An unusual ‘sunken courtyard’ house has been completed by Swiss-Australian studio architecture GESTALTEN. The house is located in Elsternwick, an inner city suburb of Melbourne. The double story building -- with one level sunken below the ground -- was erected on a tiny site of 10 x 15 meters. It only rises one story above ground level to fit in with planning controls in the otherwise low-lying neighborhood.
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-1.jpg)
Sunken Courtyard
Given the local council’s extensive town planning regulations, the brief, and the site circumstances, the architect’s idea is based on the unusual kind of sunken courtyard, a below ground construction originally developed in China and closely related to the tradition of ancient cave dwellings of four thousand years ago.
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-2.jpg)
Letting in Light
In the new house, every room, with windows from floor to ceiling, faces the sunken courtyard, a bold creation that connects space and brings light into the home.
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-3.jpg)
"The contemporary building is integrated into the surroundings, moving between preservation and re-formation by respecting the existing settings and built forms. Structure, form and materialization are in a reciprocal dialogue between context and architectural object"
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-4.jpg)
Living in a Small Space
Maintaining a balance of durability, utility and aesthetic, the new house provides appropriate living in a small space. The ground floor is designed as an open floor plan combining the function of cooking and dining with living, the below ground level contains bedrooms, en-suite, laundry and bathroom.
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-5.jpg)
Nature and Architecture
The sunken courtyard is conceived as another room where the amalgamation of external and internal space creates a unique room atmosphere, enabling interaction with nature and architecture.
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-6.jpg)
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-7.jpg)
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-section.png)
![Project Image Project Image](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/sunken-courtyard-house/sunken-courtyard-gestalten-architects-site.png)
Exceptional Architectural Response
We know that council planning regulations can be restrictive. Sometimes limiting creativity. But when a project like this comes along you realize there's no excuses. Even very restrictive planning controls can lead to exceptional, unique architectural responses.