The Hex Home

During my recent holiday I mostly looked out the coach windows but, during one stretch of our journey, I did some doodling of a concept in which a floor plan is defined by an array of connected hexagons. Been watching reviews of mid-century architecture and that influenced this. Each hexagon is either a structure or the space between them. The result is a quick-and-dirty plan for a home distributed across three structures and four yards - The Hex Home.

Each structure is a two storey hexagonal prism topped with a roof shaped like a hexagonal pyramid. Both brick and timber will go into these forms (with brick providing the internal framework and the outer walls on the ground level). You could fit one home into such a stucture but I'm using three to form a bigger home with a total of eight bedrooms (the two on the ground floor functioning as guest rooms). There are many shared spaces of general or specific purpose. The centre of the home is a courtyard sporting a saltwater relaxation pool. The dining room and two living rooms face onto this yard and glass concertina doorways allow these to become one unified space. Likewise the three structures each sport a balcony overlooking that same space (with shade cloths positioned in such a way to allow this view).



1. Entry Yard (gravel) - 2. Pool Courtyard (decking and planters) - 3. Side Yards (lawn and garden beds) - 4. Dining Area - 5. Kitchen - 6. Living Areas - 7. Laundry - 8. Walkthru Bathrooms - 9. Library - 10. Arts & Crafts - 11. Bedrooms - 12. Landing (toilet and shower closet to each side) - 13. Covered Balcony - 14. Shade Cloths

* Storage (including walk-in pantry, storeroom, wardrobes etc).



From the courtyard one can walk into two lawned gardens (including food growing patches) and one gravel yard. The last is also the first area that guests step into on visiting the Hex Home. Here vehicles can be parked but there can be a garage close by (in the same position as the banner saying 'Hex Home' in the sketches) and can be of conventional shape. The two living rooms can be differentiated by furniture selection (for instance to be for lounging and rumpus respectively). From the three indoor common areas one can access another three shared spaces - the kitchen, the library, and an arts-and-crafts room. Dining and kitchen are spearated only by a bench. The living areas and beyond are only partitioned by decorative shelves. Those common spaces share bathrooms with the guest rooms.

Inside the lower levels one can walk around in a circuit. This cannot be done on the upper levels (unless you installed secret communicating doors between the bedrooms). Each upper level is identical in floor plan. The landings access small separate shower and toilet chambers to either side. From each covered balcony one can enter two bedrooms. More concertina glass panels allow each balcony to be shut away from the elements. Spiral staircases save on space. There is a store room close to the laundry while the kitchen has a walk-in pantry. Bedrooms and some common rooms have inset storage too.

Such an extended family home or holiday house would be awesome to share with others and play host to many fine gatherings. For me it was even fun just to imagine and plan.