Donovan Hill
Built in 1998 for an undisclosed client in Coorparoo, Queensland, the eponymous 'C House' is widely regarded as a landmark project of the pre-merged Donovan Hill practice.
Frequently cited as one of the great houses of the 20th century, it remains a defining work in the firm’s legacy and a testament to their contribution to and innovation of Australian residential architecture.
[3] In describing their conceptual approach to C-House, the architects note that "The site has been refashioned into a series of overlapping sub-suites (both indoor and outdoor), with their interconnection across the climbing topography resembling experiences typical of the terrain."
An undulating floor plan, reflecting the 'typical terrain' of the site, enhances the spatial dimensions and integrates circulation, blending the natural and built environments into a cohesive entity in alignment with Donovan Hill's vision.
Essential programmatic elements were arrayed to respond intuitively to the ambiguity of the building's future, allowing for enhancements and expansions to meet changing needs over time.
The undulating, terrain-inspired floor plan and sprawling layout further contribute to this flexibility, embedding C-House within Donovan Hill’s broader strategy of designing for indeterminate futures and solidifying its place within the Australian residential typology.
The plan of the building is ordered around a new 17-meter-long room, formed by amalgamating several existing spaces within the original house to create a central volume running from the front to the rear.
The design of the building is influenced by Renaissance palazzos and traditional Islamic architecture, which can be seen in the monumental scale of the new pavilion and the spatial planning, which includes intimate seating nooks offering incidental views of the surrounding spaces through curiously placed openings and screened partitions.
The Z House is built on the north sloping site of Teneriffe Hill [8] and is ingrained into its wider context by offering wide views to Moreton Bay.
