Qh spring 14 riverside relaxation

Riverside Relaxation A throwback to Brisbane’s unique river history, this modern home is a balance of industrial cool and natural warmth.

WORDS: Natasha Pavez

The Brisbane River has long been entwined in the lives of all those that call this gorgeous city home, and its influence can be seen all along its banks. Once upon a time when Brisbane enjoyed a more thriving riparian industry, boat building sheds lined the river, especially in trendy Bulimba. These industrial sheds loomed along the skyline and only added to the character of this riverside suburb. So, it was only natural that Dave and Cindy, the owners of this subtropical home, gleaned inspiration from these roots.

Although the maritime allusion is evident in every facet of this home, Aquatonic – the architects behind this impressive project – were sure to make it a liveable space, perfect for Brisbane's humid subtropics and laid-back lifestyle. "Its design takes cues from the prevailing maritime history of the Brisbane riverbank and explicitly makes it connection to the river," says architect Marco Giaroli. "It's a house that connects well with the river, and also sits comfortably within its streetscape and riverscape."

136

Separate living, utility and private spaces make the house ideal for a family, adding a creative twist to the industrial-esque feel evoked by the shed-like exterior. As the interior follows these same straight lines – think high, angular ceilings, solid timber walls and timber floors – that same ‘feel’ carries through to the interior, a design detail which the architect has played on. The private spaces are suspended over the living areas "like a boat hull under construction," says Marco, an evocative image which we absolutely love. You can see the historical touches all over, tied up neatly with a modern city base.

An especially nice feature? The gantry-style staircase, acting as both a dividing and transitioning piece. The glass railing, industrial-chic steel, and warm timber steps are a marriage of Brisbane's past and present, and will carry it well into the future.

Downstairs, the home boasts a striking kitchen, designed by Chloe Quintal for Garsden and Clarke Kitchens. By working in tandem with Aquatonic, the boathouse-themed kitchen is a seamless feature, purely

HEALY HOMES & AQUATONIC ARCHITECTURE | PROJECT

enhancing the home's aesthetic appeal. The timber veneer cabinetry merges smoothly with the timber walls, while the benchtop allows both food preparation and casual seating to occur simultaneously, thanks to its ample space.

Chloe aimed for flowing access around this space, absolutely necessary in any well-functioning kitchen, and has furthered this through all appliances being neatly tucked away and flush against benches and walls. Versatile storage, such as Blum's Tandembox system, allows culinary mavens easy access to all their kitchenware – yet also keeps clutter hidden away. It's a kitchen that has been described as warm, welcoming and visually impressive, and we can't help but agree (especially considering it opens onto views of the Brisbane River!).

The home was built by David Healy of Healy Homes, whose experience working on highly-detailed, custom-built homes made him the perfect builder to complete this project. "Once I met the clients I was instantly drawn to the project by their passion and enthusiasm to create this unique home," says David.

Working on the home was a major undertaking, but David, the clients and Aquatonic were all up to the task. "On such a highly detailed project such as this one, you end up having a lot of meetings with the clients and architects to go over the details," David explains. "We would meet on-site at least twice a week to discuss the project."

137

138

HEALY HOMES & AQUATONIC ARCHITECTURE | PROJECT

David's attention-to-detail certainly served the project well, with even the most challenging components of the project viewed as a highlight: "I loved working with the many different finishes used on the project," says David.

Almost every part of the 535m² block has been utilised, and while the home might be large, it's a stunning display of design and building techniques, fully personalised for the Brisbane lifestyle. The river is experienced from the moment you enter the front door until you exit onto the back deck and wander down to the private jetty. Indoors, the river is almost a design feature thanks to the stunning frameless glass doors from Lotus Doors. Designed to connect the living area to the outdoor deck and pool, it also takes advantage of those luxurious river views. Bonus points: the doors are completely weather resistant – a must with Brisbane's oft-abrupt weather changes!

or your fellow guests as you entertain. Glass fencing continues the 'invisibility' theme, allowing those on the deck to get the full view of their riverfront surrounds. And night or day, this space is fully functional – those pool lights, adding a chic purple hue to the deep blue water, are almost something out of a world-class resort.

From timber boats of old to majestic steel sheds, this home has managed to beautifully combine all the core elements of Brisbane's long river history. “This is a house that works well with its inhabitants, its site, its context and its climate," says Marco. "It is a house that will be admired for a long time to come."

For David, it's an absolute no-brainer – this is definitely his favourite feature of the home. "The kitchen and living room is a great credit to the design," he says. "The fact that you can open the large sliding and bi-fold doors to the entire area gives the feeling you're out on the river itself."

HEALY HOMES Phone: 0417 766 725

The Aquatonic-designed pool has also received a creative touch, with an acrylic wall facing the house turning it into an entertainment feature of many sorts. Whether underwater or above, you can glimpse the house

AQUATONIC ARCHITECTURE Phone: 07 3368 2833

GARSDEN & CLARKE KITCHENS Phone: 07 3823 3977 LOTUS DOORS Phone: 07 3260 1110 139