Semester 2 2017 Studio 16
#House
Joel Benichou & Sinead Lim
Studio Outline:
Mass housing in Australia has the potential to be more than the dreary rows of repetitive designs commonly found in residential developments. Architects have long sought new templates for affordable housing that is both functional and beautiful. #House Studio will continue this pursuit and aims to explore the challenges surrounding new housing and residential development in Australian suburbs. #House Studio will examine a series of projects that emerged from two iconic, housing initiatives. Firstly, The Case Study Housing Program, which aimed to design and build inexpensive and efficient model homes for an American market. Local examples will also be investigated with the study of the projects and principles of the Merchant Builders, a team of entrepreneurs, designers and builders who, in 1965 founded one of Australia’s most influential project-house building companies.
Studio Leaders
JOEL BENICHOU is owner and principal architect of the practice Benichou Architects. Joel studied architecture at the University of Western Australia completing his Master of Architecture with Distinction qualification, focusing his independent research on modular pre‐fabrication and residential design. Joel has had experience with some of the leading residential design practices in Australia working on a wide range of residential projects. Joel has also contributed to the architectural discourse having previously led Design Studios at the University of Melbourne and RMIT. Joel is currently registered as Architect in Victoria under the certification of the ARBV.
SINEAD LIM is a Perth born architect currently living and working in Melbourne. She completed her Masters of Architecture with a High Distinction in 2010 at the University of Western Australia. During this period she also completed studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and Anna University in Chennai, India. Upon completion of her degree, Sinead’s ongoing interest in global communities led her to China, where she worked as a graduate architecture in Beijing and Shanghai. Sinead’s architectural experience is very broad and includes education, urban design, retail, hospitality and residential. Her attraction to architectural projects is not restricted by sector and tends to be guided by a global outlook towards problem solving. She has tutored at the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Melbourne University.
Learning Outcomes:
Throughout the semester, students will examine a series of scenarios based around existing suburban conditions in Victoria. Several design challenges will be set with the format of the Case Study Housing Program and the philosophy of the Merchant Builders as a framework to build upon. Students will test ideas of compact dwelling, co-housing and in-fill development and seek out prototypes of mid-scale housing within a Victorian context. Students will be required to identify examples of relevant projects and develop a strong contextual awareness. Ideas of climatic response, balance of privacy and community, inter-generational living and mixed-use dwelling will also be explored. #House Studio will give students the opportunity to develop their understanding of Australian Housing and refine their ability to design dwelling options that are not only affordable and functional, but also refined pieces of architecture.
Field Trip
DATE: Week 2
ST1/16 Monday 3:15pm - 6:15pm, MSD Room 244
ST2/16 Thursday 3:15pm - 6:15pm, MSD Room 141