Excellence in the Use of Bricks (East Coast) New House $300,001-$500k (East Coast): Dylan Barber, Dylan Barber Building Design, Wimmera Residence

WINNER

Excellence in the Use of Bricks (East Coast) New House $300,001-$500k (East Coast)

Designer: Dylan Barber, Dylan Barber Building Design Location: Manifold Heights Web: dylanbarber-buildingdesign.com Builder: Tim Gooden Energy Assessor: EnergyLab Photographer: Nikole Ramsay

The Judges said

Rising from the ashes and showing us how to use and reuse bricks, blending them with the sharp modern lines of metal cladding. When a product is a hero and it lifts the entire design response and aesthetic, it far exceeds expectations! Functional, crisp and liveable, what more could the client ask for? A comfortable and intimate design on a modest budget, the skills of the designer and owner come together. Small details, with maximum effect.

Project Brief

The brief was to create a home with an industrial-chic feel that was robust with lots of texture, light and functional spaces whilst honoring the home’s heritage. The layout of the house focused on the existing bungalow and how to provide northerly aspects to the living areas. The kitchen and dining spaces were carefully placed to have a connection to the courtyard and the bluestone bungalow. Cathedral ceilings to the living and dining areas amplify the space, highlight windows to the dining area and frame the existing bluestone bungalow. The brick gable façade is the hero of the home, showcasing the salvaged reclaimed bricks from the former house. The cantilevered brick entry and protruding brick patterns exhibit strength and creativity, whilst the charred timber clad garage provides a nod to the home’s backstory of a housefire. The stunning rear gable pavilion clad with Trimdek wall cladding and roofing delivers a truly industrial look and feel.

Sustainability Considerations

The design allows for natural light and ventilation throughout the home. A central courtyard provides solar access to the living spaces, delivering natural light and warmth, while a timber batten eave over the north-facing glass doors provides some protection during the warmer months. An exposed concrete floor provides a thermal mass for the solar gains throughout the day and the under-slab insulation helps retain heat. Louvered windows at the front entry (north) and rear passage (south), along with centrally located glass sliding doors, deliver effective cross-flow ventilation throughout the home. The use of recycled brick provides durability and low-embodied energy material. Many bricks were salvaged from the existing home and reused to minimise landfill. 6.5k/w solar panels assist powering the hydronic heating with a heat pump (slab and wall panels) throughout the day, while the hot water tank includes a solar evacuated tube system. Rainwater is collected and stored in two 5,000 and 6,000 litre water tanks which are connected to two toilets and the laundry.

The original single story brick home was destroyed by fire with only a bluestone bungalow and jacaranda tree surviving.