Group 04 Marie Short House in Australia

Arch 3114
STUDIO U4 Structure & Passive Environmental Design

Case Study Research
Marie Short House
Term 2 2012-2013
NG SIN TING, CINDY 1155016370
WONG HIN NGA, NICOLA 1155016614
YUE KA HIN, JASMINE 1155009432
Marie Short House|Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia|Glenn Murcutt
SITE ANALYSIS ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ANALYSIS
KOPPEN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION Kempsey
The Koppen Climate Classification is one of the Latitude: 31°04S, Longitude: 152°50E
most widely used climate classification systems. The Climate Zone: Humid subtropical climate(Cfa)
system is based on the concept that native vegetation Total Area: 3,308km²
is the best expression of climate. Thus, climate zone Elevation: about 10m above sea level
boundaries have been selected with vegetation
distribution in mind. It combines average annual Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast region
and monthly temperatures and precipitation, and of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 15
the seasonality of precipitation.There are 5 types of kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean
climate in total, they are A, the tropical moist climate; B, and roughly 345 kilometres north of Sydney.It has an
the dry climate; C, the moist sub-tropical mid latitude area of 3,308km² with a population of over 28,500 in
climate; D, the moist continental mid-latitude climate 2006.
and E, the polar climate.
Under this system, Kempsey belongs to Cfa (Humid
subtropical climate).
SITE ANALYSIS
TOPOGRAPHY
The Macleay River is at the heart of the Kempsey as it
carves its way from the mountains of the New England
Plateau to the sea at South West Rocks. It rises as the
Guyra River and merges with a number of tributaries
CLIMATE ZONE Cfa including the Apsley, Chandler and Styx. The original
mouth of the river was at Grassy Head however, during
Humid subtropical climate: Cfa, Cwa, under the
the 1893 flood, a new entrance was forced at South
division C, normally lies on the southeast side of all
West Rocks.
continents, generally between latitudes 25° and 40°
north and tend to be located at coastal or near coastal
locations. However in some cases the climate extends
well inland, most notably in China and the United Vegetation
States. Kempsey Kempsey, with 73% native vegetation cover, has
some spectacular natural scenery, numerous national
parks and nature reserves, extensive waterways,
biologically diverse ecosystems, and productive
agricultural country. These diverse landscapes provide
important habitat for a large number of native plant.
The abundant vegetation therefore serves as shelter
for many species such as insects and snakes.
TEMPERATURE
For the coldest month, the mean temperatureis between -3°C/ 26.6°F and 18°C/ 64.4°F. For the warmest month, the
mean temperature would above 22°C/ 71.6°F. It is either accompanied with a dry winter or has no distinguished dry
season.
PERCIPITATION
Significant amounts of precipitation occur in all seasons in most areas, and though in regions bordering on semi-arid
climates(usually at the western margins), irregular droughts can be common and catastrophic to agriculture. Winter
rainfall(and sometimes snowfall) is associated with large storms that the westerlies steer from west to east. Most
summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and an occasional tropical storm, hurricane or cyclone.
Arch 3114 Term 2 2012-2013, STUDIO U4 Structure & Passive Environmental Design Case Study Research NG Sin Ting|WONG Hin Nga|YUE Ka Hin
CLIMATE ANALYSIS
TEMPERATURE SUN DURATION
The highest average temperature: 23.1°C (Jan) The highest average sunshine duration:
The lowest average temperature: 12.9 °C (Jul) 14h/day (Jan)
Annual temperature difference: 22.8°C The lowest average sunshine duration:
10h/day (Jul)
The temperature in Kempsey varies throughout the
year, having clear temperature difference in four Kempsey has sufficient sunlight most of the day
seasons. around the year.
The warmest time of year in Kempsey is in January
when it is 23.1°C on average, while the coldest time of
year in Kempsey is in July (6.8°C).
In each month, the difference between the highest
and the lowest temperature is always about 10°C, it is
quiet a large difference.
PERCIPITATION
Kempsey rains a lot and its average annual rainfall
is1220mm. The chance of rain is the highest in SUN ANGLE
February (41.1%), while it is the lowest in August
(20.6%). The average rainfall in February is the highest
(150mm), it is the lowest in September (65mm). That
means Kempsey has humid summer due to unstable
tropical air masses or localized convection, or onshore
tradewinds. However, because most of the heaviest
two- and three-day rainfalls in the world occur in this
coastal zone as a result of east coast lows forming to
the north of a large high pressure system, there can be
great variation in rainfall from year to year. Kempsey
has a dry winter with often negligible rainfall between
July and October.
Wind
Max sun angle(12pm):

March: 68°
June: 57°
Sep: 68°
Dec: 82°
The sun angle in summer is higher than that in winter. More direction light makes Kempsey become hotter in summer
and while in winter, defused light gives less heat.
Major wind direction:
Summer(Dec-Feb): North east
Autumn(Mar-May): North west
Winter(Jun-Aug): West
Spring(Sep-Nov): North east
The major wind direction is from north east. Among the whole year, the average wind speed is around 7knots, which
belongs to light breeze(2 on the Beaufort scale).
Date: 1974 to 1975, expanded in 1980

Architect: Glenn Murcutt
It is originally designed for a client, but
later Murcutt bought it for himself and
expanded on the original plan.
It is constructed of simple, readily
available materials.
Timber from a nearby sawmill form the
framing and the walls.
of air through the living space.

The roof is ordinary corrugated metal.
Wide eaves provide cooling shelter from
Ma the sun.
ria
Riv
er
Site conditions
- Location: in the marshy farmlands of
Kempsey Australia, northern coastal
NSW
- Sits in near-flat ground above a
marshy sub-tropical flood plain,
surrounded by the lush vegetation of
d
oa
R
woods and grasslands.

hi
ng
- The Maria River runs at some distance

ra
Be
along the west side of the property,

while the east side is bordered by a
dam.
- Natural air movement limited; extreme
rainfall and humidity in the summer
- Contribute to a site that desperately
requires maximum ventilation in
summer, sun penetration in winter
- The abundant vegetation that grows
on the property also serves as shelter
N for many species such as insects and
snakes. The house should perform in
Site Plan 1:4000 such a way as to eliminate the comfort
hazard such intruders can pose.
0 200 400 600 800 1000cm
Site Plan 1:200
11 11
7 6 5 9 8 5
12
10 9
5 4 3 2 1
8
11
1 screened verandah
2 living room
3 dining room
4 kitchen
5 bedroom
6 sitting room
7verandah
8 washroom
9 shower
10 store
11 dressing room
12 laundry room
0 100 200 300 400 500cm
Plan 1:100
0 100 200 300 400 500cm
Section 1:100
0 100 200 300 400 500cm
North Elevation 1:100
0 100 200 300 400 500cm
Modular Plan 1:100
Ma
ria
Riv
er
d
oa
R
hi
ng
ra
Be
External circulation
N
Internal circulation
ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES APPLIED TO THIS HOUSE

The following table showing how this project response to the site and what environmental strategies are adopted by the architect. The climate concerns are on the x-axis, while the architectural elements
are on the y-axis. The diagram and caption means the house fulfill the climatic concern. The blank means that the house does not deal with that climatic concern duing its design process.
Prevent excessive heat gain(summer) Introduce natural light(winter) Promote ventilation
Living area
Living area
N
Bedroom
Living area
Planning
Living area
N
Bedroom
Bedroom
N
Bedroom
Summer/Spring
Day
N
By arranging the long axis of the house in east-west direction, the architect Long axes in east-west direction, so that more natural light can get into the Long axes in east-west direction, so that more prevailing wind
can protect a larger surface in the shade. house.Moreover, the living area can receive the sun of the majority of day. can get into the house during summer and make the house
cooler.
sun l
ight
sun
lig Louvred windows are
ht
being opened to allow
air to get out.
Roofing
75
30
N N
Lower the blinds to prevent light getting into the house. Remove the blinds to allow the natural light to get into the house so to make the Curved corrugated metal
house brighter and warmer. sheets overlap to provide
horizontal ventilation slots.
Rain water(management/disposal) Resist Natural Harzard
Planning
Living area
N
Bedroom
pipes to collect rainfall
Insect screen Insect screen

Roofing
pipes to collect rainfall
Roof is made of curved corrugated metal sheets,

Peak roof can drive away the rain water quickly so to prevent trapping There are insect screens on louvered windows so to protect the house from insects. there are some windows that consist of 3 layers:
rainfall on the rooftop.. blinds, insect screens and glass louvers.
Prevent excessive heat gain(summer) Introduce natural light(winter) Promote ventilation
sun l
ht ig
sun
lig
ht
Opening
and
metal louvers metal louvers opened
closed opened
75 30
Adjust the angle of the louvers between
31°to 90°(to the horizontal) can prevent
the direct light getting in.
The metal louvers are adjusted to allow the natural light to get into the house so The double layer louvers system allow air to move in.
Lower the metal louvers to prevent direct light getting into the house. to make the house brighter and warmer.
Foundation
Heat
The house is being elevated so to prevent direct heat gain from the ground. The house is being elevated so to allow air to move
underneath void space, bringing the humid air away.
Rain water(management/disposal) Resist Natural Harzard
Opening
Insect screen Insect screen
and
opened
3 layers of Opening:
The double layer louvers system prevent rain water. There are insect screens on louvered windows so to protect the house from insects. 1. steel louvers - control the level of light
2. glass louvers - vary the degrees of ventilation
3. insect screen - prevent insects
Foundation
820mm
The house is being elevated up to 820mm so to prevent large amount of snakes.
1 : 35 Section
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
1 : 100 Exploded Axonometric 1 : 100 Sectional Axonometric
0 100 200 300 400 500cm
Structural static diagram 1:100
LOAD DIAGRAM
King Post Truss Dead load
al
iagon
or d
fter
Ra King Post
Tie beam or chord

Red - Tension
Blue - Compression
Compression force
Tension force
Wind
wi wi
nd ) nd
rd) ne ard ne
wa ga (inw ga
(in tiv e tiv
ive e itiv e
(u
sit (u
po
s pl
po pl
ift d ift
)
nd ) wi
n
wi
) win
ard dn
nw eg
ve (i ativ
ositi e(
up
dp lift)
win
Compression force
Tension force
MODELS
1:100 Model
This model is mainly for showing the envelope of Marie Short House, for example, how's the
claddings and louvers work. It also tells a little bit about the structure as well as timber frame.
1:50 Model
This model is mainly for showing the structure of Marie Short House, for
example, the timber frame construction, foundation, primary and secondary
elements.
Bibliography
Farrelly, E. M.. Three houses: Glenn Murcutt. London: Phaidon Press, 1993. Print.
Murcutt, Glenn, and Maryam Gusheh. The architecture of Glenn Murcutt. Tokyo: TOTO Shuppan, 2008. Print.
Murcutt, Glenn, Françoise Fromonot, and Charlotte Ellis. Glenn Murcutt: buildings + projects 1962-2003. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005. Print.
Source
http://www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au/environment/soe/pubs/regional-state-of-the-environment-2012.pdf
http://www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au/environment/soe/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempsey,_New_South_Wales
http://www.windfinder.com/windstats/windstatistic_port_macquarie.htm
http://www.ozetecture.org/2012/marie-short-glenn-murcutt-house/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemisphere
http://en.climate-data.org/location/1253/
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/natureconservation.htm
http://www.oktravel.com.au/au/nsw/kempsey/
http://www.windfinder.com/windstats/windstatistic_kempsey_airport.htm

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Arch 3114

STUDIO U4 Structure & Passive Environmental Design

Max sun angle(12pm):

Date: 1974 to 1975, expanded in 1980

of air through the living space.

woods and grasslands.

- The Maria River runs at some distance

along the west side of the property,

0 200 400 600 800 1000cm

Site Plan 1:200

0 100 200 300 400 500cm

0 100 200 300 400 500cm

0 100 200 300 400 500cm

North Elevation 1:100

0 100 200 300 400 500cm

Modular Plan 1:100

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES APPLIED TO THIS HOUSE

Prevent excessive heat gain(summer) Introduce natural light(winter) Promote ventilation

Rain water(management/disposal) Resist Natural Harzard

pipes to collect rainfall

Insect screen Insect screen

Roof is made of curved corrugated metal sheets,

Prevent excessive heat gain(summer) Introduce natural light(winter) Promote ventilation

Rain water(management/disposal) Resist Natural Harzard

The house is being elevated up to 820mm so to prevent large amount of snakes.

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

1 : 100 Exploded Axonometric 1 : 100 Sectional Axonometric

0 100 200 300 400 500cm

Structural static diagram 1:100

King Post Truss Dead load

Tie beam or chord

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