Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo by Sam Alawie

Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo by Sam Alawie is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza in Igishushanyo cy'Ubwubatsi Competition Category.

IfezaUbwubatsi· 2025

Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo

by Sam Alawie

Client: Zane Carter Architects

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza Winner in Ubwubatsi Category

19,972

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #169026

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo

Ripple House ni inzu yo guturamo iherereye i Sydney, muri Ositaraliya. Iyi nzu yubatswe ku kibanza gito cya metero kare 311 kandi ikubiyemo ibyumba bine byo kuraramo, ubwiherero butatu, imyanya ibiri y'imodoka, hamwe n'igikoni n'ahantu ho kuriira imbere no hanze. Urukuta rw'imbere rw'inzu rugizwe n'urusika rwakozwe ku buryo bwihariye. Ishusho y'ibitonyanga by'amazi yakaswe hakoreshejwe lazeri mu mbaho z'icyuma cya aluminiyumu, kandi buri mbaho yagoretswe kugira ngo ikore imiraba ku buso bw'urukuta. Irangi ryihariye rirambye ririnda icyuma umunyu w'inyanja. Umwanya ufunguye wo hagati uhuza amagorofa yombi kandi ushyigikira umucyo, ubwisanzure n'imikoranire mu nzu.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza

Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza, ishimwe ridasanzwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo byo ku rwego rwo hejuru, byiza kandi bikora ku mutima. Abegukanye Ifeza ni ibihangano by'ubuhanga bukomeye kandi bifite guhanga kwinshi, bigaragaza ubuhanga bwimbitse, impano n'ubushishozi bw'ababihanze. Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cy'icyitegererezo, gifite ubunyamwuga bukomeye n'udushya twimbitse. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Ifeza ni igihangano kizwi kandi gishimwa, gifasha kugura imbibi z'ubuhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga. Ripple House Ubwubatsi bw'Amazu yo Guturamo ni igihangano benshi bifuza, gikangura ibyifuzo, gitanga amarangamutima meza kandi gitera igitangaza.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A sculptural piece of art in built form, this design transforms space into an ever evolving experience. The custom screen designed by the architect, casts dynamic light art, mimicking the fluid dance of water droplets as sunlight shifts throughout the day. Shadows ripple across surfaces, creating an interplay of movement and stillness. This fusion of architecture and light elevates the home beyond function, into an immersive, living artwork that responds to time, nature, and its inhabitants.
Dimensions & Packaging: Each dwelling is situated on a compact land size of 311sqm. Each home consists of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car spaces, both and indoor and outdoor dining and kitchen areas.
Tags: Residential House, Residential Design, Duplex Design, Home Design, Interior Design, Facade Screen, Screen, Ripple
Production Technology: This design is a symphony of light, movement, and material. The water droplet inspired pattern is delicately laser cut into aluminium, each sheet gently curved to ripple across the façade like a flowing stream. Bathed in an anodised allure, the metallic powder-coated finish catches the light, shimmering like sunlit water. Beneath its beauty lies resilience; the Electro coating, crafted with advanced super-durable polyester thermosetting powder, ensuring its tale endures sea salt spray.
Design Challenge: Designing Ripple House posed challenges in structure, materials, and execution. The open voids required precise engineering for stability, balancing openness with support. Built on sand, the home relied on screw piles for a solid foundation. The aluminum screen, laser-cut and assembled in segments, formed a flowing ripple effect while resisting sea spray corrosion. The floating marble island, curved and held by a wooden frame, demanded expert craftsmanship and structural reinforcement to achieve its sculptural lightness.
Research: The design research blended site analysis, material testing, and engineering to balance aesthetics, function, and durability. It optimized light, airflow, stability, and material longevity in a coastal setting. Using digital modeling, prototypes, and simulations, data from soil tests, climate studies, and material evaluations informed decisions. Research ensured screw pile stability, aluminum corrosion resistance, and marble island support, setting new standards for resilient coastal design.
Inspiration: Ripple House whispers the poetry of water, embodying fluidity and connection, inspired by the graceful, ever changing dance of droplets. This lyrical concept ripples through every detail, most vividly in the custom-designed front screen, a masterpiece by the architect. Its pattern, an elegant ballet of converging and diverging droplets, stands as a sculptural ode to nature, casting ephemeral shadows that shift with the sun’s journey, painting the home in light’s delicate choreography.
Project Duration: The project is located in Sydney Australia. The project commenced in and was completed in October 2024.
Operation Flow: Ripple House enhances human experiences by fostering interaction and connectedness. The design actively encourages a sense of community and engagement, creating spaces that invite people to gather, converse, and connect with one another. At the heart of the home, a central void seamlessly connects the two levels, acting as a visual connector that enhances openness and fluidity while encouraging interaction between the levels. The kitchen is designed as both a culinary and social hub. The expansive chef’s island functions as a workspace and dining area, inviting family and guests to gather around food, creating an interactive cooking experience that fosters togetherness.
Team Members: Architect and Interior Designer: Sam Alawie
Image Credits: Photographer archphoto Andreas Bommert
Videographer archphoto Andreas Bommert