Flexibility is movement. It's a change over time, and an essential adaptation that balances life when everything becomes overwhelming. It's also a key part of this project, and a key principle that we should all regularly practice in our homes, and, therefore, lives.
“Flexibility is the key to stability.”
- John Wooden.
Trees sway when blown by the wind, reducing the chances of them snapping. Therefore, if flexibility is key in nature, it must be key in our lives also.
The fold-up decks on the west side of the home are pulled up.
Flexibility is found within the deck space of the home. To open the mind to nature, the fold-up decks can be lowered by the press of a button, generating an additional 29 sqm of usable outdoor deck space when desired.
Fold-up deck being lowered.
The fold-up decks are controlled by three individual winch systems, each having a winching capacity of 8618kg. A wireless remote controls each winch system. The decks can be lowered one at a time using this control.
Additionally, to maximise the functionality of the deck space, there are cutout spaces that come down around planter boxes. Herbs and other small vegetables can grow here, giving easy access from the kitchen to these food resources.
Planter boxes can be accessed when the fold-up decks are down.
The deck space is being used for family entertainment, but it can be used in so many other ways.
When each deck is down, the cables can be unhooked, retracted by the winches, and the deck space can be enjoyed. When privacy is wanted, the cables can be let out, hooked onto the decks, and retracted back up.
Flexibility is found within the home itself. To open the mind to the simplicity of open spaces, the murphy beds can be folded up, and the moving wall units slid along tracks to meet the folded away beds.
This generates 25 sqm of pure personality or functionality in the form of adaptable spaces. 25 sqm that can be shaped to the homeowner's needs at any particular time.
The two collapsible bedrooms are a form of flexible spaces.
Murphy bed folding into the wall cavity.
Plan view showing the 25sqm that becomes available when the bedrooms are folded away.
With the 25sqm that can be generated by folding up both murphy beds and sliding the wall units back, there are extended opportunities in how the space can be used. Here are a few uses that I could think of, relating to the needs of a small family. This includes:
For those who need a workspace, it could be set up as:
The bedrooms are folded away, and the space has been set up to watch a movie.
The fold-away bedrooms are a new way of living that is much different from those traditionally found in homes.
For a needed element of security and privacy, dense insulating mesh sliding screens are placed along either open side of the bedrooms, in place of where walls would be. These screens can be pulled back and forth to open or ‘close’ the bedroom.
When the murphy beds are folded up, and the moving wall units are pushed against the wall, there is still the option to have these mesh screens pulled out to break up the open space for creating interesting hygge areas, or they can be pulled in to open the whole home up.
Standing within the bedroom when the mesh sliding screen is pulled shut.
The mesh screens have been pulled away, opening both bedrooms up.
FURTHER READINGS