Peters Woodbury House
In January 2011 Brisbane experienced the first extensive river flooding since 1974. This major flood caused extensive damage and disruption to wide areas of Brisbane.
Biscoe Wilson Architects were involved with the Australian Institute of Architects Flood Taskforce in the immediate days and weeks after the flood and were contacted by a number of clients to assist with flood rectification advice.
This simple highset timber Queenslander was flooded to a level of approximately 1.3m above the upper floor level. The timber framed and weatherboard clad structure faired reasonably well, however the bathroom, kitchen and general finishes were badly damaged.
Our clients decided to stay living on the site, however requested a solution that would make the house more flood resistant.
Biscoe Wilson Architects saw this project as an opportunity to develop a simple solution for rejuvenating flood affected traditional housing on small lots. Our solution was to raise the existing house 500mm above the projected flood level and construct new additions below and to the rear that would resist future inundation. Electrical services were raised to the upper level and lower level power outlets were mounted high and put on a separate circuit.
A tripartite layering of the elevation was used to create a new feel to the now vertically proportioned house. Painted blockwork was used as a base to ground the lower level. Lower walls were then clad in colorbond custom orb and oversized galvanised steel RHS columns support the raised timber house. These columns were expressed externally to echo the appearance of the traditional timber stump. The new front stair which was now three flights high was broken with a mid level "Visitor greeting platform" that was fronted with a tall vertical timber batten screen, another device used to ground the house and accentuate its new verticality.
Materials used on the lower (floodable level) are easy maintained and washable, or easily replaceable. Rather than providing high tech and expensive flood proofing solutions this design offers an affordable and no-fuss approach. If the lower level does flood in the future the owners can quickly move valuable to the upper level and then continue to operate as normal when the waters recede. The lower level can easily be washed out and internal lining replaced.
Architectural Team | Robert Biscoe, Marion Wilson, Alan Delmas
Builder | Kym Lynch
Structural Engineer | Westera Partners
Photographer | Robert Biscoe
Publication | Brisbane News-December 19-25,2012 issue 913