Austinmer + Thirroul, 2012 | Dharawal Country
The prototype of the Takt Studio range, this building provides studio workspaces and meeting / model making room for Takt | Studio for Architecture. It exists in two incarnations, as its modular parts were initially constructed on a site in Austinmer and then moved to its current location in Thirroul.
The building explores the possibilities of reduction to the bare essentials of shelter. Naturally cross ventilated, yet well insulated and with minimal services, it is not much more than a crafted encampment. As such it is a demonstration of the core principles of Takt - build less, build lean, but ensure the quality and utility of a smaller building is higher. This reduces the overall embodied energy of the building, and allows the occupants a direct relationship to outside seasonality.
Its structure is milled from recycled electricity poles in Australian hardwoods, oiled with Lanolin. The columns are formed by back to back window sections so the structure itself forms the window frames. Internally clad in E0 plantation hoop pine and externally in galvanised steel sheets over bracing cement sheets, all elements are fixed with exposed fixings, allowing a reading of the bones under the cladding.
The studio was built to be completely demountable. This proved invaluable during its transfer from Austinmer to Thirroul in 2013 when disassembly took three days and assembly about two weeks including foundations.
A similar relationship with the steeply sloping land and the escarpment to the west allowed us to construct it again with only minor modifications in the entry area. In addition all materials can be reclaimed and reused easily due to avoidance of nails and glue. Panels are sized to standard sheet sizes, and to control weight to be liftable by two people for assembly.
Since then the fit out has included custom timber batten joinery doors made by Stuart Robinson, new door handles and desktop linoleum work desks.
Built by Takt
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Stuart Robinson
Rebuilt by Matt Park and Takt
Builder: Architects with family and friends
Engineer: Northrop - James Sutherland
Photography _ Takt Studio