Dovecote gets a little help from Kiama Glass

‘Failure is not an option’ is Kiama Glass Director Kelly Seuren’s favourite quote, and one the team has modelled their work ethic around since he took over the business 8 years ago. In 2019, this tenacious leadership style helped to position the Kiama Glass name in the pages of Australian architectural history.

For anyone with a finger on the pulse of Australian architecture, you’ll be familiar with 2019 HIA Australian House of the Year ‘Dovecote’, perched high on a breathtaking seaside hill on the NSW South Coast. The secluded 60-hectare block comprises two dwellings; a breathtaking four-bedroom house, and a smaller modern Scandinavian-style farmhouse. Both offer 180 degree views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as sweeping views of the rural landscape to the west, and even featured in the 2020 blockbuster movie ‘The Invisible Man’.

The Kiama Glass name has served the Illawarra’s South Coast and Southern Highlands for 25 years, and is well known to local builders and homeowners. But when this building project came to town, it still took Kelly weeks of pitching his glazing services to the builder until he successfully secured the work. Kelly knew it was important to win this piece of business for his team, and persistence paid off.

Kiama Glass installed all of the fixed glazing and frameless structural balustrades, while Vitrocsa Australia supplied and installed all of the sliding components. ‘Where possible, we used double glazed units for thermal and acoustic properties’. explains Kelly, who is familiar with the strong and cold winds of the NSW South Coast.

The ambitious Kiama Glass team again drew inspiration from their motto: ‘failure is not an option’ when handling the larger heavier panels, some upwards of 350 kg each. ‘The heavy double glazed units add warmth and comfort, while the large picture windows emphasise the views’, says Kelly, who worked closely with his experienced team of six glaziers, from measure to install, for over a total period of five weeks.

‘Dovecote’ Architect Andy Carson chose not to overwhelm the design with floor-to-ceiling glass. Instead, carefully considered framing provides breathtaking glimpses of the surroundings, with each room showcasing up a different view to the next.

‘The architect did a fantastic job positioning this building into the natural surroundings to capture amazing aspects of the Gerringong area’. says Kiama Glass Manager Lena Seuren, who still stops to admire the house whenever she drives by.

Professional photos of the Dovecote project sit proudly on the Kiama Glass website, which helps to highlight the team’s high-end architectural glazing capabilities, and instil confidence in their customers and future customers. Kelly Seuren could not be more proud of his persistence to secure the work, and his team’s involvement in this now iconic piece of Australian architecture.