minimal unnatural lighting is needed during the day. The rooves are raised 100mm above the walls, allowing for a small opening between wall and roof. This has been done to expel the hot air which rises, and allow for the cool air to flow through the house and exit via a lower level, allowing for maximum cooling and comfort. The walls of the bedroom have been made using lightweight materials to prevent thermal mass which occurs on the South-Western walls of the other parts of the cabin. In Sub-Tropical climates the temperature at night does not differ significantly to that of the day, therefore thermal mass is not a good thing to occur in the bedroom as it will transfer heat into the room at night.

The Stretto Hut has been designed in accordance with the major themes Steven Holl applied to the Stretto House. However it has been adapted to suit its site, client’s needs and climatic region. It incorporates the idea that a house or dwelling is to be a delightful experience, a container of human activities and an environmental filter.