Architect GLENN MARCUS MURCUTT Learning from the Maestro- Case study of GLENN MARCUS MURCUTT project

1. LEARNING FROM THE
MAESTRO
GLENN MARCUS MURCUTT

2. ARCHITECT
• Born in July 25, 1936, London, England.
• Graduated from University of New South Wales
Technical College in 1961.
• And started practicing with architects like,
Neville Gruzman, Ken Woolley and Bryce Mortlock
which exposed him to their style of organic
architecture focusing on relationships to nature.
GLENN MARCUS MURCUTT

3. ARCHITECT
• In 1969 Murcutt established his own practice in
the Sydney, where he works for projects all over
Australia.
• Australian architect who was noted for designing
innovative climate-sensitive private
houses/environmentally sensitive design.
• Influenced from his father, philosopher Henry
David Thoreau & Architect Ludwig Mies van der
Rohe.
GLENN MARCUS MURCUTT

4. ARCHITECT PHILOSOPHY:
MOTTO- “TOUCH THE EARTH LIGHTLY ”
"Life is not about maximizing everything, it's about
giving something back—like light, space, form,
serenity, joy. You have to give something back."
-GLENN MURCUTT

5. ARCHITECT PHILOSOPHY:
• Uniquely vernacular architecture.
• Sustainable designing - highly economical and multi-functional and earth-
friendly.
• FOLLOW THE SUN- capitalizing natural light with long and low shape featuring
verandas, skylights, adjustable louvers, and movable screens in his linear
designs.
• LISTEN TO THE WIND- His ingenious systems for ventilation assure that cooling
breezes circulate through open rooms.
• Harmony with environment.

6. PROJECT OUTLINE:
• Name: MARIKA-ALDERTON HOUSE
• Location- Yirrkala Community,
eastern Arnheim Land, Northern
territory, Australia.
• Built in year 1994.
• For aboriginal artists Banduk-
Marika and her partner Mark
Alderton and their family.

7. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS: CONCEPT
Before designing the house, he did
extensive research for three years about
aboriginal culture and history.
• The layout of other space follows
aboriginal customs.
• The whole house must always be in
contact with nature.
• Apart from bathroom and utility
facilities which should be placed deep
inside the external envelope.

8. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS: GEOMETRY
PLAN
SECTION
ELEVATION

9. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS: PARTI
Sustainable designing Harmony with Environment

10. PROJECT ANALYSIS: SCHEMATIC ZONING
PRIVATE ZONE
SEMI-PRIVATE
PUBLIC ZONE

11. PROJECT ANALYSIS: CIRCULATION PATTERN
CIRCULATION

12. PROJECT ANALYSIS: STRUCTURE
corrugated
metal TIN
STEEL
STILTS
STEEL
FRAME
ROUND STEEL
COLUMN WITH
TRIANGULATION
The structure of the house is light and skeleton-like, with
a solid steel structure to withstand extreme weather.

13. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS: FLOOR PLAN
1
3 3 3 3
4
5
5
0
0 -
1-
2-
3-
4-
5-
ENTRY
LIVING CUM DINNING
2
KITCHEN
BED ROOM
MASTER BEDROOM
BATHROOM
Follows the aboriginal belief Parents should sleep to the West of children (so
relating age to the sunrise and sunset, which represents the beginning and end
of the life).

14. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS: ELEVATIONS
The landscape can be viewed from any part of the house.

15. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SITE CONTEXT

16. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: MICROCLIMATE
• Location causing winds and strong
tides.
• With minimum temperatures of 25 and
maximum of 35 degrees and high
humidity.
• Tropical climate where Temperature
never drop below 25°C and can reach
40°C.
• Hurricane winds common place.
N
S
E
W
WINTER AIR
SUMMER AIR

17. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SUN PATH DIAGRAM

18. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL
• The main living area receives
breezes from sea during day and
stays cool.
• While, the master bedroom becomes
coolest at night because of its
placement at the rear end.

19. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL
• Another design strategy is the use of
the Venturi effect along with the
Stack effect.
• The low pressure of the hot air causes
it to rise, allowing for cool air to
be pulled in the Stack effect.
• The Stack effect does not need wind to
work. The Venturi effect needs low
pressure wind.

20. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL
There are adjustable shutters to control the
flow of air and wind. The vertical fins direct
cooling breezes in the living spaces.

21. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL
The structure rests on stilts, air circulates
underneath and helps cool the floor.

22. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SHADING DEVICES
• The large, overhanging eaves prevent
the sun from getting inside even on
December 22, which is winter in
Australia.
• By calculating the angle of the sun,
Murcutt designed the eaves to drop
far enough to provide shade year-
round, since there is no cold
climate.

23. SPACE MAKING & CONNECTIVITY:
• Opening and closing like a plant, the house
embodies Murcutt’s concept of a flexible
shelter that exists in harmony with nature’s
rhythm.
• The one-story house, elevated on stilts open in
all directions and that is not a closed volume.

24. SPACE MAKING & CONNECTIVITY:
In Marika Alderton house Glenn
has combined his own creative
vision with the aboriginal idea,
creating a unique and valuable
bridge between cultures, that's
why Marika has called it THE
BRIDGE HOUSE.
“THINK LOCALLY ACT GLOBALLY ”

25. PROJECT OUTLINE:
• Name: Arthur & Yvonne Education
Centre.
• Location-Riversdale, New South
Wales, Australia.
• Built in year 1998.
• The distinguished Australian artist
Arthur Boyd and his partner Yvonne.

26. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS: CONCEPT
The building relates to its beautiful natural setting by contrast. It appears to have
arrived without change or impact on this site, its linear order contrasting with the
organic forms of nature.

27. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS: GEOMETRY
PLAN
SECTION

28. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS: PARTI
• Try to be merged with old timber
cottages.
• The building follows the edge between
native forest and open pastoral land.

29. PROJECT ANALYSIS: SCHEMATIC ZONING

30. PROJECT ANALYSIS: CIRCULATION PATTERN
Circulation

31. PROJECT ANALYSIS: STRUCTURE

32. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS: FLOOR PLAN
Terrace
Kitchen
Hall
Dormitory
Entry

33. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS: ELEVATIONS

34. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS: SECTIONS

35. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SITE CONTEXT
• Sited between eucalypt forest and cultivated
farming land, in the lee of a hill which protects
it from cold winds off Mount Kosciusko.
• In south west Shoal haven River.
• Merged with Three existing timber cottages.

36. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SITE CONTEXT

37. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: MICROCLIMATE
• Altitude 20m above sea level.
• Rainfall circa 1,500mm per year.
• Summer, circa 24˚C, infrequently up to
40˚C with some influence from cooling
north-east and south-east on-shore
winds.
• Winter, circa 20˚C with lows of circa
12˚C occasionally down to 5˚C.
• Granular loam soil of sandstone and
shale.
N
S
E
W
WINTER AIR
SUMMER AIR

38. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SUN PATH DIAGRAM

39. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL
Collect the
rain water Reserve & Supply
the rain water

40. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL
Air Air

41. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL

42. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: ACTIVE & PASSIVE CONTROL

43. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: SHADING DEVICES
This blade helps to keep secure rooms from sun.

44. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: MATERIAL

45. CLIMETIC ANALYSIS: MATERIAL

46. SPACE MAKING & CONNECTIVITY:
• Entrance court with striking river views serves as a stage for a
proposed landscaped amphitheater and is dominated by the
large portico of the multi purpose hall.
• The elevated ambition of this arrangement contrasts with the
scale of the entry door and utility of the low bench with
washbasin.
• Large hall oriented toward the significant view is separated
from its rear service facilities by a circulation zone.
• Here the greater scale acknowledges a more public situation.

47. SPACE MAKING & CONNECTIVITY:
• The group of eight beds and their wet area is repeated
four times to make thirty-two bed spaces, all with
personal windows.
• each cluster is separated from the next by a breezeway &
each sleeping bay forms a window framing a personal view
of the landscape.
• Fixed glazing is positioned below timber panels which
pivot open or can be adjusted for screened ventilation.
• Painted plywood blades externally bracket each bed, and
provide privacy.
• The larger blades accommodate a sliding door which can
divide each room into two.
Additive Elements

48. FINDINGS:
• Knowing about Vernacular architecture importance.
• Observation of the natural conditions like, wind direction, water
movement, temperature and light surrounding of sites before designs the
building itself.
• Highly economical and multi-functional and earth-friendly materials.
• Somehow Architecture is the part of Nature.
• Capitalizing natural light with long and low shape featuring verandas, skylights, adjustable
louvers
• Knowing about Ventury effect and stack effect.