Located in an existing clearing within a section of remnant Marri/Jarrah bushland, this owner-built bush pavilion designed by Archterra Architects seeks to distil into built form, the feelings of camping under a simple sheltering tarpaulin...
![Bush House Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-4a8c9065.jpg)
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Diagrammatically, the houses' simple rectangular plan is separated east-west into sleeping and living zones and delineated by a change in floor level and a thick rammed earth wall that continues through the house into the outdoors. The rammed earth wall also defines the entry approach from the detached vehicle parking area.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-9217a060.jpg)
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All rooms face to the north to take advantage of the warming winter sun, except the main bedroom which turns to face the southwest views and enjoys spectacular sunsets filtered through the vertical trunks of the surrounding tree canopy.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-5c5446f3.jpg)
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-b754d2b0.jpg)
The single bathroom enjoys the same orientation as the main bedroom and opens onto the bush via a glass door to give the experience of showering outside.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-de4656a2.jpg)
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-71e6b7b6.jpg)
Two decked areas provide alternative ways to experience the outdoors – one open overhead for winter sun and star gazing to the north and a covered deck to the east for rain and sun protection.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-c9dd3d4d.jpg)
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-f118753b.jpg)
The roof plane rises up to the north to provide a view of the sky and treetops through cedar framed clerestory windows that provide a warm and tactile contrast to the clear anodised sliding door frames.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-77363789.jpg)
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-f82cf46b.jpg)
Taking cues from the Californian case study houses of the '40s, '50s and '60s, a 3.6 metre structural grid locates prefabricated steel frames that enabled the main support structure to be erected in a day and for infill timber framing to be subsequently carried out by the owner-builder within these frames under the sun and rain protection of a single plane roof.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-f5bed25b.jpg)
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The galvanised steel framing is expressed both internally and externally, creating a repetitive rhythm along the north and south elevations. The mottled patina of the galvanising continues to change as it ages.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-1a5a72f2.jpg)
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-ab5880a8.jpg)
Environmental sustainability is intrinsic to the design: passive measures such as northern orientation, efficient cross flow ventilation paths for summer cooling and calculated eaves overhangs for warming winter sun penetration are teamed with active measures such as power self sufficiency from a 3kW ground mounted solar array, a roof mounted solar hot water heater and a worm-farm blackwater treatment system that irrigates the garden with nutrient rich water.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-6c799657.jpg)
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All decking is recycled Jarrah, milled from large dismantled warehouse roof beams. Ceiling linings are Australian Hoop pine from plantation forests and are finished simply with linseed oil. The plywood ceiling continues outside to the decks and eaves to accentuate the indoor-outdoor feeling.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-1d9a4c5b.jpg)
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The house employs a concrete floor slab for thermal mass, which has been simply machine troweled smooth to provide a hardwearing and cost effective solution. External materials were selected to be largely self finishing to minimise maintenance: zincalume steel, rammed earth and glass.
![A Home Inspired by the Feelings of Camping Under a Simple Tarpaulin Bush House by Archterra Architects (via Lunchbox Architect)](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/bush-house-archterra-architects/bush-house-archterra-architects-06619119.jpg)
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