Faulconbridge House

A local builder approached Jakaan Architects to design his dream home on a highly challenging site. This extreme triangle-shaped property, situated between a road and railway lines, was only 20 meters deep at its greatest point. The site also presented significant environmental challenges, being located in a bushfire flame zone with overhead powerlines traversing the property and fronting the dangerous fire-prone fields of the Blue Mountains. The brief was to design a house that could essentially function as a fire bunker within the flame zone. The concept was a black steel house with sliding panels that could fully lock down in a bushfire situation, providing maximum protection against extreme conditions. This design embraced both the harsh environment and the client’s vision for a bushfire-resilient home, blending functionality with architectural appeal. Adding to the complexity, the site was not connected to conventional services and required the integration of a Wisconsin sand mound eco evaporative sewer treatment system, offering a sustainable solution for waste management. This project demonstrates Jakaan Architects’ expertise in delivering innovative design solutions under extreme environmental constraints, combining bushfire-resistant architecture with cutting-edge engineering to ensure the client’s home is as functional as it is resilient.