Container of human activities,

The Marika Alderton House, can be considered as a container of human activities. This is due to the number of requests aimed to please traditional indigenous culture in the design brief. The house was designed in response to these briefs allowing for traditions and cultural customs to be continued.

Murcutt describes the cultural dimension of the project within, Glen Murcutt; a singular architectural practice; “there is a need for occupants to move within the building without being vulnerable to evil spirits”, the occupants had to be able to the horizon as well as other culturally significant markers in the landscape and also who is coming and going” (Cooper et al, 2002), it was important to provide a sense of privacy, that is, allow the occupants to see outside without being seen. The house had to provide the ability to be secure as well as accommodate one to up to twenty relatives.

The house was designed to be a family house, with specifications such as the children’s bedroom had to be to the east and the parent’s bedroom to the west. This accommodates the indigenous sense of space and meaning, corresponding to the sun rising and setting.

(The above image, demonstrates the public (yellow) and private space (green). Note that the Parental bedroom is to the west (left). North being towards the bottom of the page.)

The nomadic lifestyle of indigenous Australians, traditional includes hunting and gathering within the local community. Thus the house must be adjustable to occupants and traditional outdoor activities and support the occupants in preparing and serving food.

The house, now 16 years old has been occupied during all of that time, and Cooper (2002)comments; that the family has “replanted the vegetation surrounding the house” and are “happy and say the house works well within the context of their complex community culture”. Thus Glen Murcutt has successfully created a house that contains the unique human activities of and indigenous client.

(The circulation of the Marika-Alderton House, note the majority in the public area)