Klein Bottle House in Mornington Peninsula, Australia

February 11, 2010 Category: House, Residential

Klein Bottle House is the holiday home was designed by McBride Charles Ryan Architects in Mornington Peninsula, Australia that equates mathematics to architectural design. The surfaces that mathematicians have developed hold intrigue for architects as they hold a promise of new spatial relationships and configurations. Technology (CAD) has played an important part in all this, it is now more possible to efficiently describe more complex shapes and spaces and communicate these to the build. Previously the more orthogonal means of communication – plans, sections and elevations naturally encourage buildings which are more easily described in these terms, i.e. boxes. Klein Bottle House applies the logic of the Klein Bottle, a shape which folds into itself to become one continuous volume.

From the outset the architects McBride Charles Ryan (MCR) wanted a building that nestled within the tree line. That talked about journey and the playfulness of holiday time. What began as a spiral or shell like building developed into a more complex spiral, the Klein bottle. MCR were keen to be topologically true to the Klein bottle but it had to function as a home design. We thought an origami version of the bottle would be achievable and hold some ironic fascination. The house design revolves around a central courtyard, a grand regal stair connecting all the levels. There is a sense of both being near and far to all occupants. Its endless, curling shell-like quality particularly in the tee tree brings about a comforting togetherness. The Klein Bottle House pictures by John Gollings and McBride Charles Ryan Architects

Klein Bottle House by McBride Charles Ryan in Mornington Peninsula Australia