Architects take water tanks to forefront of climate change battle

The water tank, like a white droplet, helped Paul Morgan's Cape Schanck House won an Australian Institute of Architects award.

The Sunburnt Countrys obsession with drought and flooding rains has received some poetic architectural expression in recent years. In his Cape Schanck House, Paul Morgan replaced one essential natural element for another by inserting a water tank rather than a fireplace as his homes hearth. Elegantly shaped like a pure white, water droplet, the tank helped win the home the Australian Institute of Architects 2007 national residential prize, the Robin Boyd Award.

Now ARM Architecture has raised the water tank to new levels with the H House in Port Melbourne. Making a virtue of this ubiquitous asset, 18 black 2000-litre Aquarius Slimline tanks have proliferated up the street sides of this corner-facing house like giant Mobilo blocks.

The bold geometric patterned effect resembles a modern Italian palazzo, according to ARM co-director Howard Raggatt. All that big rugged stone that the Italian palaces were made out of with a strong urban front on them. Rather than it actually being defensive in a militaristic way, this is defensive in terms of the environment and issues that are affecting everybody regarding water and sustainability.

The H House in Port Melbourne. Photo: Aaron Poupard

The tanks supply toilets, laundry and roof garden. They will also water the facades on the buildings remaining two sides. Currently these are completely clad in black drainage cells that form a trellis, but during the year a mix of native climbers will flower. Meanwhile a ground cover growing from the dissected tank planters on the roof will hang over the edge like a green furry top.

Advertisement

In a way the whole building is designed as a green wall, says Raggatt.

Obscuring it, though, would be a pity. Ironic, too, if the building should transform into a lush hedge that required a defensive sign declaring water tank in use.

For Raggatt the crenelated roof furthers allusions to the bastion and images of home being a persons castle. An empty tank also doubles as an entrance gate or perhaps a drawbridge. Meanwhile the giant window frames take their cues from the water tanks rectangular portals and cross members.

Excerpt from:
Architects take water tanks to forefront of climate change battle