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The exposed rafters draw the eye into the house, then the view draws the eye further. The batten side panels give a hint of what is beyond when the door is closed but also act as a ventilated security grille.
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The entry is not just one space but a sequence of spaces from the street to inside the door. The entry is the introduction to the experience of the dwelling beyond and so it starts the story of the dwelling. Is it welcoming, grand or understated, is it open or private?
Will the guest be at ease whilst waiting for the door to open? Does the entry supervise the street like the verandahs of the past? How does one integrate security without making the house feel like a compound.
On the inside, the space must be generous enough to stand with your guests. How does the entry make a guest feel at ease when the entry is on a different level to the living spaces. How does the entry impress?
The entry is also the exit, the last experience before one leaves, the end to the story of the dwelling.
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On a steep site, entering on a mezzanine works well. It encourages you to pause a moment and survey the space you are about to enter and the view you are about to approach. You feel at ease because you can see where you are about to go.
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The stone wall, landscape and roof all extend either side of the gate reducing the barred entry feel of many security gates. A viewing portal in the wall adjacent breaks up the wall and gives a vista to the courtyard you are about to walk past.
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Entry Gate and walkway
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A generous entry sets up an expectation of the same beyond the door. Separating the entry from the lower apartment made the two apartments feel more like independent homes.
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The lower apartment entry is separate from the upper. The length of the entry gives the sense of being more removed from the street. The hint of the view beyond and the staggered paving keeps the eye entertained on approach to the front door.
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Something to look at on entry encourages one to pause. The joinery recess extends the entry walls thereby including the hallway space as part of the entry - making both feel spacious as a result. This is important when the home has limited space.
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The raking ceiling, the light from above define the entry and make it feel generous even when the floor area could not be. The landscaping is a surprise to make one pause. The curved wall and the light beyond lead the eye to the next destination.
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Looking back up the street.
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A grand house needs a grand door. These doors are 3m high but remain in proportion to the rest of the entry space. The awing above helps to define the space and affords a sense of scale.
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The large open entry deck is welcoming, like a country homestead verandah. Party guests often sit at this entry to enjoy the garden.