LUTHIER’S ABODE
“Taking up old tools at his craftsman’s bench he toils both hard and long, for he hears within his fallen branch but an echo of a song.” -Peter Watt
Situated amidst the palimpsest of Victoria Street, the site infills the area with a humble work/home for a Luthier. This house harmonises the duality between new and old, home and work, tradition and experimentation. It takes you on a musical journey of timber from tapping the tap tones, scratching of the scrapers, brittle scrunching of shavings, and rhythmic clanks of the chisels to the melodious tune of a Violin. The house allows the user to change and shift the space depending on use, just like tuning an instrument. Designed for ageing like a fine piece of timber. The staircase embodies the musical flair and the strings of a Violin. The interiors are bathed with natural light, making a serene environment perfect for working away.
HARMONIZE TWO
FRAGMENTS
TOGETHER
THE MUSICAL JOURNEY OF TIMBER
TUNING A SPACE
Violin making attracted me due to its intricate woodworking and the poetics of introducing curves and coils to a tensile material, also the current neighbors of the site are luthiers. The first step of violin-making is gluing two pieces of timber together. This informed my first concept strategy, “harmonizing two fragments together”, that is, work and home and new and old. This idea is manifested in an open plan that eliminates corridors and limits the use of partition walls.
My brief was designed by interviewing local luthiers, understanding the craft, and analysing the site. My client is an 81-year-old master luthier passionate about passing down the craft to the younger generation, making room for an apprentice. My first impression of the narrow site inspired me to bring in natural light, ventilation, an elevator for accessibility and open spaces leading to a seamless transition. The Roof slopes collect rainwater, which is then used in everyday activities. The placement of windows and operable roof light allow for stack and cross ventilation.
VIOLIN MAKING PROCESS
Luthiers can hear a piece of wood. The luthiers I spoke to were traditionalists and used materials imported from Europe, such as Norwegian spruce. However, there are Australian luthiers, such as Kevin Williams, who has dedicated his life to finding the Australian sound through the application of native woods in very European craft. Kevin admires the prominent mid- range of Blackwood, the Crispness of Queensland Maple and the fullness of Pine. This informed my material pallet. The front facade showcases the richness of the craft inspired by a violin bow. Clad with elegant Blackwood finished with copper and embellished with tiles representing mother of pearl turning heads on the Victoria Street.
