The Clarke House, designed by Australian architect Chris Clarke is planned for a family of four and is located on a steep site in the leafy suburb of Ascot, Queensland, Australia. The house has four bedrooms and a large open-plan living area. The challenge of the steep site is met by a dramatic structural solution whereby the house is designed as a bridge sitting on only four columns to minimise costly in-ground foundations.

The triangulated steel structure reduces the spans of each member, cutting costs and produces an elegant and finely detailed structure. The house has a perfect north/south orientation to maximise sunlight, climate control and cross ventilation. The sliding glass walls are shaded to the north with external aluminium venetian blinds and with similar treatment to the bedroom windows facing south for privacy.

Acoustics in the open plan is dealt with by the use of a perforated aluminium ceiling, while still retaining the beauty of a polished timber floor throughout. Prefabrication reduced the on-site construction time and the main frame was erected in one day.

The house received considerable publicity, winning a national innovative building award and has been on the "Our House" television programme.

Since its initial construction, the house was extended with the addition of a self-contained granny flat.

Key information

Number of storeys	1
New-build home

Location of steel solutions

External wall
Floor
Foundation
Walls
Interior Designs
Light steel sections
Roof