Atelier Hawkesbury designed by Leopold Banchini Architects is the second construction, that the client commissioned Banchini to build along the Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River, a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.

Atelier Hawkesbury is accessible by water only, the project uses a minimum amount of resources and takes advantage of the existing land.
Banchini designed the atelier leaning against the sandstone rocks, the lightweight structure was entirely made of 1” by 1” local wood joists and studs. All structure was enveloped by translucent polycarbonate sheets creating a brightly look volume while preserving a constant dialogue with the surrounding forest and changing light. Finally, the atelier was covered with a large staggered roof to protect from the heavy rains while allowing the light and wind to filter through.

The stone cliff that protected the Wannungine and the Darkinyung people for countless years invites itself inside the house and becomes simultaneously a wall and landscape.
 


Atelier Hawkesbury by Leopold Banchini Architects. Photograph by Rory Gardiner.


Atelier Hawkesbury by Leopold Banchini Architects. Photograph by Rory Gardiner.

Project description by Leopold Banchini

In the early 1990s, Richard Leplastrier settled on the shore of Lovett Bay, the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. Describing the wonderful project, he wrote:

“The house continues a history of simple living on the site, which I suspect has continued for thousands of years (...) Our family of five lives comfortably in this one room. The small room we inhabit, in turn, inhabits a greater room whose walls are cliffs and floors the tidal level of the bay that rises and falls nearly two meters every six hours.”

Atelier Hawkesbury is another small room built along the same river. Accessible by water only, the project uses a minimum amount of resources and takes advantage of the existing land. Leaning against the sandstone rocks, the lightweight structure is entirely made of 1” by 1” local wood joists and studs. The large staggered roof protects from the heavy rains while allowing the light to filter through.

Translucent polycarbonate sheets enclose the brightly lit volume while preserving a constant dialogue with the surrounding forest and changing light. The stone cliff that protected the Wannungine and the Darkinyung people for countless years invites itself inside the house and becomes simultaneously a wall and landscape.

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2021.
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Venue / Localitation
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Hawkesbury River. Australia.
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Leopold Banchini was born in Geneva in 1981 and is an architect graduated from the EPFL (Ecole Polytechinique Fédérale de Lausanne). He is also Master in Architecture from the University of Lausanne (2007) and graduate of the Glasgow School of Art (2004).

Is a visiting professor in the HEAD (Haute Ecole de Design et) in Geneva since 2010 and Assistant Professor at the EPFL since 2009. He has also been Archozoom project designer in 2009.

Has been placed in Lot / ek Architects (New York) between the years 2004/2005, as an assistant project Art Basel (Basel) in 2005, and as a project partner of the collective Atelier Van Lieshout (AVL) that same year in Rotterdam.

He has developed his work as an architect in b720 Arquitectos (Barcelona) during the years 2007 and 2008, and Group8 Architects (Geneva) in 2009.

In addition, since 2008 part of 1to100 Architects, and architectural collective based in Geneva. Its members have been active and decisive parts in projects such as the winning participation of Bahrain at the last Venice Biennale - RECLAIM Golden Lion 2011, exhibitions such as The Gulf - OMA-AMO's participation at the Venice Biennale 2007 and publications such as AMO-Rem Koolhaas's Al Manakh. Parallel to that, they conduce many different operations ranging from architecture, to journalism, until urban design. They have teaching positions at the EPFL and the University of Arts and Design in Geneva.

Its aim is to take position and initiate reflexions upon our contemporary environment.

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Published on: August 2, 2022
Cite: "On a wall and a landscape. Atelier Hawkesbury by Leopold Banchini Architects" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/a-wall-and-a-landscape-atelier-hawkesbury-leopold-banchini-architects> ISSN 1139-6415
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