JAMES STOCKWELL ARCHITECTURE 

The extreme weather experienced on Kalkite Mountain gave rise to a ground hugging chiselled form for the Kalkite house. The vaulted roof leans back to the wind making a parabolic arch, an exact diagram of structural forces. This wind uplift is transferred to the concrete plinth and the whole form deflects the wind over its surface. This smooth transition from foundations to the roof also enables snow to be released, water collection and makes an efficient  structure for snow loads. The internal spaces are uplifting, and cocoon like of warm natural timber finishes. Windows are cut out of the form like slices in a cake and angled to dramatic views to both the Snowy river valley and Thredbo valley.  

 

The Kalkite house borrows from the traditional mountain huts of galvanised steel with their no fuss no maintenance approach. The post war Nissen huts also underpin the design which adapts the vaulted form to achieve vertical internal walls and uses the triangular wall volumes for storage and housing the fireplace.

 

The house includes a hydronic wood burning fireplace that heats water pipes in the floor and the hot water for showers. The house will have a 1kw solar power grid connect system.