The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects
05/08/2015.
230 metres of Rammed Earth Wall [North Western] Australia
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
Rammed earth extracted from the local clay pans, pebbles and gravel quarried from the river bed are the palette of materials used by Luii Rosselli for this 230 metres long wall that encloses twelve earth covered residences for farmers.
Overview. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The pavilion at the top is the multi-functional hub, The pavilion at the top is the multi-functional hub, meeting room and chapel. . The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.meeting room and chapel. . The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch. Click above to see largest image.
Overview. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
Outside vision. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The interior design by Sarah Foletta is a restrained, natural and robust selection of materials and furniture. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The awning roof is a Cor-Ten steel cyclonic shade frame, mirrored by a concrete slab on (the) ground. The concrete slab contains gravel and aggregates from the local river, which lend a reddish colour to its polished surface. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
The roof is made from Cor-Ten steel sheets, forming an oblique cone and culminating with a skylight in the apex. The roof was fabricated off site and transported in two halves. Photography © Edward Birch.
Gold annodised aluminium sheets line the ceiling of the ‘chapel’, cyclonic rated, curved sliding windows can close the pavilion to protect its interior from dust storms. Photography © Edward Birch.
Inside vision of chapel. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
Rendering. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects.
Rendering. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects.
Ground floor plan. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects.
Roof floor plan. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects.
Chapel. The Great Wall of WA by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Photography © Edward Birch.
Luigi Rosselli Architects completed the longest rammed earth wall in Australia and recovered traditional construction ways, which are integrated in the red landscape. The development of a structure that supports a series of housings used during mustering season
Description of the project by Luigi Rosselli Architects
The longest rammed earth wall in Australia and – probably – the southern hemisphere, has been selected as a finalist in the (Australian Institute of Architects) Western Australia architecture awards.
At 230 metres long, the rammed earth wall meanders along the edge of a sand dune and encloses twelve earth covered residences, created to provide short-term accommodation for a cattle station during mustering season. With their 450mm thick rammed earth facade and the sand dune to their rear and forming their roofs, the residences have the best thermal mass available, making them naturally cool in the subtropical climate.
The rammed earth wall (construction) is composed of the iron rich, sandy clay that is a dominant feature of the site, gravel obtained from the adjacent river and (bonded with) water from the local bore (hole).
The design of the accommodation represents a new approach to remote North Western Australia architecture, moving away from the sun baked, thin corrugated metal shelters to naturally cooled architectural earth formations.
CREDITS. THECNICAL SHEET.-
Architects.- Luigi Rosselli Architects.
Project Architects.- Kristina Sahlestrom, Edward Birch, David Mitchell.
Interior Designer.- Sarah Foletta.
Builder.- Jaxon Construction.
Structural Consultant.- Pritchard Francis.
Environmental Consultant.- Floyd Energy.
Completion.- 2014.
