Spiral House

Located in Fish Creek in Southern Gippsland, between the lands of the Bunurong and Gunaikurnai People, Spiral House is a gentle, organic and considered response to its farmland setting.

Being less than 15km from the Bass Straight, Fish Creek enjoys a similar fast-changing coastal climate to the Bellarine/Surf Coast region, and experiences first-hand the effects of climate change on extreme weather events and sea-level rise.

Local materials including Mt Angus sandstone and Radial timber cladding have been used throughout. Flooring is recycled Messmate or natural stone, and internal walls are finished in Rockcote Earthen Render. Natural paints and finishes are supplied by Grimes & Sons.

Double timber stud framing provides frame depth for high levels of insulation. Passive house quality Binq timber windows and Stiebel-Eltron heat-recovery ventilation provide an airtight interior. Overall, the house achieves a 6.9 star energy rating whilst providing a warm and inviting place for its occupants to live year-round.

soft loud house architects are a small rural architectural practice located in coastal Victoria, Australia. softloud seek to engage clients and communities in a values-driven dialogue, creating deeply responsive places.

Their values-based architectural process teaches people to clarify what is most important to them. This knowledge is used to modify the clients’ environment, making it coherent with who they are and the kind of world in which they want to live. softloud develop an empathic response to place, directing structure to mirror, merge and converse with landscape in a manner both soft and alive.

Projects champion low consumption of energy and resources, combined with permaculture and regenerative design practices.

softloud’s design response draws from the intricate web of relationships that makes up our environment and how that environment, in turn, shapes who we can be and what we can do as a culture.