The Two Hulls House is an amazing residential project created by studio Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, one which was offered five awards since its completion back in 2011. The name is intriguing but also quite suggestive for, as you see, the house features two cantilevered pavilions which resemble two ship’s hulls. It’s meant to serve as a permanent residence for a family of four but it definitely doesn’t look like any typical house we’ve seen so far. The coastal landscape which surrounds adds a lot of character to the building itself, giving sense to its amazing design.
View in gallery
View in galleryBoth pavilions cantilever over the steep sloping terrain and resemble two hulls, hence the nameView in galleryInside, large windows expose the spaces to the gorgeous views and bring in lots of natural lightView in galleryThe pavilions have steel frames covered in a wooden skin and end in terraces with glass railingsView in galleryThe functions are organized into day and night areas, which a clear physical separation between themView in galleryThe pavilions are connected by a common and much smaller space which houses the entrywayView in galleryThe master bedroom opens onto a covered terrace with a direct view towards the seaView in galleryThe central volume acts as a link between the two pavilions, connecting the spaces yet keeping the functions separateView in galleryAlthough the pavilions seem mostly closed off, they’re well connected to the outdoorsView in galleryThe entryway is a large transitional space with two sets of stairs leading to each of the two pavilionsView in galleryThe wooden exterior shell gives the house a modern and welcoming look and disguises the steel frameView in galleryThe living area is large, open and very simple as far as the interior design and decor are concernedView in galleryThe home office has a minimalistic design just like the rest of the house and is all concentrated on one wallView in galleryAs the two pavilions extend over the landscape, a pathway opens up between themView in galleryThe living room is very bright, with white walls, large windows and very little furniture overallView in galleryThe pavilions have different lengths but are very similar from every point of viewView in galleryA set of stairs seems to lead to a dead end due to the sliding panels that conceal the space behind themView in galleryAs the panels slide open, the home office is revealed in this particular case
The house is surrounded by granite bedrock and large boulders which had a strong impact on the way it was designed. The views are amazing so that was a major defining detail as well. In the end, the architects structured the house into two large pavilions which cantilever 32 meters over the coast, floating and forming protective outdoor spaces both below and between them. One pavilion is for day areas while the other is for night functions. This separation is very practical while at the same time it ensures a really cool design and gives the house lots of character.
View in galleryThe house takes full advantage of the turquoise water and white sand beaches that surround it