04. Member Matters

Sketch Book

Sketch 1: A new house in the

existing street scene

I sketched this street scene with coloured pencils and markers to show what was to be a new, two-storey house with a movable balcony which also acted as a pool cover. As it lifted, it uncovered the swimming pool, lifting decking and furniture. From its resting point at the first floor, it could stay in that position or keep going up to the next level, being the roof. “The Thunderbirds” have a lot to answer for! I wanted to show Town Planning what this would look like in an actual street scene. I did this from a photograph I took. When I was taking the photo, I waited for a man with a dog to walk into view to give the scene scale. As I took the shot, a tall lady came out of the centre house to bring out the rubbish bin. I decided to add her in, as if they were a couple.

Royston Wilson

Sketch 2: Unbuilt House

This design is one of three earlier versions of the house in the Street Scene in Sketch 1. The ‘wing’ design at the front of the house was ultimately needed to be altered to ensure there was enough stability to hold up the moveable balcony.

Royston Wilson

Sketch 3: “I want to fit it all in the

corner” - Owner of the house

On this job, the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry had to be located in the rear, left-hand corner of this house. A staircase also had to be somehow incorporated. This sketch demonstrated to the client how we would do this and what it would look like. I always try to include a person when sketching to give the scene scale of size.

Royston Wilson

Email your sketch and inspiration to editor@designmatters.org.au

Inspiring Through Design

Design Matters National’s Tim Ellis, of Glow Building Design, was excited recently to see one of his designs has inspired the latest promotion by Channel 9 television series “The Block”, in partnership with Colorbond Steel, Truecore and Bluescope.

https://truecore.com.au/theblock#promo

His Mount Macedon design, known as Double Happiness, is in the background, behind Darren Palmer, one of the three judges on “The Block”. In the promotional photos, the house appears to have had its façade removed, revealing blue steel framework.

“Interesting to see the Photoshop work to the house, bringing the interior out,” Tim remarked.

“Thanks to [photographer] @jack.lovel for the original shot. Nice to have @darrenpalmerofficial. It is always good to inspire people with design.”

Describing his design process on this project, Tim said: “The house took shape in the computer. Layout first sorted, with different zones, and thinking of the way the floorplan would be used, keeping the powder room away from the kitchen, making the laundry and boot area central and usable from garage. I looked back at the concepts and was surprised at how the original concepts were similar to that which was built. Often in design development things change and vary greatly from the concept.”

All photography: Jack Lovel Photographer www.jacklovel.com

I looked back at the concepts and was surprised at how the original concepts were similar to that which was built. Often in design development things change and vary greatly from the concept.”

About the ‘Double Happiness’ name, Tim explained: “When designing it is always nice to have a particular name as it gives personality. It can be often quite a search. This design was briefly many names. One that stood out was Twin Peaks, which reflected the gables. Much further thought went into it and the word 'Double' was borne from the two peaks, combined with the client's business name 'Big Bowl of Happiness'. Putting them together is Double Happiness, which describes the journey. This also has meaning in China literally meaning joy, a cool bar in Melbourne I had visited and is a very good song by Lloyd Cole.”

“It is such a big job seeing houses move from concept through to built and the clients enjoying them, even more when the appreciation goes out to a larger audience,” he said on his Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/glowbuildingdesign

“The Block” is an Australian reality television series broadcast on the Nine Network. The show, in its sixteenth series, follows four or five couples as they compete against each other to renovate and style houses/apartments and sell them at auction for the highest price. The current series, set in New Street, Brighton, is set to conclude in mid-November.

The Block airs Sunday at 7PM and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30PM on Nine. Catch up on all the latest episodes on 9Now.

https://www.9now.com.au/the-block