A House is an Environmental Filter

Any building filters out specific parts of the environment deemed unnecessary or unhelpful to its inhabitants. A house acts as an environmental filter in many ways, providing shelter, filtering out the elements, extreme weather and even the rhythmic cycle of day and night. But a house can also act as a sensory or emotional filter, it can control or enhance the experiences of those within and it can transform, modify or even enhance the external environment.

In the case of the Isaacson/Davis house, the architect wanted to minimise disturbance to the natural environment, while maintaining that the building exists as part of it. The plan of the house is simply put, a box, however strategically placed windows, balconies and extrusions give inhabitants the feeling of being set within the trees that surround it by creating framed views- in particular this is evident in the dining area (Ferguson, nd).

The transition from outside, through the outside decks, to the interior of the home also acts as a series of filters to the outside environment.

The house has been designed specifically with sun paths in mind, with the windows and living areas in this residence have been set to face the setting sun, while the bedrooms face the rising sun, allowing views and light to filter in (Wardle, 2001). As the house is set in Victoria, having the living areas in the west allows them to maximise on the heating and lighting properties of the afternoon sun.

A number of strategically placed horizontal windows allow filtered light to enter the space, without being too harsh, while on the side of the house bordering the neighbouring caravan park, there are few windows to maximise privacy.