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THE SOUND OF SILENCE Consider the acoustics of your home

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EDITORIAL Editor April Ossington Editor-at-Large Peter Maddison Deputy Editor Louise Smithers Sub-Editor Michelle Segal Contributors Peter Colquhoun, Chris Knierim, Crystal Amesbury, Alexandra Longstaff, Karsha Green, Carrol Baker Art Director Kate Podger Plans Joel Sawyer COVER IMAGE The Barn by Paul Uhlmann Architects Photography by Andy Macpherson Studio PETER MADDISON ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS PLUS TV HOUSE EXCLUSIVE LEWISHAM HOUSE

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NEW PROJECTS Why they work What they have Who created them

19 taps to top off your design BUSHFIRE-PROOF YOUR HOME

Issue 9 3

WHAT IS PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN? MEET THE 2020 TILER OF THE YEAR

FUTURISTIC FANTASY Explore this travel writer’s dream home outside Hobart

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS NSW Advertising Team Leader Anthea Hamilton P: (02) 9887 0311 M: 0414 319 271 E: ahamilton@umco.com.au Vic, SA & Tas Advertising Manager Natalie Grosso M: 0420 477 422 E: ngrosso@umco.com.au Vic Kitchens, Bathrooms & Heating Specialist John Oliver P: (03) 9694 6430 M: 0417 316 820 Qld Business Development Consultant Liane Rothwell P: (07) 3351 8725 M: 0488 424 232 E: lrothwell@umco.com.au Advertising Production Brendan Alder Advertising Art Director Martha Rubazewicz

Chairman/CEO Prema Perera Publisher Janice Williams Chief Financial Officer Vicky Mahadeva Associate Publisher Emma Perera Circulation Business Development Manager Mark McTaggart Creative Director Kate Podger This magazine is printed on paper produced in a mill that meets Environmental Management System ISO14001. Grand Designs Australia issue 9.4 is published by Universal Magazines, Unit 5, 6-8 Byfield Street, North Ryde NSW 2113. Phone: (02) 9805 0399, Fax: (02) 9805 0714. Melbourne office, Level 1, 150 Albert Street, South Melbourne Vic 3205. Phone: (03) 9694 6444, Fax: (03) 9699 7890. Printed in Singapore by Times Printers, timesprinters.com. Retail distribution: Gordon and Gotch, Australia. Distributed in Singapore and Malaysia by CARKIT (FE), Singapore, Phone: 65 62821 960. This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to the publishers. The publishers believe all the information supplied in this book to be correct at the time of printing. They are not, however, in a position to make a guarantee to this effect and accept no liability in the event of any information proving inaccurate. Prices, addresses and phone numbers were, after investigation, and to the best of our knowledge and belief, up to date at the time of printing, but the shifting sands of time may change them in some cases. It is not possible for the publishers to ensure that advertisements which appear in this publication comply with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law. The responsibility must therefore be on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisements for publication. While every endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. * Recommended retail price ISSN 2200 – 2197 Copyright © Universal Magazines MMXX ACN 003 026 944 umco.com.au Please pass on or recycle this magazine.

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22

GRAND DESIGNS

Discover the Next Level of Cooling Technology – Monolith.

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CON TENT S

82 REGULARS 22 Credits 28 Editor’s Letter 30 Editor-at-Large CREATIVE EDIT 34 Social 35 Book Club 36 Architecture Shorts 38 What’s Hot 40 Fave 5 48 Win Big!

150

IN PROFILE 46 Kate Owen SPECIAL FEATURE 50 Cooling THE SOURCE 150 Soundscapes 158 Plumbing

Contents ISSUE #9 4

EXPERT ADVICE 180 Architecture 182 Building

70 40

39 24

G GRAND DESIGNS

Truly b reathta king.

realame.com.au | 1300 554 155

CO NTENT S

108

38 HOUSES 60 The Barn Rural retreat 72 Prahran House Building within a building 84 Wanaka Crib Kiwi holiday house 96 Wildcoast Retreat Diamond in the rough 108 Brick House Unconventional warehouse conversion 120 Harcourt Project East meets west 126 House Bras Nestled in woodlands

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS 139 Shades of Grey Creating mood in the bathroom 142 Espresso Yourself Wake up and smell the coffee 144 Where The Heart Is Light, warmth and connectivity OUTDOORS 168 Miami Dreaming Green lines

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G RA ND DESI GN S EDITOR’S LETTER

From the Editor

Mentionables Bouquet Pendant 5. greatdanefurniture.com House BRAS by DDM architectuur. ddmarchitectuur.be. Corolla 273 designed by Cristina Celestino for Billiani. designnation.com.au. Kaiak armchair

by ENEA. zenithinteriors.com/au

’m really excited to be back from maternity leave and at the helm of Grand Designs Australia magazine again. During my time away, I moved from an apartment to a house in the suburbs and it’s given me much to think about. You learn a lot from living in your first home. As a homeowner now responsible for maintenance, you gradually learn about all the little things that have to be done and, of course, issues that arise. Now I know what I’d look for when searching for my next home. If we build one day, I know what I’d pay special attention to during the design stage and when selecting products and materials. For example, I’d put more thought into the acoustics of the residence. We have hardwood floors and my husband and I have to tip-toe around our house when our baby is asleep.

In this issue, we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty of the home with three information-packed features. Speaking of acoustics, our feature this issue delves into the soundscapes of the house and we discuss how to reduce unwanted noise. There’s no doubt that in Australia, cooling is of utmost importance when building a home. I’ve lived in one without insulation and let’s just say that I don’t recommend it — unless you enjoy freezing in winter and boiling in summer! Our cooling feature discusses basics like insulation but also covers fans, air conditioning, windows and window treatments, as well as using greenery around your house to keep it cool. Plumbing is not a very sexy topic when it comes to homes, but it is very important. We dig a little deeper in our feature on this topic.

Looking for some inspiration? We have gorgeous projects for you in this edition. One that stands out for me is Wanaka Crib situated on the edge of picturesque Lake Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island. I love modern architecture that pays homage to a site’s history. “Crib” was a term given to modest holiday homes that became popular on New Zealand’s South Island in the 1950s. They have since become an iconic image of family holidays for locals.

April

APRIL OSSINGTON EDITOR

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GRAND DESIGNS

G RA ND DESI GN S EDITOR-AT-LARGE

From Peter Maddison

going to panovscott Architects for a relatively modest house, Kindred, which has been designed for three generations (and a dog). Perhaps this is an emerging trend in these challenging times, where cross generations pool their money to live communally.

Watch out for the National Architecture Awards later this year, again watchable for free on YouTube.

Open House Melbourne Like the Victorian Architecture Awards, Open House Melbourne is a screened event this year and is free. As an ambassador for this program, I can vouch that Melburnians’ feet have been doing the talking, with over 120,000 visitations in 2019 (with 700 volunteers) on the last weekend of July. This year, however, we have gone streaming via Openhousemelbourne.org. It’s going to be interesting to see how many people “turn up” this year. Can I commend to you Stuart Harrison’s address where he flips the lid on what makes heritage.

Stuart is a kindred spirit, hosting Restoration Australia, but he is also a talented practising architect.

This year we have 88 buildings and 48 live performances, and have teamed up with PHORIA, an expert 3D content maker, with many projects being shown in 3D virtual reality. This is where virtual reality and the use of headsets come into play. I’m told cardboard headsets with the use of a mobile are available for a few dollars from Spotlight. Give it a go.

While you’re there, check out Maddison Architects’ Newry House and Chocolate Buddha restaurant at Fed Square and associated video, to see what else keeps me busy.

Houses Awards This program concentrates solely on the residential sector and livestreamed awards at the end of July, which you can catch up with on housesawards.com.au. This program takes in the best housing in Australia and results in a hard-copy magazine. This is a more commercial program, like many others in the industry. It even offers prizes.

Beaumaris Modern

f you’re reading this issue of Grand Designs Australia magazine, there is a fair assumption you’re into housing and good design. I thought I’d share with you some fantastic programs that celebrate Australia’s current and past heroes in architecture.

Victorian Architecture Awards 2020 This program recognises the best in architectural production over the previous few years. It is part of the program for every state and culminates in the national awards, the best of the best. Because of the current COVID-19 crisis, this program and most others this year are online. I have just watched the eloquent Viv O’Connell present the Victorian Architecture Awards on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCS6mRsE284 This is a fantastic format where you can stop, replay or skip along to the categories that interest you. The Residential Category this year was particularly strong, with the top Named Award for Residential Architecture

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You might have heard of McGlashan & Everist, Kevin Borland, Peter McIntyre, Robin Boyd, Chancellor & Patrick, David Godsell, John Baird and Eric Lyon. And rightly so! My favourite is the Beaumaris Modern celebration, which looks at our Mid Century Modern houses. I happen to be its patron. Like Open House, it is free, with a highly popular walking tour to private homes in October each year. This is a ticketed event with limited numbers. Pre-sales go online in September. See beaumarismodern.com.au. There is a bunch of other events you could engage with including talks, fi lm nights, barefoot bowls and a Christmas party.

Beaumaris was an outer suburb in the 1960s, where experimental architecture attracted clients with optimistic and brave attitudes. Like Caulfield and Studley Park, it is a unique suburb that is identifiable with these gems and celebrated by afficionados. In fact, the book Beaumaris Modern, written by Fiona Austin, has just been awarded a media prize for its contribution in recognising this unique suburb. It is published by Melbourne Books and researched by Simon Reeves. At $43.75 it’s a great investment.

There is a plethora of other industry award programs based on the charter of each. These include Timber Awards, Dulux Colour Awards, Steel Awards, Colorbond Awards, the Corian Awards, the Interior Design Awards, the IDEA awards and the Melbourne Prize. There is even one just called the Design Awards!

All of these programs celebrate Australia’s unique creativity, and don’t we have much to celebrate, even in these difficult times.

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Edit Take a look at what’s happening in the world of architecture and interior design 34 Get Social 35 Book Club 36 Architecture Snapshot 38 Modern Australian 40 Fave 5 44 What’s Hot 46 In Profile 48 Win Big

GRAND DESIGNS

33

DE SI G N FO R U M

and principal architect. “I hope these bubbles will serve as vital newborn cells, giving the traditional hutong new life and revitalising the community.”

Photography by Tian Fangfang. i-mad.com

01

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Get Social Click to explore the wonders of our architectural environment E D I T E D BY LO U I S E S M I T H E R S

04 03 01/ Hutong Bubble 218, China Hutong Bubble 218 by MAD Architects is the restoration and reconstruction of a traditional courtyard house in Beijing. Built during the Qing Dynasty, the ancient 305sqm structure is the latest in MAD’s effort to reinvigorate degraded and largely demolished old neighbourhoods. These relatively small projects are treated to artistic interventions, and Hutong Bubble 218 reveals the benefits of opening up dialogue between old and new. Comprising a network of metallic bubbles and inserted neatly into the surrounding urban fabric, this is one bubble we don’t want to see burst. “This is a micro-utopian ideal,” says Ma Yansong, MAD founder

02/ Coco Flip Showroom Tenth anniversaries are often commemorated with diamonds, and Coco Flip’s new Northcote showroom is a gem more precious than any shiny little rock. Celebrating a decade in business, Coco Flip has gifted us a divine space filled with an elaborate array of locally made lighting. Beloved for the iconic Coco Pendant light, Coco Flip is a business dedicated to promoting small-scale local production methods. The showroom is open by appointment only, between Monday and Wednesday, with trading hours set to increase once COVID restrictions ease. Photography by Kristoffer Paulsen. cocoflip.com.au 03/ Three Birds Renovations HQ A little birdie told us about a Sydneybased office HQ that’s pretty in pink and bursting with renovation inspiration.

Taking cues from Byron Bay artist Jai Vasicek, the Three Birds HQ workspace is highly detailed and boasts customdesigned cushions and wallpaper from Grace Garrett. Intrim timber mouldings were fashioned into wall panels for a flourish of texture and character. As cosy as a (chic) family home, Three Birds HQ is a functional business space modelled for group work with large work zones and a rolling floor plan. threebirdsrenovations.com 04/ Tavolo Morbido Coffee Table Tavolo Morbido by Studio Mignone is a flamboyant coffee table like no other. The base is made using rounded concrete “lozenges” sheathed in either marble, coloured glass or swirled concrete. Created by Adelaide couple Aldo Mignone and Isabella Wood, the balloon cast legs are intentionally blobby and lolly-like. Sealed with a low-sheen satin finish, this chunky and slightly retro coffee table is a statement piece handmade in South Australia.

Consider one of these candy-coloured coffee caddies the next time you need to spruce up your living room. studiomignone.com

F: facebook.com/granddesignsaustraliamagazine I: instagram.com/granddesignsau T: twitter.com/granddesausmag P: pinterest.com/granddesignsau

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Book Club Expand your horizons with …

E D I T E D BY LO U I S E S M I T H E R S

R E VI EWS

HARE + KLEIN INTERIOR MERYL HARE THAMES & HUDSON | $65 Understated luxury, anyone? Hare + Klein is famous for impeccably detailed and effortlessly comfortable interiors and this new tome features the firm’s legendary use of texture, colour and scale to create responsive interiors that nail the brief every time. Flick through the pages to find stunning photography, fabric swatches, moodboards and architectural sketches detailing 14 properties.

From a sleek and stark inner-city warehouse revitalised with a modern interior scheme, to the rural abode so idyllic it seems to commune with its natural setting, each project has that unmistakable Hare + Klein style.

A CENTURY OF COLOUR IN DESIGN DAVID HARRISON | THAMES & HUDSON | $39.99 Hot off the presses, this October 2020 release will make you see red, in a good way! A Century of Colour in Design delves into the undeniable allure of colour and the impact its wholesale use in product design has had on the way we all use, and see, colour. Broad in its scope, this publication takes a tantalising trip back to the 20th century to explore the origin and reasoning underpinning the colouration of the most memorable pieces of furniture and decorative objects the century produced. The book examines the Eames chair, moulded fibreglass, pale-blue Anglepoise lamp, Marimekko’s red poppy print and the wine-red Bookworm Bookshelf.

POPO DANES: BALI INSPIRATION DIANA DARLING HARDIE GRANT BOOKS | $95 Someone get this man a bottle of champagne because Popo Danes has completed more than 80 architectural projects since 1986.

His impressive output is showcased in Popo Danes: Bali Inspiration, a book that combs through the master’s signature buildings, including private residences, boutique hotels, villas and resorts. Revered in his native Indonesia, Danes’ work can be found all around the world, but his most important projects rest in Bali and celebrate local heritage while embracing a contemporary aesthetic.

ROBIN BOYD: LATE WORKS CHRISTINE PHILLIPS, PETER RAISBECK URO PUBLICATIONS | $49 Australian mid-century modernist architects don’t get more iconic than Robin Boyd. Displaying the late virtuoso’s urban and public projects, this publication delves into the work he completed in the decade before his death in 1971. Boyd became a household name thanks to his 1960 book The Australian Ugliness, which outlined his distaste for what his contemporaries were creating and his belief that Australia’s cities and design culture were being debased.

MY BEDROOM IS AN OFFICE JOANNA THORNHILL THAMES & HUDSON | $30 Working from home is quickly becoming second nature, so the title of this book could not be more relevant. Author and interior design stylist Joanna Thornhill answers all your sticky questions, like “What can I do if my landlord won’t let me paint the wall?”, or dilemmas like, “My couch is cactus but I’m too broke to buy a new one.” Whether you’re living with painful plastic chairs or you’re struggling with furnishing your new home, Joanna guides readers through small alterations and major projects while sprinkling practical advice and inspiration throughout the book.

Joanna Thornhill

MY BEDROOM IS AN OFFICE & OTHER

INTERIOR DESIGN DILEMMAS

GRAND DESIGNS

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ARCHITECTURE

01

STRINGYBARK RESIDENCE

Snapshot Standout architecture that goes above and beyond E D I T E D BY LO U I S E S M I T H E R S

02

A sun-drenched courtyard overlooking established blue gums is the heart of Stringybark Residence. Visible upon entry, the courtyard is a protected gem that makes this roomy two-storey home among the gum trees an envy-inducing treasure. Resting on a gently sloping bush block, the home is multifaceted and sculptural, with neutral colours and stone walls that sympathise with the hillside setting. The creased roof was treated to generous eaves in order to safeguard the timber cladding and glazing from harsh weather and the beating sun. Snatching views of Tasmania’s Kingston Beach and Mount Wellington, this Jaws Architects-designed dwelling connects seamlessly with its wider milieu. Photography by Adam Gibson. jawsarchitects.com

02

UPSIDE DOWN AKUBRA HOUSE

Hats off to Alexander Symes Architect, the firm responsible for bringing us Upside Down Akubra House, an off-grid home in country NSW inspired by the broad brim of Australia’s favourite headwear.

When surveyed from a distance, the structure’s large skillion roof does indeed resemble an akubra.

Embracing the quintessential Australian landscape and the sweeping vistas surrounding it, the home has become a part of the landscape rather than simply infiltrating it. Energy efficient and easy on the eye, Upside Down Akubra House — you can leave your hat on for us! Photography by Barton Taylor. alexandersymes.com.au

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03

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MERRI CREEK HOUSE

North Fitzroy is spoilt with great architecture, and Merri Creek House is the new kid on the block making old look new again. Replicating the contextual romance of the area’s deco waterfall edges, cream and apricot triple brick veneers, grand entries and garage roof decks, this home adds a contemporary twist to proceedings. For example, waterfall edges appear as cylindrical volumes that mimic geometric farm relics and tall brick water towers. The Wowowa-designed house features a street-facing cocktail deck with receding brick veneer curves above the garage. With the home comprising two whole turrets, whimsical spaces abound. A sweeping décolletage staircase, giant curved window and third deconstructed turret petering out towards the creek are just a few of the home’s most memorable details. Photography by Shannon McGrath. wowowa.com.au

04

04

BALLAST POINT HOUSE

Ballast Point House turns up its nose at the traditional residential condition with a multi-generational, dual-key approach. Merging refinement with ingenuity, the compartmentalisation of the floor plan proves that dense residential housing needn’t be cramped and boring. Fox Johnston Architects took the challenging 260sqm sandstone ridge site and used a podium base to anchor the house. Above this base is a two-storey apartment, and above this is another two-storey dwelling intended as the main residence and decorated with gardens and courtyards to maximise indoor/outdoor flow. Shortlisted for a plethora of 2020 awards (including Australian Interior Design Awards, AIA NSW Architecture Awards and Houses Awards 2020), Ballast Point House is a trophy piece its owners are lucky to call their own. Photography by Anson Smart. foxjohnston.com.au

05

BARDOLPH GARDENS

Breaking the cookie-cutter rental mould, Bardolph Gardens consists of two single-storey homes in Glen Iris, Victoria. Offering environmentally sustainable, affordable, and well-designed rental homes, the project is a love letter to brick. The recycled brick facade is a modern addition to the streetscape. Access to either home is gained via a private courtyard or landscaped garden. A collection of “hit-and-miss” brick screens define smaller courtyards and invite air and light inside. Celebrating the prominence and permanence of brick, Bardolph Gardens is sustainably driven, robust and timeless. Photography by Tom Ross. breathe.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN Delightful interiors for discerning Aussies and their stylish homes. From faded green and perforated steel to timber and brass, it’s a true-blue feast for the senses E D I T E D BY LO U I S E S M I T H E R S

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01/ Porter’s Paints Timberline from the new Capsule Collection. porterspaints.com; bunnings.com.au 02/ Cassandra by Kati Garrett Filho. artloversaustralia.com 03/ Pia ottoman in olive green. brosa.com.au 04/ Tamali coffee table. uniqwacollections.com.au 05/ Marlon sideboard. brosa.com.au 06/ Ribs bench. designbythem.com 07/ Radial clock, spun solid brasss. designbythem.com 08/ Ridge corrugated metal round dining table. beelinedesign.com.au 09/ Haden throw in lichen. sheridan.com.au 10/ Partridge bar stool with backrest. designbythem.com 11/ Somewhere Along the Way bronze and steel sculpture by Harrie Fasher. kingstreetgallery.com.au 12/ Radial bowl, spun solid brass. designbythem.com 13/ Carmo modular sofa by Anders Nørgaard. boconcept.com

INSPO Overlooking sandstone cliffs and majestic ironbark trees, Edgars Creek House

by Breathe Architecture boasts a natural material palette filled with wood, steel and stone.

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Photography by Tom Ross. breathe.com.au

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MINIMA MORALIA SCREEN IN BORDEAUX

Create visual interest or divide an open space into smaller segments using this powder-coated steel and folded fabric divider from Austrian-based business Dante Goods and Bads. The Minima Moralia screen by designer Christophe de la Fontaine is a stunner you can’t ignore. Offering optical drama, the screen is suitable for home or work environments. Made in Italy and available in two sizes and a number of finishes, the screen is available in Australia via Domo. domo.com.au

02

PICKET SCREEN

Fave 5 ROOM DIVIDERS Ensure privacy, partition an open-plan space, or simply get nude and protect your modesty behind one of these show-stopping room dividers E D I T E D BY LO U I S E S M I T H E R S

The Picket screen is a playful piece from Australian brand DesignByThem. Plucked from the creative minds of Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis, the minimalist room divider promotes fun and functionality. Comprising 80 per cent recycled HDPE plastic, a UV-stable and waterproof material, the Picket screen performs admirably both inside and outside the home. Fluid and freestanding, it is up for grabs in two sizes and eight colours, and can be styled to suit almost any setting. “The blurring of the indoor-outdoor environment is something we feel is inherently Australian. The picket fence is such a simple and neat tool for dividing the outdoor environment and we liked the idea of using it just as effectively indoors,” says Nicholas. Custom brackets and wall fixings can be purchased for outdoor use or straight sections. Photography by Pete Daly. designbythem.com

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TREE FERN TIMBER SCREEN

Melbourne textile artists Bonnie Ashley and Neil Downie are floral fanatics with a soft spot for timber and serious talent with a paintbrush.

Combining these passions has culminated in a range of oil-painted screens so beautifully textured we dare anyone who comes face to face with one not to run their fingers along its hand-painted surface. From Australian natives to Dutch-inspired posies, the range is colourful and eye-catching. Designed and produced inside the Bonnie & Neil Melbourne studio, these pieces are local legends worthy of a place in any abode. bonnieandneil.com.au

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X100 SIDEBOARD & SHELVES

Get creative with your division and consider pieces of furniture that work to break up a space while serving a functional purpose.

The X100 handcrafted sideboard and shelves from Senkki Furniture is a great example that offers ample storage and shelving for displayworthy items. Made from blackwood and light oak, the X100 can section off a room while still maintaining a level of transparency. The unit can be customised to meet your specific room requirements, and comes from a locally owned and operated Australian business. senkkifurniture.com.au

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TRELLIS SHELVING

Extendable and exceptional, the Trellis shelving unit is a handcrafted modular system so adaptable you’ll want one in every room of the house. Made in either oak or ash, the panels and shelves slide into place without fiddly fixings. The unit can be expanded using extra uprights and arches. Panels can be placed in the back, front or centre of the frame, creating limitless decorating options and a room divider that changes with the whims, and knick-knacks, of its owner. johneadon.co.uk

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THE AUSSIE HOME

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W HAT ’S HOT

Team T858 TV unit

by Expormim. kezu.com.au

Folk sofa by Sancal. kezu.com.au

Estante storage by Sancal. kezu.com.au

Reverse table by Andreu World. zenithinteriors.com/au

Adan planter by Vondom. amara.com/au

FLOD stools by Mobles114. kezu.com.au

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Kate Owen This artist from the country experiences the world in full colour WO R D S A N N A I T KO N E N

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ate Owen is an abstract artist who lives and works in rural northern New South Wales, just outside of North Star. The self-proclaimed perfectionist finds balance and satisfaction in abstract art and expression. “Painting gives me freedom from daily routines and expectations, allowing me to express myself through colour and liberate the jumble of constant ideas clamouring for attention in my mind,” says Kate. “Abstraction is a form of rebelling against my perfectionist nature.”

Kate’s art is inspired by nature and her physical surroundings in country New South Wales. “The work I create comes through my subconscious from a love of the unique space around me, and the desire to share this. It’s important to me that the work lifts and heightens people’s mood and experience of the world around them,” she says. “I don’t paint ‘from’ anything, choosing instead to interpret the impressions of my visual memories so that the work gives an overall sense of something I’ve seen rather than an accurate representation of it. It’s the organic nature of the shapes found in plants that I feel compelled to make. Plants also provide a perfect combination of varying colour and line in an unpredictable and surprising way.”

Colour is a dominant element in Kate’s art and her vibrant colour schemes speak of energy, positivity and joy. Her particular fascination with pink reflects the positive emotions it gives her during the creative process and this is then conveyed to the viewer. For Kate, different shades of pink represent different emotions: playfulness, happiness, love, inner peace and contentment. Dark greens and indigo introduce strength and sophistication. “Sometimes featuring pink by having only one little pop of it is all the work needs or perhaps all I need,” she adds.

The creative process is an all-involving experience for Kate.

She works on large canvasses, from easel to floor, enjoying the physicality of making art on a large scale. “I frequently work on the floor because it gives me a different perspective looking down on it,” she says. “It makes it easy to walk around the work and view it from all angles, as well as work on it from a different side. I alternate between the floor and the easel. If I want to add fluid paint that I don’t want to drip, I transfer it back to the floor and apply it there.”

Moving from one artwork to another is a natural and seamless flow for Kate. She often works on more than one painting at a time and similar colours and ideas move from one painting to another effortlessly. Inevitably, the next work will succumb to some new ideas, creating a flow from one to the next, revealing the journey of exploration.

In Kate’s mind, art and interior design are a match made in heaven. “I think [art] helps to give our personality a real identity that is reflected in where we live, ultimately making us happy and comfortable to be who we are in that space,” she says. “To be able to surround yourself with artwork that you’ve chosen because you connected with it in some way or just plain love it is a privilege. Every time your eye wanders over it you get a little jolt of the initial reaction, which is wonderful. It can help take your mind away from other more stressful thoughts and emotions.

“I find joy in the process of creating an artwork and the unpredictable path that leads to its completion. I respond to it with my own emotions during the process. Passing this on for others to enjoy and forge their own relationship with the piece is a great validation for what I create,” continues Kate. “The ability to add positivity and joy to someone’s everyday is a blessing.” artloversaustralia.com.au

IN P R O F I LE

KATE SAYS “Abstraction is a form of rebelling against my perfectionist nature”

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W IN B IG

01 01/ FAB5 FRIDGE With signature curves, innovative technology and style, Smeg FAB fridges are known the world over for their inimitable blend of artistry and functionality.

Make a statement and add a dose of retro style to your entertaining, office or studio space with a FAB5. The cool bar fridge has a 40L capacity, several shelf storage options, and is available in red, black or panna (cream).

RRP $1190. smeg.com.au 02/ MORSØ FORNO GAS BBQ For those who love the classic design of the Morsø Forno Oven but prefer cooking on gas, Morsø has introduced the Morsø Forno Gas BBQ. Offering instant cooking with a flick of a switch, the Morsø Forno Gas BBQ is a superb oven, enabling the outdoor chef to create a whole range of delicious dishes. RRP $799. castworks.com.au 03/ PALM SPRINGS BUTTERFLY CHAIR Designed with a relaxed posture and built on a sturdy steel frame, the Palm Springs Butterfly chair is as comfortable as its curves suggest. Make it the centrepiece of any room, whether it be modern and minimalist or rich and natural.

Hand crafted from natural rattan, the chair embodies the ethos that the company’s rattan furniture is renowned for: durability, comfort, lightness and visual appeal.

RRP $509. republicofrattan.com.au

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04/ VIVID SLIMLINE PULL OUT SINK MIXER Win a brand-new Phoenix Vivid Slimline Pull Out Sink Mixer in stylish matt black. Update your kitchen or laundry with this modern, functional mixer tap. RRP $675.40. phoenixtapware.com.au

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$11,000 GIVEAWAY! Love getting your hands on free stuff?

Who doesn’t! This issue, we are giving our wonderful readers the chance to win one of 11 amazing prizes n this issue of Grand Designs Australia, we’ve got an incredible $11,000 worth of prizes to give away to 11 lucky readers, from premium coffee machines and trendy art to cutting-edge furniture and stylish tapware. To be in

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with a chance to win one of these home must-haves, all you have to do is visit completehome.com.au/win-big and write, in 25 words or less, why you think this issue of the magazine is a great read.

Good luck! Terms and conditions are available online at completehome.com.au

05/ ROCKET ESPRESSO APPARTAMENTO AND FAUSTINO The Rocket Espresso Appartamento and Faustino are perfectly paired to explore the world of coffee from your home.

Rocket creates beautifully scaled-down commercial machines for home, allowing the best-quality espresso possible and ideal dry steam pressure for beautiful creamy milk. All the essential components and features are built into a small footprint for your home and office.

The Faustino is a clean, no-mess, accurate grinder for consistent delivery of freshly ground coffee. Single and double programmable portion controls via an intuitive touch screen display and stepless grind adjustments allow for precision and total control.

The Rocket Espresso movement for better espresso in the home starts here. Rocket Appartamento RRP $3099.

Rocket Faustino Grinder RRP $1299. espressocompany.com.au 06/ ADINA Offering the latest in climate-control technology, Scandia’s Adina range is built for our demanding Australian climate. Able to perform in extremes from -16°C to +55°C, each Adina reverse-cycle split system can efficiently heat or cool your home, all with the added benefit of reduced running costs.

Additionally, each Adina is capable of maintaining consistent temperatures via use of the Adina remote control (supplied) or the Adina Wi-Fi app. The app is available for your smartphone, meaning you can communicate with your system ahead of your arrival, allowing you to walk into a perfectly controlled climate!

Adina has four energy-efficient options to suit most residential or small commercial applications: 2.5kW, 3.35kW, 5.1kW and 7.3kW. And with 5-Star energy ratings, low noise levels, hi-efficiency inverter technology and Wi-Fi enabled, these systems offer a great solution for the discerning consumer.

RRP $599. scandiastoves.com.au

07/ PINK ROSES BY SOPHIE LAWRENCE Bluethumb is giving away Pink Roses acrylic on canvas by professional painter Sophie Lawrence.

Presented in a solid timber black box frame, Pink Roses comes stretched and ready to hang. The paint has been applied thickly, giving this artwork rich colours and texture. “All of my paintings are in the highest-quality impasto acrylics,” says Sophie.

“This ensures depth of colour, great blends and great texture. I finish each canvas with numerous coats of high-gloss varnish to enhance both colour and protection. The beauty is in the simplicity. I enjoy painting large, vibrant abstracts that are full of movement. Small, intricate circles feature in my work; each one is an individual making up a beautiful collage. My art is a kaleidoscope of colour and energy that I find intoxicating.”

RRP $980. bluethumb.com.au

06

08/ LARGE NURSERY GREENHOUSE Grow or keep your herbs, cuttings and vegetables and protect them all year round with the large nursery greenhouse by Sproutwell. Available in green or silver, this new 6mm polycarbonate greenhouse is freestanding or bolted to the wall, great for limited space. RRP $650. sproutwellgreenhouses.com.au 09/ PAINT YOUR PALACE BUNDLE Australia’s number-one online paint brand is giving away the ultimate paint pack! Win 10L of Prep Paint, 10L of Wall Paint (your choice of colour) and all the accessories you need for a pro finish. They’re even throwing in a $100 Tint gift voucher, so you can top up with whatever else you need to get the job done. Visit tintpaint.com.au to explore the range. RRP $500. tintpaint.com.au 10/ OCEANSCAPES ART COLLECTION Award-winning artist Petra Meikle de Vlas is offering a $500 voucher to purchase one of her limited-edition prints or originals. There are plenty to choose from. Petra’s collection of oceanscapes instantly induces a feeling of calm. The playful and soothing use of blues, greens, golds and silvers transports us to the ocean’s depths. It is not surprising that this series is Petra’s best-selling abstract work; it’s magical.

Petra has been featured on The Block and House Rules and is exclusively represented by online gallery Art Lovers Australia. $500. Check out Petra and Art Lovers Australia on Instagram @ petrameikledevlasart and @artloversaustralia or online at artloversaustralia.com.au

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08 09

11/ DECONSTRUCTED FRIDA

BY LOUI JOVER Lumas Gallery Australia is giving you the chance to win Deconstructed Frida, a limited-edition print by celebrated artist Loui Jover. We have always been fascinated by the genius of great artists, the elusive source of creativity that enables them to produce something transcendent. We would love to know what was going on inside the minds of Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo or Andy Warhol. What would their thoughts look like and how did they come up with ideas to create their unforgettable works? Celebrated artist Loui Jover visualises this speculation in the collages from his Deconstructed series. He cracks open the heads of Warhol, Kahlo and Dalí to transform their creative impulses into thrilling shapes and figures.

RRP $529. au.lumas.com GRAND DESIGNS

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SPECIA L F EAT UR E COOLING

Urban

COOL Want to beat the heat this summer? Designing and fitting out your home for the climate zone you live in is the optimal way to ensure you stay comfortable when the mercury starts to soar WO RD S C A RR OL BA K E R

here are eight distinct climate zones in Australia.

Most of the population is located within warm, mild or cool temperate zones, with the Queensland coastal fringe to the mid-north coast of NSW experiencing warm, humid summers and mild winters. But regardless of where you live, Aussie summers can be scorchers, especially these days with temperatures nudging 40 degrees.

According to Your Home, the government’s guide to sustainable homes, it’s important to create a snug indoor environment as humans are comfortable only within a very narrow range of temperature conditions. Our body temperature is about 37°C, and variables such as humidity, air movement and exposure to cool surfaces, as well as radiated and convection heat, all impact on body temperatures and levels of comfort.

Architect Alex Porebski says when designing and building a home, a climate-responsive design strategy is a lasting way to not only keep your home cool but to reduce energy costs.

“Some factors that impact on this are the home’s orientation, external and internal building cladding, windows, doors and insulation measures,” he says. “Understanding the site before you design the home is important, and quite often this is where the client can become your teacher. If they’ve lived in the house for some time, they’ll know which direction cooling breezes come from.”

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Pearl Beach by Porebski Architects.

Photography by Connor Quinn. porebskiarchitects.com.au

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SPECIA L F EAT UR E COOLING THIS PAGE Union House by Austin Maynard Architects. Photography by Derek Swalwell. maynardarchitects.com

INSULATION FOR COMFORT Insulation is one of the key elements that needs to be addressed, according to Alex. “Without adequate insulation, no matter what other measures you take, the house will get hot in summer,” he says. Insulation can be fitted under the roof and walls should also be insulated. It’s usually one of two types: reflective or bulk. According to Sustainability Victoria, bulk may be batts, boards or loose fill, and it works by impacting on conduction heat flow between objects. It traps air in millions of tiny air pockets. Reflective insulation or foil works by radiating heat transfer across an enclosed space.

As well as adding insulation materials, elements of the build can also be designed to incorporate insulating properties. Alex prefers building with thicker, deeper walls.

“It not only helps with insulation, it

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provides a good-sized cavity for any sun control mechanisms for internal or external shading,” he says.

There are some other relatively simple measures you can take to reduce heat gain in the home. Close the doors to the rooms that you aren’t using. And if you haven’t already, switch to energy-efficient light bulbs — incandescent bulbs are quite hot and will ramp up the heat in your home. Keep the home’s interior cool by heading outdoors to cook on the barbecue rather than heat up the kitchen on hot days.

Under-eave vents help and whirly birds will draw hot air up and out of the home. Inviting nature indoors can also cool down your internal environment.

This is because some drought-tolerant plants draw moisture from the environment around them, so they can help to reduce humidity.

FANFARE — CEILING FANS HAVE COME A LONG WAY

Image courtesy of Daikin. daikin.com.au

Image courtesy of Luxaflex. luxaflex.com.au

Today’s ceiling fans offer a host of features including energy efficiency, no noise, and some can really add wow factor to a space.

Many modern fans also work via remote control and have reversible motors. With a range of styles and designs on offer, contemporary fans are making a cool design statement in more ways than one.

Stuart Meaney from Universal Fans explains that ceiling fans work by moving air. “It’s the downward projection of air that provides a cooling sensation when you are in close proximity to the fan,” he says. “Fans aren’t designed to cool a space or a room, so if no-one is in the room, turn the fan off.”

Most fans can also be run in reverse mode; instead of pushing air down, the fan draws the air upwards so it evenly distributes the heat in the room in winter. To maximise effectiveness, position the fan where there will be people congregating, close to seating arrangements or over a bed.

Some modern fans have more than the traditional three blades — some have four or more. Stuart explains that the number of blades doesn’t contribute to performance or superiority of air flow. “That comes down to the pitch and angle of the blade, which determines how far the air can be thrown. A scooped and curved blade, for example, might be designed to throw air outward as well as down,” he says.

KEEPING YOUR COOL WITH AIR-CONDITIONING

daikin.com.au

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There are a few different types on the market including split systems, multi split systems and ducted air. Split systems have an air-conditioning unit fixed to a wall and a compressor that is fitted outside; with a multi split system, the compressor drives more than one unit. Ducted air controls the temperature of the house via pipes that are vented into individual rooms.

So which is more effective, split system or ducted? Lien Lam from Daikin says it really depends on your needs. “Split system is best if you only need to air-condition a single room in your home, which could be the main living area where you and your family spend most of the time during the day. Or it could be the bedroom for those humid nights,” she says. “It can also be more economical than other types of systems as you’re only buying and installing one unit at a time, and they allow you to select only the rooms you want to air-condition.”

Lien explains that ducted air-conditioning (which is also known as central air) provides discreet air-conditioned comfort and greater flexibility in design. “It is made up of a unit situated outside the home, an indoor unit

SP E CI AL FE AT UR E COOLING

Image courtesy of Chaplins. chaplins.co.uk

located in the roof cavity, and ductwork connecting the indoor unit to outlets in different rooms. Once installed, only the controller, return air and outlets are visible inside the home,” she explains. “Ducted systems can be zoned to deliver conditioned air to areas which are occupied. For example, the living areas (zone one) during the day, and then switch to the bedrooms (zone two) at night.”

luxaflex.com.au

WINDOWS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS Window treatments can add style, texture and colour to a home. They can also help to control the temperature inside. Window coverings should be unobtrusive and of course blend with your décor. The right covering will also provide privacy. Keeping internal blinds closed on north-facing windows on hot days will also significantly reduce temperatures.

Taking it outside, external shades and awnings can prevent heat from entering the home. They are available in a multitude

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SPECIA L F EAT UR E COOLING

Image courtesy of Paarhammer Windows and Doors. paarhammer.com

luxaflex.com.au

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of styles, including shutters, awnings and blinds, and they can make a dramatic difference to keeping temperatures comfortable inside.

Edith Paarhammer from Paarhammer Windows and Doors says that in central Europe, external shading is mandatory for some homes. “West-facing windows and doors now have to have external shading which often comes as external blinds,” she says.

Another important point with windows is draughts, adds Edith. “If your window leaks (is draughty), the air in a room may be totally replaced by outside air five times per hour or more. This air then has to be cooled down again with air-conditioning,” she says.

According to The Australian Glass and Window Association, up to 87 per cent of a home’s heat is gained through windows, so thermal performance is a critical factor in keeping the home cool. Modern highperformance glass is energy efficient. Doubleglazed windows have a sealed air gap between the panes, creating thermal resistance and reducing heat gain through the glass into the home. Windows can also be triple-glazed or tinted to reduce heat gain.

ADINA Reverse Cycle Split System Built for our demanding Australian climates, each Adina Split System can perform in extremes from -16°C to 55°C and are able to maintain consistent temperatures with the added benefit of reduced running costs. Plus, each Adina system can be operated with either the Adina Remote Control or the Adina Wi-Fi App for full control from your smartphone.

Available in 4-sizes from 2.5kW-7.0kW and from $1149.00 delivered & installed. Shop & save, direct or online, exclusively with Scandia.

www.scandiacooling.com.au

SPECIA L F EAT UR E COOLING

“TWO WINDOWS HELP WITH CROSS VENTILATION — A LARGER WINDOW ON THE WINDY SIDE AND A SMALLER WINDOW TO DRAW THE WIND THROUGH TO THE ADJACENT WINDOW” — ALEX POREBSKI ABOVE & LEFT Image courtesy of Dowell Windows. dowell.com.au BELOW LEFT paarhammer.com

Alex Porebski says placement of windows is another way to give you control over your home’s interior environment. “Two windows help with cross ventilation — a larger window on the windy side and a smaller window to draw the wind through to the adjacent window,” he says. “Some of the most effective window styles to enhance airflow and cool the home are louvred windows and double-hung windows that open bottom and top.”

GOING GREEN Green landscapes can also help to cool your home.

Landscape designer Michael Ballentine from Spaces of Green says trees can create a greenspace to help keep the home’s interior more comfortable. “Trees can shade the home and also create shady areas outside.” Dappled shade can be cooling but deep shade is ideal; if space permits, this can be created by layers of trees to form a cooling oasis at home.

Michael suggests planting Lilly Pilly ‘Resilience’ (Syzygium australe) and Hibiscus tiliaceus ‘Rubra’. “These are good screening plants, and bamboo varieties (like Gracilis) are fast-growing and won’t take over the garden,” he says. “Most modern bamboos are non-invasive and bamboo in particular is good for reflecting sound and providing a cooling element.”

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Houses The cream of the crop in Australian architecture

Photography Tom Blachford

60 The Barn 72 Prahran House 84 Wanaka Crib 96 Wildcoast Retreat 108 Brick House 120 Harcourt Project 126 House Bras

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Rural

RETREAT

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P R OJ E CT THE BARN

This is not your typical barn. Lined head to toe in Australian hardwood, with cathedral ceilings and manicured native landscapes, it’s a rural retreat WO R D S K A R S H A G R E E N P H O T O G R A P H Y A N DY M AC P H E R S O N S T U D I O

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One side of the house has been designed with large barn doors as part of the architectural structure.

This enables that entire side of the home to open up to the outdoors

single-storey, 1980s house sat on a beautiful plot of raised, flat land surrounded by wild vegetation, established trees, a creek and horse paddocks. The existing home did not make the most of its tranquil surroundings, so the city-dwelling homeowners called on Paul Uhlmann Architects to create a rural weekend retreat for their family and friends where they could relax, entertain and enjoy their horses.

Having spent time in the United States, the homeowners fell in love with the “large, red, American barns that dotted the countryside”.

They wanted the cosy country vibe that would provide the perfect rural escape where they could host friends and family for winter getaways. Paul Uhlmann Architects wanted to adapt the American red barn theme to the Australian landscape, moulding the two styles to produce a modern rural oasis.

“During the design process, this was reinterpreted into a form that has references to the Australian outback shed,” says Paul Uhlmann of Paul Uhlmann Architects. While the original home was completely demolished, no major earthworks were undertaken on the site and a significant amount of vegetation restoration was undertaken to maintain the current native landscape. As a completely new build

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DETA I LS HOUSE The Barn LOCATION Pullenvale, Queensland INITIAL BUDGET N/A FINAL COST N/A DATE COMMENCED Late 2016 DATE COMPLETED Mid 2019

P R OJ E CT THE BARN

The home’s epicentre is the living and dining area, centred around a roaring ďŹ replace.

The area is open and spacious, allowing for coexistence and privacy all in the one room

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E D ITO R’S FAVO U RI TE THE BARN-STYLE DOORS THAT ALLOW ONE SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO OPEN, ALMOST COMPLETELY, TO THE SURROUNDING NATIVE LANDSCAPE

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P R OJ E CT THE BARN

“THE LARGE CENTRAL SPACE IS THE MOST REWARDING. IT’S LARGE IN SCALE; HOWEVER, THE NATURAL LIGHT DOESN’T OVERWHELM IT, WHICH CAN TEND TO HAPPEN IN AUSTRALIA’S HARSH LIGHT” – PAUL UHLMANN GRAND DESIGNS

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W E LOV E THE HEAVY USE OF INTERNAL TIMBER LINING

constructed by CGH Constructions, the body of work would include three bedrooms, one massive bunk room for the children (easily sleeping 12), three bathrooms, a media room, pool room, mudroom and laundry, generous double garage, outdoor covered terrace, and doubleheight open-plan living/kitchen/dining with cathedral-like ceiling and feature window. Specifically designed for winter, the entire house was designed around a centrally located roaring fireplace that would be the gathering place and hub of the home.

“The large central space is the most rewarding,” says Paul. “It’s large in scale; however, the natural light doesn’t overwhelm it, which can tend to happen in Australia’s harsh light. It is instantly relaxing and provides an overall memorable experience.”

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P R OJ E CT THE BARN This home’s design was all about connecting with the outdoors, so at every possibility, bifold windows and doors have been utilised to allow for this seamless connection

THEY WANTED THE COSY COUNTRY VIBE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE PERFECT RURAL ESCAPE WHERE THEY COULD HOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR WINTER GETAWAYS GRAND DESIGNS

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PROJECT THE BARN

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L E GEN D 1 Driveway 2 Garage 3 Media 4 Stair 5 Services 6 Powder room 7 Laundry / services 8 Games room 9 Living 10 Dining 11 Kitchen 12 Fireplace 13 Terrace 14 Lawn 15 Gravel stormwater trench 16 Bunkroom 17 Bunk bed 18 Hall 19 Bedroom 20 Skylight 21 Master bedroom 22 Master ensuite 23 Bathroom 24 Void 25 Terrace roof

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F I R ST FLO O R P L A N

P ROJ E C T T EAM ARCHITECT, INTERIOR DESIGN Paul Uhlmann Architects ENGINEER Rienmac Engineers BUILDER CGH Constructions PHOTOGRAPHER Andy Macpherson Studio

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Feature pendants Milton Lighting Ceramic tiles Hutchisons Tiles Murwillumbah Natural stone flooring Eco Outdoor Carpet Cavalier Bremworth Paint Dulux Timber cladding oil Cutek

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FIXTURES & FITTINGS Sanitaryware Reece Plumbing Appliances Harvey Norman Roof sheeting Bluescope Steel Skylights Velux External and internal timber doors/frames Duce

The client’s request for an American barn style integrated with the Australian landscape was achieved through a cleverly chosen palette of colours and materials. Spotted gum cladding was a dominant material used throughout that will slowly fade into a soft grey over time and beautifully complement the rural bush setting. The use of hardwood cladding also achieves compliance with the area’s bushfire requirements, as well as filling the home with a strong timber aroma.

Recycled timbers were used for the main structural components and the cathedral ceilings really pay homage to the barn style.

“The overall form and quality of the internal areas, together with the amount of timber used and the soaring double-height space, really make this project special,” says Paul. “The striking build created a strong singular form that sits like a rural shed in a setting of both farmland and bush.” pua.com.au

The American-style country barn feel is continued into the bathroom design with freestanding tub, industrial faucet and a minimal tonal palette

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P ROJECT THE BARN

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01 01/ Malika rug. sugarcanetrading.com.au 02/ Cagliari 12-light antler chandelier, natural. schots.com.au 03/ Elinea freestanding tub. decina.com.au 04/ Carver chair. gardentrading.co.uk 05/ Tatum three-seater in pelle brown leather. ozdesignfurniture.com.au 06/ Sapphire blue velvet bedspread. frenchbedroomcompany. co.uk 07/ Ananya handwoven denim and jute rectangular cushion. sugarcanetrading.com.au

Colour Palette Traditional country colours give an authentic feel to the home. Warm and cool timbers are modernised with the use of black and white. Navy and burgundy keep the feeling rustic

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Building WITHIN A BUILDING

Rather than doing a traditional warehouse conversion, these homeowners chose to maintain the original facade but do something completely new and unexpected on the inside WO R D S K A R S H A G R E E N P H O T O G R A P H Y TO M B L AC H FO R D

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P R OJ E CT PRAHRAN HOUSE

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Art inspires every room of this home. The orange and black tones of this room’s feature piece transform this room into a dramatic yet comforting living space

W E LOV E THE UNASSUMING RED-BRICK FACADE THAT CONCEALS A BRUTALIST-INSPIRED CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY INSIDE

rom the outside, you see a “simple and unremarkable” red-brick façade — refinished remnants of a 1920s warehouse. After walking through the front door, offform concrete, striking steel structures and glass walls speak of a brutalist-inspired space that is first an art gallery, and second a home.

Contemporary art collectors and homeowners Andy Penn (current CEO of Telstra) and Kallie Blauhorn approached Techne Architecture + Interior Design with a brief that included creating a space for their art collection. The industrial warehouse design style seemed fitting to achieve the homeowners’ wishes; however, instead of a standard warehouse conversion, Techne Architecture + Interior Design reinvented the boundaries. They would construct a building within a building, maintaining the warehouse’s original facade and creating an ultra-modern interior space that gave glimpses of the building’s heritage.

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P R OJ E CT PRAHRAN HOUSE

D ETA ILS HOUSE Prahran House LOCATION Prahran, Victoria INITIAL BUDGET N/A FINAL COST N/A DATE COMMENCED December 2016 DATE COMPLETED September 2019

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E DI TO R’ S FAVO U R I T E THE BOLD, WAREHOUSE-STYLE ARCHITECTURE THAT INCLUDES OFF-FORM CONCRETE, METAL CLADDING AND BLACK-FRAMED WINDOWS

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P R OJ E CT PRAHRAN HOUSE

“Art is one of their key interests and they wanted a space to house it and present it in a way their previous house wasn’t capable of doing. The brief was very much about art first and living second, and as such the ground floor resembles a gallery and is designed for entertaining,” says Nick Travers, director at Techne Architecture + Interior Design.

With the ground floor reserved for the art collection along with a formal seating area and entertaining space, upstairs comprises three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a home office and gym room. Another key feature of the clients’ brief was for privacy. It was this defining feature that inspired the architects to envision the concept of a “building inside a building”. Such a design would result in an unassuming facade that would create an element of surprise once you step through the front door.

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The ground floor of the home is essentially a residential, ultra-modern art gallery. The art is the hero and the space has minimal clutter to allow the artwork and sculpture to shine

“THE BRIEF WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT ART FIRST AND LIVING SECOND, AND AS SUCH THE GROUND FLOOR RESEMBLES A GALLERY AND IS DESIGNED FOR ENTERTAINING” – NICK TRAVERS

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The home’s industrial inspiration is expressed through a simple palette that involves off-form concrete, steel, metal cladding and black-framed windows.

Expressions of the original structure were purposefully exposed where possible, including the raw condition of the brick walls and glimpses of the building’s old fabric. “It’s a refined but honest expression of construction,” says Nick. Layers of texture and tactility add warmth to this raw framework, including darkened timber ceilings and the injection of colour and emotion from the homeowners’ art collection. With multiple access points to the courtyard, natural light floods the interior, injecting life into the still and introspective space.

“It’s robust and almost brutalist in a sense, with added layers to give it a feeling of home,” adds Nick. “This home is quite unique … it is also a building within a building, where the home is enveloped by the original industrial walls and from the street one would never imagine what’s inside. It truly is an unassuming urban oasis.” techne.com.au

P R OJ E CT PRAHRAN HOUSE

The kitchen is very contemporary, continuing the home’s monochromatic colour scheme with black cabinetry, light marble countertops and minimal, sleek finishes

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L E GE N D 1 Entry courtyard 2 Entry courtyard 3 Gallery space 1 4 Garage 5 Laundry 6 Catering kitchen 7 Main stair 8 Sitting room 9 Courtyard 10 Dining room 11 Gallery space 2 12 Gallery space 2 13 Light well 14 Powder room 15 Study 16 Courtyard 17 Gym 18 Bathroom 19 Art store 20 Main living area 21 Main living area 22 Kitchen 23 Butler’s pantry 24 Wine cellar 25 Corridor 26 Stairwell 27 Main bedroom 28 Dressing room 29 Ensuite 30 Corridor 31 Bathroom 32 Bedroom 33 Bedroom 34 Ensuite 35 Stair

F I R ST F LO O R PL A N

P R OJ E C T T E AM ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGNER Techne Architecture + Interior Design PROJECT MANAGER Stephanie Carne BUILDER One Construction Group STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Nsient Consulting Engineers BUILDING SURVEYOR Red Textas CIVIL ENGINEER JDS Civil Designs & Surveys Pty Ltd SERVICES ENGINEER BRT Consulting LANDSCAPING KLP Garden Design

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FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Metal deck roof Lysaght Rubber floor Regupol Brickwork One Construction Group Metal cladding Metal Cladding Systems Ceramic tile, external pavers, pool tile Artedomus Glazing and glass Viridian Timber cladding and ceiling lining Eco Timber Paint Dulux Plastic and compact laminate Laminex Natural stone Artedomus, Corsi Nicolai

FIXTURES & FITTINGS Kitchen supply Harvey Norman Commercial Gas fireplace Real Flame Bathroom fittings Brodware, Harvey Norman Commercial Wine racking MacPhee’s Art racking Commando Fireplace Oblica Roof ladder access Sayfa Access Systems

RIGHT The bathroom’s intricate tiling pays homage to the homeowners’ eye for detail and love of contemporary art BELOW The floor-to-ceiling windows in the central space flood the home with natural light, bringing a weightlessness to the dramatic, monochromatic interior design

“IT IS ALSO A BUILDING WITHIN A BUILDING, WHERE THE HOME IS ENVELOPED BY THE ORIGINAL INDUSTRIAL WALLS AND FROM THE STREET ONE WOULD NEVER IMAGINE WHAT’S INSIDE. IT TRULY IS AN UNASSUMING URBAN OASIS” – NICK TRAVERS GRAND DESIGNS

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pendant, small. domo.com.au 03/ Bon Vivant blue velvet cushion. frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 04/ Maya armchair. artedomus.com 05/ Expose side table. boconcept.com 06/ Adelaide armchair. boconcept.com 07/ GoldďŹ nger resin skull art by Deborah O’Loughlin. artloversaustralia.com.au

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Colour Palette

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A concrete, black and white shell showcases a sophisticated colour palette derived from a spectacular art collection. Blues, oranges and golds act as a rich tapestry throughout

05 06 04 82

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04

Traditional gilding re-invented Bringing you unique surfaces of rarefied beauty

Contemporary gilding Reverse painting on glass Verre ĂŠglomisĂŠ

METAL INC

www.metalinc.com.au

PROJECT WANAKA CRIB

Home FOR THE Holidays On the edge of Lake Wanaka, a sprawling grassy landscape has been adorned with a 150sqm intimate and modest crib, paying homage to centuries of family holidays on New Zealand’s South Island WO R D S K A R S H A G R E E N P H O T O G R A P H Y S I M O N D E V I T T

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This holiday home’s design was inspired by the iconic ‘crib’ of the 1950s that was heavily present in the Wanaka area

DE TAI L S HOUSE Wanaka Crib LOCATION Wanaka, New Zealand DATE COMMENCED February 2018 DATE COMPLETED February 2020

AT 150SQM, WANAKA CRIB HAS AN INTIMATE AND COSY INTERIOR SPACE THAT COMFORTABLY SLEEPS 10 PEOPLE, WITH TWO DOUBLE ROOMS, AN ATTIC LOFT AND A BUNK ROOM 86

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rib” was a term given to small, modest holiday or beach homes that became popular on New Zealand’s South Island in the 1950s, and have since become emblematic of family holidays for locals. Proud of this heritage and wanting to pay homage to the land’s history, the owners of this plot on the edge of Lake Wanaka wanted a crib that would serve their own family for generations to come.

Having owned the land for more than a decade, the owners called on Pac Studio and Steven Lloyd Architecture, who worked with Dunlop Builders and local engineers Sullivan Hill, to construct Wanaka Crib. The project brief called for a family holiday home that would accommodate various recreational activities, including skiing, relaxing and enjoying the lake. The crib needed to have a “relaxed cabin feel” but had to house the whole family without it feeling cramped or bloated. The space had to provide a different rhythm from their busy lives in Dunedin.

P R OJ E CT WANAKA CRIB Materials used for the crib’s interior were a combination of southern beech, recycled kauri, rimu, plywood and terrazzo

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At the homeowners’ request, the crib has a “relaxed cabin feel”, able to occupy the whole family without feeling cramped or “bloated”

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P R OJ E CT WANAKA CRIB

WE LOVE THE ARCHITECTURAL REFERENCES TO ICONIC CRIBS OF THE 1950S

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E D I TO R ’ S FAVO UR I T E THE STAND-ALONE, ANGULAR, CONCRETE COOKING FIREPLACE

“They have impeccable taste, but more importantly they have a unique style which is drawn from their own cultural backgrounds and the specificity of their own experiences,” says Aaron Paterson, director of Pac Studio.

At 150sqm, Wanaka Crib has an intimate and cosy interior space that comfortably sleeps 10 people, with two double rooms, an attic loft and a bunk room. The crib’s interior spills out to the sprawling landscape via a series of courtyards.

Each courtyard has its own purpose and provides exterior space for the family to enjoy, no matter what the season.

The lounge and dining open out to a northfacing entertaining patio that is defined by a stand-alone, angular concrete cooking fireplace reminiscent of the brick chimneys of pioneer industries in the region. The kitchen connects

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to a sheltered southern working garden, surrounded by a grape-bearing espalier frame made from reinforcing steel. The eastern terrace provides access to the self-contained bunkroom and provides privacy from the public reserve and boulevard of trees, as well as offering separate access if extended family visit.

“We took a lot of inspiration from the vernacular farm buildings of the region and asked ourselves how we could apply contemporary detailing to these traditional gabled buildings,” says Aaron.

Maintaining the traditional building structure of the iconic crib of the 1950s, Pac Studio used architectural detailing to bring the design into the current century. Graduated weatherboards and a razor-thin roof edge give the home a striking profile, while facade

elements accent the exterior composition, including a mustard reading nook box, concealed venting openings, triangulated high-level windows, and corrugated steel wall with floating entry boardwalk. Materials used for the crib’s interior were a combination of southern beech, recycled kauri, rimu, plywood and terrazzo. Dark concrete floors celebrate industrial heritage and merge seamlessly with the local stone paving that dissolves into the grassy landscape. This palette of materials creates a quiet blend of colours and textures that relate to the natural environment, with flashes of yellows and greens on the exterior facade that highlight its contemporary construction.

“One of my favourite elements is the asymmetrical gable vent that uses the gaps in

P R OJ E CT WANAKA CRIB

Thermally broken and air-sealed, double-glazed, low-E timber joinery was imported from Germany to achieve a higher performance than was locally available

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the weatherboards to allow airflow but can be shut with a panel,” says Aaron. “There are many subtle details through the house, like the timber bunk ladder and the razorthin edge of the angular concrete cooking fire.”

There were various environmental considerations during the construction of the crib to ensure it would function efficiently through all of New Zealand’s tumultuous seasons, as well as create a home that would eventually accommodate the couple’s adult children and future grandchildren. Natural cross-ventilation is achieved with high-level gable vent openings and skylights, while high-thermal insulation and an internal airtightness barrier is used behind the linings to prevent condensation within the frame construction.

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Potential snow loading to the gutters is avoided with the use of elevated tray inserts, and all materials were chosen for their thermal properties. Thermally broken and air-sealed, doubleglazed, low-E timber joinery was imported from Germany to achieve a higher performance than was locally available. The slab is insulated on its edges to eliminate thermal bridging, and all timbers selected were considered not only for Forestry Stewardship Certification, but also with set-outs designed to reduce material waste.

Wanaka Crib is the product of intense focus and a seamless collaboration between design, construction and engineering teams. The result is a warm and inviting crib constructed from quality materials assembled in clever ways. pacstudio.nz

L E GE N D 1 Entry 2 Living 3 Daybed 4 North courtyard and outdoor fireplace 5 Dining 6 Kitchen 7 South courtyard 8 Laundry 9 Powder room 10 Bedroom 11 Bathroom 12 Master bedroom 13 East courtyard 14 Bunkroom 15 Bathroom 16 Adventure sport storage shed 17 Attic bed

Each space within this home maintains a minimal design style to allow for maximum use of space

“THERE ARE MANY SUBTLE DETAILS THROUGH THE HOUSE, LIKE THE TIMBER BUNK LADDER AND THE RAZOR-THIN EDGE OF THE ANGULAR CONCRETE COOKING FIRE” – AARON PATERSON P ROJ E C T T E AM ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGNER Pac Studio Ltd & Steven Lloyd Architecture BUILDER Dunlop Builders Ltd STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Sullivan Hall

FIXTURES & FITTINGS Cedar weatherboard Rosenfeld Kidson, Eurotech-WinDoors, Boardware Terazzo Tile Space, Inlite Indoor Fireplace Cheminees Philippe Black slate Artedomus

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Colour Palette A timber base is given a contemporary feeling through the use of well-placed black accents. The only other colours are greys, whites and a green benchtop reflecting the scenery

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01/ Kangaroo by Michael Nelson Jagamara. artloversaustralia.com.au 02/ Mariner 142cm three-blade fan. beaconlighting.com.au 03/ Paavo Tynell ‘1965’ pendant lamp in black.

1stdibs.com 04/ Elm cafe dining chair, thin edge. schots.com.au 05/ Grandma extendable dining table

by Morten Georgsen. boconcept.com 06/ Hardware Superfine. fibonaccistone.com.au 07/ Oval mirror. minkinteriors.com

04 05 06

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WILDCOAST WEEKENDER Escape inside a modern holiday home where minimalism meets bespoke design solutions WO R D S LO U I S E S M I T H E R S P H O T O G R A P H Y H I L A RY B R A D FO R D P H OTO G R A P H Y

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P R OJ E CT WILDCOAST RETREAT

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PROJECT WILDCOAST RETREAT

D E TAI L S HOUSE Wildcoast Retreat LOCATION Portsea, Victoria INITIAL BUDGET $4,500,000 FINAL COST $4,800,000 DATE COMMENCED January 2016 DATE COMPLETED February 2018

Contemporary artwork is prominent inside and outside the home

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ome for the weekend and stay for the season. Welcome to Wildcoast Retreat by Piccolo Architecture, a proud abode in the rolling grassland of Portsea, close to the beach and even closer to our hearts.

Nuzzling undulating hills, the clean and considered architecture relies on minimalist lines and a simplistic form that merges with the organic environment enveloping it. “Sitting with its back turned to the steep rake in the site, Wildcoast Retreat works with the contours of the land to deliver a focused response to the surrounding context,” says architect Dominic Piccolo.

Adaptability is a prerequisite for any selfrespecting holiday house, and Wildcoast clearly got the memo. The home is spoilt with flexible living spaces ready to adapt at the drop of a hat. The dwelling chops and changes like the incoming tide: discreet and private one minute, social and open the next. Private zones are carved out using concealed doors and glazed sliding panels.

When guests arrive salty and sun-drenched, they can rendezvous in the first-floor kitchen, living and dining area, which transforms into a fully serviced entertainment area. From a guest retreat and rumpus room to a gym and bar, the first floor has it all, including a tennis court outside.

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Two floating planes bookend the first-floor habitable areas to provide a horizontal framed outlook. “The floorto-ceiling, uninterrupted panes of glass that encase the northern wing slide back beyond the building’s facade to seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor entertainment areas,” notes Dominic. “Spilling out onto the terrace, the large open plan merges with a fully integrated bar and outdoor kitchen.”

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P R OJ E CT WILDCOAST RETREAT

Early costings led to significant changes in the structure.

Originally documented in concrete, the two floating planes were constructed using a lightweight alternative. “With the building designed to be long and as open as possible, the ceiling heights could be kept to 2.7m on the first floor and the internal scale would still feel generous,” says Dominic. “Cost wise, this had a flow-on effect throughout the first-floor fitout, reducing the size of the glazing panels and heights of the joinery.”

WE LOV E THE CRISP INTERIOR SCHEME WITH NEUTRAL COLOUR PALETTE

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A glass fence keeps the pool and spa in full view

The building is carefully oriented to guarantee all habitable spaces take full advantage of the site’s inherent amenity, with north-easterly living spaces maximising solar gain and natural light.

The structural beam that protrudes from the first-floor facade is a jack-of-all-trades. Not only is it an important load-bearing element, but it also houses the sliding door track that sees the glass pushed out into the landscape. “The glazing looks to remove itself from the structure, letting it retract beyond the dwelling,” muses Dominic.

A raw exterior material palette mixes textured natural stone and cement with timber and glass.

“Accentuating the two floating floor and roof planes, a continuous band of timber wraps along the underside of the deep 1m eaves,” explains Dominic. “Terminating at the primary entrance, this band of timber drops vertically down the facade to become a defining part of the main entry door.”

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P R OJ E CT WILDCOAST RETREAT

“THE GLAZING LOOKS TO REMOVE ITSELF FROM THE STRUCTURE, LETTING IT RETRACT BEYOND THE DWELLING” – DOMINIC PICCOLO

E DI TO R ’S FAVO U RI TE THE GLAZED SLIDING PANELS LEADING OUTSIDE

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L E GE ND 1 Master bedroom 2 Circulation space 3 Bedroom 3 4 Bedroom 2 5 Master ensuite 6 Bedroom 2 WIR and ensuite 7 Powder Room 8 Bedroom 3 and 4 ensuite 9 Bedroom 4

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Study Kitchen Dining Living room Outdoor entertaining Drying area Laundry Pool surround Pool Tennis court Entry

21 Garage 22 Guest bedroom 23 Guest ensuite/ bathroom 24 Guest WIR 25 Rumpus 26 Bar 27 Cellar 28 Bathroom 29 Gym

Contrasting the moody and textural exterior, the interior design is crisp and clean with a light colour scheme. Deliberately sleek and sparse, the internals become a backdrop inviting the occupants to inhabit and fill the spaces however they see fit.

Bushfire is a risk the homeowners took seriously. Located in an area prone to burning, the house was placed low so that it can shelter in the downslope if hazardous fires approach. “The home’s linear design works with the length and slope of the site to deliver generously sized rooms over its two-storey form, without overwhelming the surrounding landscape,” concludes Dominic. piccoloarchitecture.com

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Modern art sculptures and a tennis court make for an eclectic backyard

PRIVATE ZONES ARE CARVED OUT USING CONCEALED DOORS AND GLAZED SLIDING PANELS P ROJ E C T T E AM ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGNER Piccolo Architecture BUILDER Lyndways

STRUCTURAL TEAM Structural and civil engineer BDD Engineering, bddeng.com.au SERVICES Energy consultant Enviro Sustainable Solutions Glazing Innovative Aluminium Home automation Edge Automation Tennis courts Budget Courts Pool fence, balustrade and handrails Ultimate Frameless Glass FIXTURES & FITTINGS Lighting Bocci, Unios, Poliform Australia

Tapware Phoenix, Abey Toilet Alessi Timber flooring Hazelwood Hill Carpet RC&D Tiles Perini, Artedomus Appliances Gaggenau, Liebherr, Miele Joinery Poliform Australia, CV Cabinets FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Furniture Space Furniture, B&B Italia, Poltrona Frau, Serralunga Pots, Moooi Pool table All Table Sports Corten ball sculpture Lump Theatre Big Picture People Outdoor dining De De Ce

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Neutrality is what works for a retreat space. Timber, white and grey form the base while smatterings of black add depth. Blue from the artworks and the pool creates a calmness

01/ Ascension and Awareness in Blue by Leni Kae. artloversaustralia.com.au 02/ Padua six-light pendant. zanui.com.au 03/ Monarch Butterfly chair by Fab Habitat. zanui.com.au 04/ Eichholtz Pompano side table. sweetpeaandwillow.com 05/ Lightning Strikes prototype (pewter, small) by Michael Nelson Jagamara. artloversaustralia.com.au 06/ Erosion black stool. bocadolobo.com 07/ Carrara C from the Natural Stone series, available in tile and slab format. skheme.com

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK | 9AM TO 5PM

27-29 NEPEAN HWY, MENTONE | 1800 560 705 |

thekitchencollective.com.au TheKitchenCollectiveAU

Discover how Kitchen Collective will bring your project to life, through our fresh take on the ‘concept to completion’ service.

thekitchencollectiveau

The Old

MADE NEW

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P R OJ E CT BRICK HOUSE

Reclaimed materials and traditional construction methods make this new build look like an avant-garde warehouse conversion WO R D S K A R S H A G R E E N P H O T O G R A P H Y JAC K LOV E L

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usband and wife, as well as business partners, Ara and Donato Salomone bravely chose to build their first family home as their company’s first residential project. It would be the first time their entire team, from designers to construction workers, would collaborate together on a single project. It would also be the company’s flagship, so there were heavy expectations for presenting the couple’s capabilities as architects, builders and design visionaries.

Having lived in the Mount Lawley area for many years, the Salomones jumped on a vacant block that became available in 2016. The previous owner had demolished an existing character home and subdivided the block.

“It was a blank slate, with the perfect orientation and location. It was also a relatively flat, empty lot that wasn’t a battle-axe — a rare find that would let us have free rein with the possibilities,” says Ara. The parameters of the site guided the structural design. However, it is the architectural aesthetic and the “illusion” of an old, industrial factory conversion that has the whole neighbourhood talking about the Brick House.

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Even though it’s a completely new construction, the Salomones chose to reference the “character” homes of the area, playing with the concept of a “warehouse renovated to become a home”

P R OJ E CT BRICK HOUSE

W E LOVE THE VARIOUS LINES AND ANGLES THAT CREATE THIS HOME’S ARCHITECTURAL FACADE

D E TAI L S HOUSE Brick House LOCATION Mount Lawley, Western Australia INITIAL BUDGET $1.5 million FINAL COST $1.5 million DATE COMMENCED 2016 DATE COMPLETED 2019

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PROJECT BRICK HOUSE

E DI TO R’S FAVO U RI TE THE SKETCHES AND MARK-UPS THAT HAVE BEEN SEALED AND RETAINED ON THE INNER-BRICK WALLS

While the area of Mount Lawley features predominantly “character” homes — Federation and Californian bungalow styles — historically there were many saw-tooth warehouses in the area, some of which have been retained and repurposed. The Salomones chose to reference this built form, playing with the concept of a “warehouse renovated to become a home”, even though the building was completely new.

While a typical industrial warehouse features a lot of concrete, steel and glass, the Salomones chose to use reclaimed red brick as the main material both internally and externally. The exposed red brick gives the traditional clean, sleek warehouse layout a rich, warm and

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textural atmosphere. In addition, layering of walnut timber and natural linens challenge the industrial aesthetic to create a warm, soft and welcoming home that feels comfortable and incredibly interesting.

“The desire to create something visionary and avant-garde was strong as this was our first residential project under our studio’s new brand … however, when we applied our typical concept development process to the job, the outcome was undeniable and the form developed organically,” says Ara. Brick House is a three-storey home with a large underground cellar; two-car garage; alfresco area; open-plan living, dining and kitchen; first-floor master and

ABOVE The minimal, black kitchen is striking, beautifully complementing the red-brick wall and concrete flooring

OPPOSITE TOP The exposed red brick gives the traditional clean, sleek warehouse layout a rich, warm and textural atmosphere

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The design of this bathroom is fun and exciting, including the use of quirky accessories, an oblong mirror and choosing to not hide the under-basin piping

WE THINK IT IS A REALLY SPECIAL PROJECT IN THE WAY THAT IT SPEAKS TO THE HISTORY OF THE AREA BUT ALSO AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE MOVING FORWARD” – ARA SALOMONE 114

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ensuite with connected balcony; two children’s bedrooms with shared bathroom; and a roof deck accessible through a skylight hatch. One of the most unique spaces of the home and Ara’s favourite is the open-stair landing over the living space that features a reading nook and suspended hammock. This design element is fun and playful, and features an oversized circular viewing window with views of the city beyond.

The illusion that old is new and new is old is what makes the Brick House so special. Various design considerations blur the lines between old and new, including the brick fireplace and chimney, which has become the core of this family home. Desiring a traditionally constructed, functioning brick fireplace and chimney, the Salomones had to seek input from a master artisan bricklayer to ensure the configuration of the brickwork would effectively flue the smoke.

The brick ceiling in the basement also required specialised trades as it was inspired by the vaulted brick ceilings found in historic tunnels and cellars in Europe. However, these ceilings tend to be curved in shape to allow pressure to hold the bricks in place. The Salomones have engineered these same historic design features in a way that retains ceiling height and feels more relevant to the current times.

“Western Australia is known for its love of double-brick builds … we love the idea of embracing this, exposing it and reinterpreting it in a playful way. We think it is a really special project in the way that it speaks to the history of the area but also as an example of what is possible moving forward,” says Ara. stateofkin.com.au

The warehouse style is evident in this interior’s design with an openness to each space that allows the free flow of light and air

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L E GE ND 1 Entry porch 2 Kitchen 3 Dining 4 Living 5 Laundry 6 Bathroom 7 Guest bedroom 8 Courtyard 9 Garage 10 Alfresco 11 Herb garden 12 Master bedroom

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WIR Ensuite Library and Hammock Bedroom 2 Bathroom Bedroom 3 Lift Steel mesh bridge Cellar Kitchenette Cool Room

BAS EME NT F LO O R PL AN

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Furniture supply Mobilia

P ROJ E C T T EAM ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGNER/BUILDER State of Kin

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FIXTURES & FITTINGS Kitchen supply DKA, Designer Appliances Plumbing ďŹ xtures Sea of White Cabinet makers Impact Cabinets Tiles, stone, plumbing Artedomus

The skylight in this bathroom design lightens the dramatic tonal and textural palette, and allows natural elements to inďŹ ltrate the relaxing space

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02 01/ Bottega Topo concrete-look floor tile. earp.com.au 02/ Brody oval mirror. globewest.com.au 03/ Faux prickly pear cactus. dowsingandreynolds.com 04/ Bailey designer chair. ozdesignfurniture.com.au 05/ Seta four-seat sofa. brosa.com.au 06/ Jonathan Adler Eve fruit bowl. sweetpeaandwillow.com 07/ Devon Euro pillowcase. lorrainelea.com

Colour Palette Terracotta brick is given a contemporary feeling with black joinery and concrete flooring. Blonde timber furniture is complemented by mustard cushions.

Pops of blue and green add a coolness

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“O’Shea and Sons Builders don’t just build houses, we build homes. Individually designed to suit the clients personality and lifestyle, every single home is a bespoke creation taking into account all the elements. The detail is in the design. We have a dedicated collaboration model. Our suppliers and trades are part of the team. They have a proven record of trust, professionalism and a commitment to sustainability and livability of our clients. Our personalised service is second to none, and we are proud to partner with some of the best in the business.”

Nick O’Shea - O’Shea & Sons Builders

Ph: 1800 717 477 | www.osheabuilders.com.au

DESIGN

LIFESTYLE

FUNCTIONALITY

PROJECT PARTNERS

SPONSORE D P ROJ E CT HARCOURT PROJECT

EAST

MEETS WEST The essence of Queensland living and the beauty of Indonesian culture come together in this unique project WO R D S K A R S H A G R E E N P H O T O G R A P H Y S H O OT TO S E L L P H OTO G R A P H Y A N D U N V E I L F I L M S A N D P H OTO G R A P H Y

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The key design feature of the Harcourt Project was carefully blending two cultures — the Australian aesthetic and locale with influences and statements that acknowledged and celebrated the clients’ memories of living in Indonesia

D E TA I LS HOUSE Harcourt Project LOCATION New Farm, Queensland DATE COMMENCED May 2019 DATE COMPLETED December 2019

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SPONSORE D P ROJ E CT HARCOURT PROJECT

W E LOV E THE MATERIAL PALETTE OF REDDISH-BROWN TIMBERS PAIRED WITH GREY AND BLACK TONES

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The kitchen is a true chef’s kitchen with all the equipment necessary for the homeowners to create their favourite Asian dishes

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professional couple living in Jakarta with their daughter owned a block of land in the heart of New Farm, a trendy suburb in Brisbane, Queensland. The site had become run down and decrepit, so in a collaboration between O’Shea & Sons Builders, Merge Interior Design and Jazz Designs, a welcoming and functional space was created that brought together the essence of Queensland living with the clients’ love of Indonesian culture.

“The clients were living in Jakarta at the time with plans to move to Brisbane, bringing with them a number of Asian-inspired furniture pieces. We selected a relatively monochromatic scheme with pops of reddish-brown timber to tone in with his existing furniture,” says interior designer Joanna Kane of Merge Interior Design.

The key design feature of the Harcourt Project was carefully blending two cultures: the Australian aesthetic and locale with influences and statements that acknowledged and celebrated the family’s memories of living in Indonesia.

To do this, the physical space was built around bringing in natural light and airflow from the outdoors, creating space and capturing the spirit of Queensland living. A variety of external cladding and screenings interacted in many ways.

They came in varying shapes and sizes, textures, colours and finishes. As an example, the James Hardie cladding demonstrated the yin and yang when the Axion applied in

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SPONSORE D P ROJ E CT HARCOURT PROJECT

ED ITO R’ S FAVOUR ITE THE OUTDOOR BARBECUE AREA WITH WEAVE-STYLE FEATURE CLADDING, HERRINGBONE BRICK-LOOK FLOORING, SIX-BURNER BARBECUE AND WOOD-FIRE PIZZA OVEN

P R OJE C T T E A M BUILDER O’Shea & Sons Builders BUILDING DESIGNER Jazz Designs INTERIOR DESIGNER Merge Interior Design CABINET AND JOINERY AllFit Cabinet Solutions

STRUCTURAL TEAM Soil tests and geotechnical services East Coast Geotechnical Structural services ACOR Consultants Building certifiers Building Approval & Advice House energy assessment House of Stars FIXTURES & FITTINGS Wood and heating specialist Mr Stoves Bathroom fixtures and fittings Fienza, Abey Australia, Tradelink Appliances Harvey Norman Commercial

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Benchtops Caesarstone Entry feature wall Austral Bricks Tiles and flooring National Tiles, Awesome Timber Flooring, Cavalier Bremworth Aluminium cladding, screens, fencing, awning system Knotwood, Heka Hoods, Aaromat Group External cladding James Hardie FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Curtains and blinds CBI Creative Art installation Picture Hanging Systems

horizontal linear pattern directly interacted with the Hardiflex with its featured timber batten overlays. The colour and material palette of the home embraced Indonesia’s rich earthy culture and included rustic blends of brick and warm timbers with natural, earthy greys and blacks.

“As you walk through this home, from the front door to the back, it’s as if it just keeps opening up, connecting with the neighbourhood, connecting with the backyard … the way you’re carried through the home is amazing,” says Nick O’Shea from O’Shea & Sons Builders.

Connection between indoor and outdoor spaces was key to this project’s design, and various elements such as wall placement, sliding doors and flooring materials contribute to this seamless flow. Wide stair treads are another example of creating an overall feel of spaciousness, peace and wellbeing — all highlighted in the client’s brief for his relocated family. osheabuilders.com.au

Connection between indoor and outdoor spaces was key to this project’s design, and various elements including wall placement, sliding doors and flooring materials contribute to this seamless flow

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P R OJ E CT HOUSE BRAS

PONDERING LIFE An Antwerp home sheathed in stone and serenity WO R D S LO U I S E S M I T H E R S P H O T O G R A P H Y L E N Z E R

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DETAILS HOUSE House BRAS LOCATION Antwerp, Belgium DATE COMPLETED 2018

The monochrome colour palette is calm and inviting

esting gracefully alongside a pond in suburban Antwerp and basking in the glory of its verdant setting, House BRAS seems like the ideal spot to bunker down during a raging pandemic. It’s also a pretty decent locale to use as a base for your family, pandemic or not, and that’s exactly what the owners of this lush slice of land decided when they moved into their new abode in 2018.

The home rescued an old allotment and now sleeps a family of five. Intended to appear at one with the landscape, an angular S-shaped floor plan keeps the rooms sun-drenched 365 days a year.

A robust team of five architects from Belgiumbased DDM devised the design solution. They included DDM founder Dirk De Meyer along with Haodong Hu, Laurent Temmerman, Angelo Vande Casteele and Annelies De Keersmaecker.

While most of us are content with one living space, BRAS boasts three. And with enough room to swing a cat or 10, why not? All three living zones are on the ground floor and include the main living area with open kitchen, a wellness zone complete with swimming pool and sauna, and a “resting wing” containing the bedrooms and music room, which sings a sweet melody with its panoramic water views.

The first-floor master suite communes with the treetops and is bestowed with a library overlooking the pond through the double-height music room. “These zones are physically and

E D I TO R’ S FAVO U R I T E THE MUSCHELKALK STONE SLABS ENCASING THE HOME

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P R OJ E CT HOUSE BRAS

A swimming pool and sauna make up the wellness zone

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A statement ďŹ replace adds a layer of sophistication to this living room

The pond is visible through floor-to-ceiling walls of glazing

W E LOV E THE GLAZED PASSAGES CONNECTING THE LIVING ZONES

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P R OJ E CT HOUSE BRAS

visually connected with glazed passages along four closed blocks covered with dark larch veneer,” notes DDM founder Dirk De Meyer.

“The boxes form the supporting structure for the roof that covers the open floor plan and include more separable functions like the entrances, vertical circulation, pantry, storages and bedrooms.”

Minimalism is at the core of the aesthetic offering. A lack of clutter allows the surrounding pond-endowed treescape ample opportunity to shine. While the materials are opulent, they never compete with the site, instead seeming to emerge from the ground authentically.

Natural stone was chosen for its favourable ageing properties. The architects went with Muschelkalk stone because of its rich veins, cavities and nuanced grey and brown tones, which change with the light and the seasons.

The roof, or the fifth facade, is covered in the same Muschelkalk stone slabs as the rest of the structure. Heavy use of stone reinforces the monolithic nature of the home. Comprising a trio of slab sizes, the polished cladding was laid in a directionless Roman pattern that makes the transition from facade to roof seamless. Like icing on a cake, the home appears wrapped in a uniform manner.

“TRUSSES ARE INTEGRATED IN THE ROOF SLOPES, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO REALISE LARGE COLUMN-FREE CUT-OUTS IN THE NATURAL STONE ENVELOPE” – DIRK DE MEYER

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Natural colour from the changing trees outside infiltrates the home to soften the colour palette “Trusses are integrated in the roof slopes, making it possible to realise large columnfree cut-outs in the natural stone envelope,” explains Dirk. “These openings are finished with aluminium joinery.”

Rough, irregular stepping stones and terrace floors ground the building with the earth and enhance a sense of connection and wellbeing. David Copperfield must have had a hand in designing the technical spaces and car park because they’re pure magic.

Located underground, the Batman-esque spaces are accessed via a ramp that dissolves into the pond.

Inserting tranquillity into bustling family life with ease, House BRAS isn’t just a home, it’s a retreat for the senses. ddmarchitectuur.be

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Minimalist perfection

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L EGE ND 1 Roof terrace 2 Master bedroom 3 Master bathroom 4 Dressing 5 Patio 6 Library 7 Void to music room 8 Music room 9 Bedroom 10 Shower room 11 Technical room 12 Office 13 Entrance 14 Living room 15 Open kitchen 16 Utility room 17 To basement

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Shower Change room Sauna Swimming pool Covered terrace Yoga room Storage Storage Garage Ramp entrance Bicycles Swimming pool Technical room Technical room To ground floor Laundry room Wine cellar

The architectural staircase is stark and stunning

P R OJ E CT HOUSE BRAS

P ROJ E C T T EAM ARCHITECT DDM architectuur

SERVICES Structural engineering Abicon NV Landscaping Aldrik Heirman FIXTURES & FITTINGS Windows Artline Ceiling acoustics Baswa Outdoor lighting Bega Tapware Ceadesign Indoor lighting Delta Light Home control Duo Tecno Heat pumps Viesmann Audio Wisdom Custom furniture De Coene Interiors

An angular S-shaped floorplan ensures the home is always light and bright

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Mood Board 01

01/ Evoke 265 grey rug. rugculture.com.au 02/ Morph bar stool. designnation.com.au 03/ Finley coffee table. sweetpeaandwillow.com 04/ Carmo sofa. boconcept.com 05/ Terrazzo tile in steel. ďŹ bonaccistone.com.au

Colour Palette Beige, white and grey form a whispering palette so the greenery from the landscape becomes the dominant colour. Black timber and pale timber give contrast to a Zen space

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A DV E RTOR I A L FEATURE

Product Eveneer Xilo Flamed Black Architect Isabelle Harris Design Photography Jonathan Spicer

BRING NATURE TO YOUR SPACE

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s humans, we have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature.

By embracing biophilic principles, designers are now creating interiors that allow us to experience the benefits of those connections within the home.

Through considered use of natural light, plants, timber and other naturally occurring materials and elements, living spaces can become sanctuaries of calm that nourish the soul and enhance personal wellbeing.

PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS Where timber is concerned, these benefits are well documented: research shows the use of wood in interiors not only has a positive psychological effect on wellbeing, but also a

stress-reducing effect similar to that produced by immersion in a natural environment.

In terms of physical health, timber products are warm to touch, easy to clean, and require little maintenance to keep spaces free of dust and mildew. Timber surfaces are also shown to break down viruses two to five times faster than non-porous surfaces such as metal and plastic.

NATURAL VERSUS MAN-MADE SURFACES Unlike man-made surfaces, timber also matures, mellows, and adds value to your home. This is particularly true of timber veneers. Cost effective, readily available, sustainable and renewable, they add colour, texture and depth to interior spaces while preserving the physical touch and positive

Product Eveneer and WoodWall Frosted Oak Architect Madeleine Blanchfield Photography Anson Smart

effect of nature — something plastic laminates simply cannot replicate.

INNOVATIONS THAT INSPIRE In Australia, Elton Group has led the timber veneer market for more than 80 years. Renowned for consistent grain and patterning, the company’s high-quality interior architectural products balance art and science, and support responsible forestry practices, sustainability and beauty. Free from knots, splits and discolouration, they also save material, time and cost.

Elton Group’s innovative Eveneer® range presents designers and homeowners with new opportunities to push boundaries in renovation projects, restorations and new builds. Available in a range of contemporary colours, Eveneer® timber veneer surfaces are suitable for panelling and joinery throughout the house, including living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, robes and bathrooms.

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS

Product Eveneer Metro Architect Mim Design Photography Sharyn Cairns

A curated selection of Eveneer® colours is now also available in roll form. Known as WoodWall®, this next-generation advance enables application to suspended structures, columns, corners and tight radii, bulkheads and complex curves, as well as walls and ceilings where it will create a timber-panelled look for a fraction of the price of solid wood.

To learn how Elton Group timber veneers can improve the value, sustainability and comfort of your home, visit eltongroup.com or contact one of their expert architectural and design consultants on (03) 8555 2235.

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Kitchen Design Heartly Photography Jack Lovel

Kitchens & Bathrooms

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Take some cues from these cutting-edge design ideas 139 Shades of Grey 142 Espresso Yourself 144 Where the Heart is

P R OJ E CT BATHROOM

Shades OF GREY Sanctuary meets style in this bathroom

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n this bathroom, a modern look is paired with softer elements to result in a space worthy of highlevel indulgence. Walking into this space is like entering a spa. The muted colour palette and classic black lines offer a sense of clean uniformity, with the shower screen providing the wow factor. Light is created in what could be a dark space thanks to the skylights overhead, and by being clever with choice of materials. Large-format tiles ensure the room doesn’t feel small, with recessed shelving in the shower again enhancing that sense of space.

The double shower and basin are the epitome of luxury, with rainheads for that indulgent shower soak. Round bowls and the rounded bath soften the room while still appearing modern. A double vanity provides essential storage space and continues that modern/ contemporary feel thanks to the corrugated finish and on-trend handles.

Designer: Alisa & Lysandra Interiors. thedesignduo.com.au; reece.com.au

FEATURE FOCUS Vanity Reece Issy Halo Vanity top Reece Issy Halo Basin Reece Kado Lussi Vessel basin, solid surface Bath Reece Kado Lussi freestanding bath, solid surface Shower Reece Sussex Scala overhead shower in brushed gunmetal; Reece Sussex Scala hand-held shower in brushed gunmetal Taps Reece Sussex Scala wall basin mixer set in brushed gunmetal Tiles Reece Toilet suite Reece Caroma Forma Cleanflush Heating Reece heated towel rail

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W E LOV E THOSE GORGEOUS LARGE-FORMAT TILES THAT REALLY SET THE TONE IN THE ROOM AND ADD TO THE SENSE OF SPACE

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

ESPRESSO YOURSELF Add the finishing touch to your kitchen with a premium coffee machine

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n espresso machine becomes an integral part of the family. Unearthing a coffee journey can start from simply wanting a machine at home for easy access to that essential morning coffee fix. What evolves is a beautiful and curious relationship of discovering the unique characteristics of coffee and creating a ritual at home that is engaging and satisfyingly interactive.

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Rocket Espresso is based in Milan and from the company’s impressive assembly lines, the tight-knit team craft a stunning range under the motto “fatto a manno”, meaning “made by hand”. Globally recognised, Rocket Espresso is more than a brand; it has become the “Rocket Family” — a family that has created a wider sense of community and belonging for those who share a common passion: quality equipment for great coffee.

Perfectly scaled down from the commercial models, the prosumer Rocket range gives the home barista every opportunity to taste the best-quality espresso and create ideal drysteam pressure for a creamy milk. This is the chance to take control of making a great coffee and to delve deeply into an understanding of temperature, time, pressure and the effect these factors have on flavour — as undertaken by the barista at your favourite local cafe.

With a strong collection of models, Rocket recently launched its latest addition, the R Cinquantotto. It’s a sophisticated piece that boasts a chic design and modern features to develop a better knowledge base and ability to pour high-quality coffee and steam for milk texturing.

R Cinquantotto is a dual boiler model, meaning the brew and service boiler operate independently to maximise the temperature stability for the purpose of creating distinguished espresso flavours and velvety sweet milk. The temperature for each boiler can be adjusted via the communication pod, an easy-to-navigate touch screen that takes you through the menu of settings, from power-saving auto on / off functionality to temperature adjustment to suit a recommended coffee roaster’s recipe or your own flavour discovery.

The legacy of intricate details and finesse from the brand has been incorporated with the subtle cronometro shot timer and detachable communication pod. The timer displays and counts the seconds as the espresso pours and camouflages into a mirror finish. It works as the perfect partner to the coffee grinder to understand where adjustments may need to be made to grind and dose settings to create the perfect espresso.

Rocket Espresso has designed bespoke, functional, and beautifully crafted pieces that will become timeless and indispensable additions to any home. espressocompany.com.au

STAY AT HOME The Rocket Espresso movement for better espresso in the home starts here.

For Australian stockists visit espressocompany.com.au

his formerly dilapidated kitchen was in a lean-to extension on the rear of the original cottage. “It was perfect for demolition and not much else,” says Mikayla Rose, director and principal designer of Heartly. The bathrooms were small, poorly configured and damp. After teaming up with Crisp Green Homes, what ensued was a complete restoration of the front facade, renovation of remaining front rooms, ground-floor extension and first-floor addition. “At the initial meeting, the clients presented us with a scrapbook collection of interiors they loved and many of the reference images they had collected over the years belonged to us. Their accompanying instructions were ‘just do whatever you think’,” says Mikayla, adding “Aww, we were chuffed!”

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P R OJ E CT KITCHEN

WHERE THE

heart is Light, warmth and connectivity rule in this kitchen renovation P H O T O G R A P H Y JAC K LOV E L

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allowed the rear wall of the kitchen to remain uncluttered and the ceiling-high marble to be the commanding feature of not only the kitchen but the entire open-plan living area. The honed natural stone is a masterpiece in itself, drawing the eye and conversation of visitors. Placed directly opposite the north-facing floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, the two vast and contrasting material elements combine to create a dramatic impact in the large communal space.

Design of the interior capitalises on opportunities presented by the site and existing dwelling, including expansive access to northern light and restoration of existing character features of the cottage. A collection of energy-efficient design elements is achieved, including windows with thermally broken frames and double glazing, thermal mass within the concrete slab, and engineered timber flooring sourced from sustainable sources.

This renovation included a few luxurious splurges. “Custom windows on the sloping roof were the biggest splurge and one of the great successes,” says Mikayla. “In the kitchen it was the ceiling-high Elba marble. I love the calming simplicity of the design,” she continues. “The natural stone is the real show stopper, with the other materials gently playing a complementary role. However, knowing how much the space is enjoyed by our clients is what I love most about it.” heartly.com.au; crispgreenhomes.com

WE LOVE THE PRETTY POPS OF FLORA THROUGHOUT Consistent elements throughout this collection of images were light, warmth, comfort, simplicity and connectivity of space. These became guiding parameters for the renovation and extension of Fairfield House. “Our clients wanted a contemporary yet timeless palette,” continues Mikayla. White, coupled with other neutral colours and a carefully balanced and layered variation in materials (oak, concrete, stone, steel and glass), creates a calming, uncluttered atmosphere.

The opportunity to build on the boundary allowed a mud room to be added to the front of the house in a contemporary lean-to-style extension.

This structure serves multiple purposes including storage, natural light provision to the entry via a sky window, and an anchor point for a substantial lightwell,

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allowing daylight and fresh air to flood the centre of the home.

The design capitalises on opportunities presented by the site and existing dwelling including expansive access to northern light and restoration of existing character features of the cottage. A generous study nook and elongated window are tucked into a corner created by the kitchen. The design creates communal areas to gather and socialise as well as spaces for privacy, rest and work.

“The transition from the original home through to the new, more contemporary spaces has been achieved with grace, through a refined palette and careful consideration of natural light,” says Mikayla.

The inclusion of ample kitchen storage within tall joinery and the walk-in pantry

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TOPS ON TOP Cindy Crawford on Silestone Eternal Marquina

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Source Get down to the nitty-gritty of the functional elements of your home 150 Soundscapes 158 Plumbing

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F EATU RE SOUNDSCAPES

SOUND Reasoning

Sound is everywhere. A child’s joyful laughter, the roar of a motorbike, the pitter patter of rain on a tin roof, the gentle hum of conversation, the sharp thud of a slamming door. Even silence is sound. So what is the soundscape in your home?

WO RD S C AR ROL BAK E R

t’s not something we often think about, but the sounds in our homes form a soundscape.

This is a combination of sounds that interplay with each other in an immersive environment, creating a powerful tool that helps humans relate to their surroundings. Audiologist Shevawn Becker says our acoustic environment, or soundscape at home, consists of sounds that surround us every day. “Some are pleasant and welcomed: the sound of your baby’s giggle, music that soothes, a partner whispering I love you. While other sounds are intrusive and unpleasant: a leaky tap, the neighbour’s loud music or clanging dishes in the sink,” she says.

Sound is expressed or measured in decibels (dB), explains Shevawn. “A whisper is around 30dB, a loud clap

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of thunder measures around 120dB, average speech sounds are around 50dB,” she says.

Shevawn says dB levels and certain types of sounds can directly impact health and wellbeing. “They can combine to form a dangerous duo, raising the stress response, decreased mood and contributing to poor sleep,” she says.

“The flip side is also true with welcomed sounds that soothe the stress response and nourish the body, calming breathing rate and improving mood.”

When planning and designing a home, materials as well as design and layout of interior and exterior spaces all affect the soundscape in your home environment and surrounds. So it’s possible to take proactive steps to encourage those feel-good sounds and block or muffle the undesirable ones.

Image courtesy of Essential Home. essentialhome.eu

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THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE To reduce unwanted noise at home, barriers and sound-absorbent materials can be used.

Architect Taras Wolf says many people block sound by using windows with double or triple glazing, but there’s a key aspect that impacts on the soundscape inside the home that’s often overlooked. “Most people tend to forget sounds come through doors, and internal doors are rarely insulated,” he says. “Solid doors are better than hollow ones, but an insulated door is an even better option.”

Taras adds that the door frame, and the way it’s sealed, are also important. “A tighter seal will help to block noise, but if you take a close look at the average door, you’ll see gaps at the top, bottom and sides,” he says.

When designing a home, placement of rooms is obviously key so you aren’t positioning potentially noisy rooms like kitchens near the media room, for example, or the garage and outdoor entertaining spaces near quiet sleeping zones.

Taking that one step further, Taras adds that within the room itself, the location of appliances should be considered. “You could have a bathroom near a bedroom with an insulated wall, for example, but if the shower/plumbing is right next to the bed, that will be noisy,” he says.

It all comes down to due diligence and careful planning. “One of the tricks in our trade is to use the robe space as an insulating barrier between rooms; clothing makes a fantastic soundabsorption material,” he says.

ABOVE Image courtesy of Axel Veit. axelveit.com BELOW Images courtesy of CSR Hebel. hebel.com.au

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INTERNAL DESIGN FEATURES Open-plan living in contemporary homes also presents another challenge. In the kitchen while the kids are having breakfast, mum might be on an important phone call in the family room, which, because of the open-plan layout, is actually connected. To overcome potential noisy spaces overlapping, and provide internal spaces that can be used for quiet living, Taras suggests creating zones.

“Partition open-plan spaces to create screened areas so that people can be in separate spaces if they need privacy, but allow design flexibility so the zones can be opened up and there are shared spaces where people can come together,” he says.

You could add a room divider, curtains or screens that slide away.

In modern homes, voids are often part of the architecture. In open spaces like these, sound travels upwards and while you can’t block the noise, you can divert attention from it. “It’s a concept that we call ‘sound distraction’,” says Taras. “If there is an environment where there’s a sound within the space, for example a courtyard with a void, you could be distracted from unwanted noise by a water feature, for example; the sound of running water is a distraction to any sounds reverberating above.”

F E AT U R E SOUNDSCAPES Image courtesy of Chaplins. chaplins.co.uk

“PARTITION OPEN-PLAN SPACES TO CREATE SCREENED AREAS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE IN SEPARATE SPACES IF THEY NEED PRIVACY” — TARAS WOLF

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LEFT Image courtesy of Deco Australia. decorativeimaging.com.au BELOW Images courtesy of Hemp Lime.

Photography by Sally Maguire. hemplime.com.au

MATERIAL MATTERS With higher-density living and smaller backyards, blocking unwanted sound has become even more relevant to people living in urban and city landscapes. Special sound insulation products can be used to not only insulate media rooms but the whole house. They can be installed in external walls, internal walls, between the floors of a twostorey home and in apartments.

Technological development in soundproofing and buffering materials has heralded a new age in soundproofing. Companies like CSR have developed Gyprock Soundcheck, a high-density gypsum plasterboard, to help create quiet zones and reduce noise.

Hempcrete can also be used for soundproofing or sound control. Hudson Doyle of Hemp Lime Constructions says Hempcrete is a sustainable material with great acoustic properties. “For example, a rendered hempcrete wall is effective in keeping sound from transferring between spaces, while an exposed hempcrete wall will assist with sound absorption within a space,” he says.

“Tradical hempcrete is not just for new builds either; it can be retrofitted or simply used to line existing walls.”

Some products can be used in conjunction with a wide range of acoustic insulation or backing materials. Richard Hamber, research and development manager, Deco Australia, says Deco Australia’s range of timber-look aluminium building products offers slimline design and versatile installation, allowing for multiple acoustic options.

“In particular, the DecoPanel wall lining product is available with a perforated design and can be tailored to achieve acoustic outcomes,” he says. “The lightweight and non-combustible panels offer the ability to conceal acoustic backing materials with an attractive timber or custom design finish.”

What’s under your floor covering is also important to help keep your home comfortable and quiet. Jacinda Posen, marketing project manager of CSR Hebel, says Hebel Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) has a high surface mass and porous structure, providing excellent sound and thermal insulation properties. “It’s particularly effective in acoustically reflecting mid- to low-frequency sounds,” she says. “When used as flooring substrate, the steel-reinforced panels reduce sound transmission between floors and eliminate the squeaking, bouncing and noise often associated with non-masonry flooring substrates.”

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F E AT U R E SOUNDSCAPES

Image courtesy of Sonya Winner. sonyawinner.com

Image courtesy of Rug Society. rugsociety.eu

FURNITURE AND DECOR Many of the furnishings and fixtures we see in modern homes are made up of hard materials; glass, concrete and steel proliferate, unlike in decades past where softer plusher materials and finishes were used. Modern minimalist style is austere — furniture is pared back and there are fewer soft furnishings to absorb sound.

Designer Sophie Kost from My Beautiful Abode says soft furnishings play a key role in softening spaces and absorbing sounds. “If you’ve ever walked into a building site before a home is completed, you can feel and hear the hard

sonyawinner.com

Image courtesy of Sweetpea and Willow. sweetpeaandwillow.com

finishes,” she says. “Basically, we need to add depth and volume and move away from sharp, flat, smooth surfaces that create echoes.”

Sophie says one of the key elements to creating a softer feel and providing sound buffering is window furnishings.

“Curtains can work more effectively than blinds; choose fabrics with pleats, curves and volume,” she says. “It’s not a new technology — you see it at movie cinemas.”

Wallpaper also plays a part in sound muffling. Sophie says three-dimensional

quality wallpaper is a good choice.

“It doesn’t need to look like a commercial space and can look beautiful — form and function can work well together,” she says.

Sophie adds that throws and cushions also help to reduce the amount of vibration within a space and absorb sound, and rugs work well too. “A runner down a long hallway with timber floors can absorb sound, tell a story about the space, as well as add warmth, comfort and colour,” she says.

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FEATURE SOUNDSCAPES

THE OUTSIDE STORY

ABOVE Image courtesy of My face. myface.eu RIGHT Charles House by Austin Maynard Architects. Photography by Peter Bennetts. maynardarchitects.com BELOW Image courtesy of Deco Australia. decorativeimaging.com.au

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Exterior spaces at home also make up living soundscapes. The whisper of wind through the trees, the sounds of children at play, even unwanted noise like traffic are part of the living landscape of sound.

If you’re close to a busy road, consider a sound wall or acoustic fence around the property for noise abatement — there are many options including brick, masonry, metal or timber. The higher it is, the more efficient it will be. Also make sure there are no gaps — it needs to go all the way down to the ground.

Neighbour noise can be a particularly important issue. On a smaller scale, decorative wall panels can provide sound insulation and reflect sound. Place it along the wall where sound needs to be muffled.

Greening your landscape can also create sound buffers. Landscape designer Michael Ballentine from Spaces of Green says soundscapes in exterior spaces are important. “As landscapers we always try to enhance the senses, and part of that is not only the sense of touch and smell but also what you hear in a garden,” he says. “Plantscapes condensed together into a green wall can have an intense reflection of sound — it doesn’t allow noise to penetrate through. These green walls should be lush, inviting and soft; when you create these structures, the first thing people do is navigate their way to them,” he says.

If planting a green wall, Michael advises most prefer a shady location. “No afternoon sun, and morning filtered light through to midday is ideal,” he says. “Gardens can be used to block unwanted sounds, but they’re also a source of sound, of nature — bird song, the relaxing sound of running water.

It can also be the sound of condensed silence that you’d hear if you were out in the wilderness.”

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F EATU RE PLUMBING

WATER WORKS Plumbing is not something we often think about until a blocked drain or leaky pipe prompts us to make a call for help.

In fact, plumbing is an integral component of the design and build process to create a comfortable and serviceable home

p

WO RD S C AR ROL BAK E R

lumbing ensures we have all the creature comforts, such as hot and cold running water and gas for heating and cooking.

Broadly speaking, plumbing covers water, drainage and sewerage. Scott Robinson from Gallant Plumbing says plumbing encompasses a broad spectrum, often far more than people realise. “It’s roofing, gutters and flashings, gas, water, sewerage and stormwater — it’s a big component,” he points out.

There are a few key things that can help you to optimise your plumbing layout, as well as avoid potential costly maintenance or replacement issues later on.

PLANNING YOUR PLUMBING One of the main things is planning where to put pipes. “For example, you wouldn’t run pipes through bedroom walls as pipes are noisy,” says Scott. Another is placing rooms that require plumbing in the same proximity, where possible. By keeping plumbing fittings near each other, you’ll reduce the initial installation cost in a new build. In a single-storey home, bathrooms, laundries and kitchens should ideally be relatively close together. For double-storey dwellings, ideally bathrooms should sit directly above or below each other.

During the process of home construction, Scott recommends documenting where plumbing pipes, stormwater and sewerage are located for future access for renovations.

“We do a lot of retrofitting and renovation jobs and often

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there are no plans. I always recommend as soon as the drains and waterpipes are finished that you have the plumber draw them on the plans,” he says. “In 10 years’ time you’ll never remember where they are and if a picket goes in the ground and through the stormwater, it’s a costly business.”

There are some decisions you’ll need to make when choosing which plumbing fixtures and fittings are right for your home. Scott says it’s important not to skimp on quality products. “We always recommend clients use quality tapware and plumbing fixtures. What might seem a like a bargain at the time could end up very expensive to fix later,” he says. “For example, you might not be able to buy a cartridge for a cheap mixer tap; suddenly you need a full replacement when it could have been a simple fix.”

The take-home message is clear. When you are choosing new products, always check with your plumber. “There can be many issues. For example, some hot water services won’t run certain water-efficient showerheads,” advises Scott. “You have to marry your fixtures with the appliances you’ve got and sometimes this may mean the plumber doing some minor upgrades to the water pipes.”

If you love hot water, Scott is also an advocate of hot water recirculation systems. “If you have a large home, you don’t want to be waiting for 10 seconds plus for hot water,” he says.

Hot water recirculation systems connect to your plumbing to ensure that a constant flow of hot water is immediately available when the tap is turned on.

Photography by Jia Wei. pexels.com

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Image courtesy of Rogerseller. rogerseller.com.au

Image courtesy of Ludlow Stoves. ludlowstoves.co.uk

As with any construction process, there can be things that don’t always go according to plan.

However, some of these can be avoided by applying due diligence and ensuring all the checks and balances are put in place.

Scott says one of the biggest plumbing issues is usually roof leaks. “When guttering is being fitted, the question always needs to be asked, what happens if that downpipe blocks with leaves? “Without the correct overflow provisions, water can damage timbers and ceilings and there can also be mould issues,” warns Scott.

DECIDING ON THE LAYOUT Image courtesy of Gallant Plumbing. gallantplumbing.com.au

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If you are building and project managing yourself, establishing open and honest communication with your plumber will help the process go smoothly. Before you enlist your plumbing tradie, plumber Taran Mellors from Mellors Plumbing suggests doing some research on the styles and layouts that appeal to you. “Draw a plan, know what you want, then your plumber can give you ideas and suggestions too,” he suggests.

If you are renovating, changing the position of taps and other fixtures can be costly, says Taran.

“For example, if you’re renovating and changing showers and bathtubs to different locations within the space, and if the home is built on a concrete slab, that means cutting concrete and moving pipes as well as replacing the termite barrier,” he says.

As for bathroom layout, there is no general rule of thumb, but Taran says it needs to flow. “There

should be a feeling of symmetry in a space where you place things like showers and vanities,” he says. “As for toilets, well, most people don’t like to see a toilet from the door.”

When it comes to showers, larger is definitely more popular. “Some people like to offset the mixer from the showerhead so you can turn the shower on, step in without getting wet until it reaches your desired temperature,” says Taran.

As for tapware, Taran points out that over the last decade or more there have been some prominent changes. “Mixers are definitely more popular and taps have gone the other way; they are harder to source and more expensive,” he says. “With mixer taps there’s the added advantage of less things that could go wrong later on.”

In kitchens, the plumbing layout depends on the shape of your space. Ideally, though, the dishwasher should be placed next to the sink for rinsing and cleaning up. You can place filtered tap water over the sink, but some people also choose to put filtered tap water in another location, which will need more plumbing connections. If you are thinking of installing a fridge with chilled water and an icemaker, allowances also need to be made for plumbing.

Image courtesy of DelightFULL. delightfull.uk

Image courtesy of Chastity Cortijo. chastitycortijo.com

Image courtesy of Maison Valentina. maisonvalentina.net

Mirror, mirror in the bathroom When choosing mirrors for the bathroom, as a rule of thumb, selecting one that is smaller or the same width as the vanity will create a harmonious look.

Round mirrors also make a lovely design statement in contemporary homes.

Over the last few years, we’ve also seen a new innovation: backlit mirrors.

These create a beautiful aesthetic in a bathroom but require wiring that must be installed by a licensed electrician.

If you are short on space, mirrored cabinetry also provides a little extra storage when you need it. Can’t decide whether to have one or two mirrors if you have dual vanities? If the bathroom is large enough, and the wall above the vanities is wide enough to comfortably fit two mirrors, then that’s ok. If not, stick to one.

Always allow a space between the top of the vanity and the bottom of the mirror to prevent water splashing up on the mirror.

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FEATURE PLUMBING

Image courtesy of Meir Australia. meir.com.au

Around your home you might also have gas installed — ovens, cooktops, heaters, water heaters, and hydronic or underfloor heating can all be powered by gas, and all need to be installed by a professional plumber.

The plumbing layout and design must adhere to specific building codes. All work carried out by a plumber has to meet Australian Standards (AS3500 and 5601) and the Plumbing Code of Australia, so it’s important to use a licensed and registered plumber for any work you get done at home.

rogerseller.com.au

SMART TOILETS With cleanliness in mind, many Australians are researching and investing in products like smart toilets. Reece Bathroom and Kitchen merchandising leader Daniela Santilli says at Reece Bathrooms, they’ve seen an enormous spike in popularity of their Roca In-Wash Inspira smart toilet this year for its multitude of benefits.

“For one, it cleans itself after each use. It’s full of clever integrations, like in-built bidet functionality that offers integrated cleaning and drying, an LED night light, and control over water temperature and direction — all dictated by an easy-to-use remote control,” she explains. “An added bonus is the integration of rimless technology in some models, which means the toilet pan is more hygienic than standard designs.”

meir.com.au

Roca In-Wash Inspira Smart Toilet by Reece. reece.com.au

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COMPLETEHOME

Inspiration room by room

SEE the latest trends and projects from the country’s top designers and creatives

D IS C OV ER the latest products

M E ET the leading professionals who can help

B EGI N your renovation, no matter how big or small

S c a n here t o c he c k i t o u t

C O M P L E T E H O M E.C O M. A U

F EATU RE PLUMBING

maisonvalentina.net

WATERWISE PLUMBING Water is a precious commodity, so embracing water-saving measures has become part of the way we live. Did you know some older-style showers used a whopping 15 to 20 litres of water a minute? Nowadays, many showerheads have built-in flow restrictors to reduce flow to around nine litres of water a minute or less.

In the past, toilets were very inefficient when it came to water usage, and some used even more water than showers, recalls Taran. “When toilets were single flush they used more; now with dual buttons, they’re far more water efficient. A half flush uses three litres or less and full flush is fourand-a-half litres,” he says.

Water tanks can be a good option but they need to be maintained properly. Scott says some tanks don’t have the ability to drain properly or flush out. “Tanks need to be flushed and have the right filtering method. Many people have tanks fitted and then put them on bypass as they cause too many problems,” he says.

Products that use water, such as taps, toilets and showerheads, are tested under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme. A rating score is allocated (between one and six stars) to flag the product’s efficiency.

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Image courtesy of Luxxu. luxxu.net

maisonvalentina.net

Lighting the way The bathroom is a busy place, so it’s important not to skimp on adequate task lighting.

Pendant lights are finding their way into this space, adding a touch of glamour. You will probably also need some task lighting for when you apply make-up and this should complement the pendants. Sconces are an option that can work well. If you are considering downlights, they need to be positioned correctly so they don’t create shadows or glare over the bathroom mirror.

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OUT DOORS MOIRA

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MIAMI

dreaming The possibilities that come with unique design are endless. In this case, a garden was designed around five dogs… with their very own water feature WORDS C A S S A N D R A E L L I OT T PHOTOS E R I K H O LT

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or this Melbourne property, Lisa Ellis Gardens faced a challenge: create a relaxed atmosphere with areas for entertaining and a space that incorporates the clients’ five rescue dogs into the design. Yes, five! With assistance from Diverse Landscape Constructions, both the front and rear gardens were transformed.

Lisa Ellis, director at Lisa Ellis Gardens, explains that the clients wanted gardens that would complement their landmark Bayside art deco residence.

“They wanted to have different entertaining zones and they have five rescue dogs, so we agreed there needed to be a design solution to tidy up the backyard of bowls that worked for the dogs.”

The key was to create different zones in the garden with striking hardscaping detail. The use of lush foliage strongly appealed to the clients and Lisa describes the planting as relaxed resort style.

“The bones of the garden had the framework for something unique and very special, and the structure and planting was to be developed and finessed from there,” she says.

A clean and lush front garden creates an additional outdoor zone and green interface between the house and busy Bayside street. “The front garden lends itself to a more tropical style of planting,” Lisa explains. The garden incorporates verdant, contrasting foliage including

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From the entertaining deck, the rill draws your eye through the garden to the pond

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Paving lined with greenery gives this garden its unique look

strelitzia, Monstera deliciosa, Ligularia reniformis, Carissa grandiflora, Ligustrum japonicum “Rotundifolium” and Alocasia macchoriza.

Endicott stone from Eco Outdoor is used within the Ashlar pattern, which complements the existing paving treatment on the upper front porch.

The rear garden is more family-friendly, with striking visual elements and a hardy planting style. Massed planting of species was key because this garden also had to be tough and dog-friendly.

Lisa was inspired by the large acer negundo at the back, and says it drove a good part of the garden’s design. Additional michelia trees were planted throughout the garden, complementing the existing tree along the eastern boundary.

“We utilised Michelia alba (white champaca), as well as strelitzia and clumping bamboo to create lush height and greenery,” she explains. Non-invasive clumping bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) weaves through

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the garden, creating a lush upright forest and lending itself to an informal screening.

To add movement and whimsy, Lomandra “Tanika”, orange canna lillies, Hedychium flavum and Philodendron “Xanadu” are planted in and around the bamboo.

The pathway through the rear garden is bluestone paving, which was also placed in a random Ashlar pattern to allow the planting of dichondra groundcover to spill out into the paving, softening the hard landscaping.

In the backyard, Strelitzia nicolai was used, which is the tall bird of paradise with beefy, bold foliage that has the presence of a small tree. There were existing specimens in the garden that were cleaned up and given new definition, used in the new design to blur the line between the old and the new. Strelitzia is a fabulous plant that can work for screening but also evokes a relaxed, resort feel.

The clients’ five dogs were a top priority, and Lisa Ellis Gardens ensured they were front of mind throughout the project’s planning. A dog-friendly area of lawn and

garden beds was included, as was folded steel edging and pebble mulch around garden beds to prevent the hounds from digging up any plants.

The centralised water rill that runs through the pathway is one of the most striking features of the design. Lisa explains that the water feature and rill was specifically created for the dogs: “We designed this water feature and rill to replace the big water-fi lled clam shell and multiple drinking bowls that were sitting around the garden.”

The clients took a risk in agreeing to the rill as this is an element that needs to be stepped over on the walk to the garage.

The conscious effort in doing this makes a connection to the garden as one travels through the space, as well as offering a unique, continuous way to provide fresh water for the dogs.

“To be able to design a striking element such as this, that’s used in such a practical way, makes our job very enjoyable,” Lisa reveals. lisaellisgardens.com.au

“THE KEY WAS TO CREATE DIFFERENT ZONES IN THE GARDEN WITH STRIKING HARDSCAPING DETAIL… THE USE OF LUSH FOLIAGE STRONGLY APPEALED TO THE CLIENTS”

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PRODUCT AND SERVICE

Review

01/ INTO THE FORREST Designed by Justin Hutchinson for Melbourne design studio Kett and available exclusively from Cosh Living, Forrest is curvaceous and inviting. Distinctly Australian, the outdoor collection is made from premium-grade plantation teak for a natural, timeless feel. Delicate woven details are incredibly strong, offering functional support for extended seated sessions. The hand-ďŹ nished collection has the accuracy and precision of the latest technological advances of wood machining together with the rich history of teak and the craftspeople who helped fashion them. coshliving.com.au

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S H OP P I N G HOT PRODUCTS

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02/ SLIDE OUTSIDE Whatever the style of your build, invite the outdoors in with Paarhammer’s range of sliding doors. Enjoy flexibility and functionality with the choice of liftslide sliding doors, stacker doors, corner sliders or giant sliders. Custom-made in Australia for Aussie conditions, double- or triple-glazed doors feature a double layer of seals. Draughts won’t be a problem either, with retractable carriages forming an airtight seal. Enjoy peace of mind with security locking alongside recessed thresholds offering step-free access. These highly energy-efficient products are easily operated with a turn of the handle or can be motorised — even the giant sliders. paarhammer.com.au

03/ LET IT GLOW The Tika outdoor lantern by Vincent Sheppard is a solarpowered light source that will have your outdoor area glowing brighter than a room full of pregnant women in no time. Bask in the ambient light emitted through the woven basket and behold the shadow play thrown around the area. Available in two sizes and two colours (black and caramel), the lantern boasts a teak base that adds a natural finish. cotswoldfurniture.com.au

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04/ OVEN LOVIN’

05/ MIXER MAGIC

Steam cooking is the latest trend among Aussies who want a delicious, healthy alternative to their meals. Combi-steam ovens provide the best of both worlds, offering traditional or steam styles of cooking so you can roast, steam or simply warm your food. The V-ZUG 60cm Combi-Steam MSLQ built-in oven is a stylish addition with an array of storable programmes and cutting-edge technology. The easy-to-use functions will save you time and stress while you achieve chef-quality results — perfect for a busy household with a love of wholesome cooking. winningappliances.com.au

Offering a fresh take on a traditional style, the Axia wall-curved outlet Hostess set is revolutionising the bathroom experience one basin and bath at a time. With an asymmetrical design and a unique handle featuring a rotating outer dial and fixed central indicator face, each mixer has been meticulously crafted with crisp detailing and a strong presence. One look at its meticulous craftsmanship and cutting-edge design, and the swag of international design awards it’s been presented seems appropriate. Available in chrome, matt black and brushed nickel finishes, this is a mixer that will match with any setting. phoenixtapware.com.au

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06/ FULLY STACKED Looking for more light, more space and a greater sense of openness? Look no further than Dowell’s alfresco corner stacking doors. With a modern alfresco appearance that seamlessly integrates the indoor/outdoor area, they promote a truly sophisticated alfresco lifestyle. This eye-catching addition to Dowell’s extensive door range is available in flexible formats and sizes, creating a visually large opening for easy access to balconies, patios, or to open up a courtyard, pool area or garden. As well as stacking doors, Dowell has a comprehensive product range to suit your needs and budget, making them the perfect first stop for renovators. dowell.com.au

07/ SWEATY BETTY There are few things more satisfying than working up a good sweat. iHealth Saunas know this all too well and have introduced the Lite Range of saunas. The alluring infrared sauna is a no-frill, fuss-free kind of beauty. Stream Netflix or pop on a podcast and relax inside a Bluetoothconnected sauna that boasts brass detailing, intricate joinery and kiln-dried Canadian hemlock timber. All iHealth Saunas are built to Australian Electrical Safety standards, so if you fancy a good sweat session (either alone or with friends), consider this simple and effective infrared sauna to help you achieve your health goals. ihealthsaunas.com.au

08/ CAST WORKS

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From leading Portugal supplier ADF comes the Linea 100 Duo Freestanding wood-burning fireplace with double-sided viewing and heating, ensuring a fabulous and full flame picture from both sides of the fire. The stunning fireplace is made even more attractive by its contemporary aesthetic, large glass viewing area, easy-opening doors on both sides and single air control.

It is the ultimate fireplace for dual heating. The Linea 100 is also available as a single-sided wood-burning fire. castworks.com.au

09 10 09/ UNINTERRUPTED VIEWS You choose the perfect setting for your dream home, so why not indulge it? Whether you want to bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home, extend your living areas into your alfresco space, or enjoy endless panoramic views from the comfort of your lounge, timber bifolding doors from Duce Timber Windows & Doors can help turn your vision into a reality. Duce bifold doors are fully custom made and can be designed to suit a wide range of opening sizes. duce.com.au

10/ A TASTE OF MARRAKESH The enviable styles found in Marrakesh, Morocco, are renowned around the world. Designed to provide an interesting geometrical statement to enhance the entrance to a modern home, the Marrakesh door makes a playful addition. The contemporary feel to the door is created by the block window cut-outs and sleek bar handle. The Marrakesh door is a new addition to the all-red cedar door range by The Woodworkers, which also includes doors with operable panels for ventilation, barn doors, and a collection of standard and oversized Hamptons-inspired creations. woodworkers.com.au

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11/ SELF-CORRECTING WHIZ KID Outdoor awnings both enhance and protect your outdoor area.

Engineered and tested in Australia, the Luxaflex Evo MagnaTrack awning is the only straight-drop awning system able to be left down during windy conditions, self-correcting using patented magnetic technology that represents the latest in design and functionality. Smart and stylish, the Evo MagnaTrack is an Aussie backyard’s best friend. luxaflex.com.au

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12/ LIQUID METAL LUXURY Metal Inc works with the leading liquid metal technology to create bespoke interior and exterior ďŹ nishes. Designed by artists and crafted by local artisans in Australia, their innovative true metal products include statement entrance doors, cabinets, luxurious wall coverings and custom furniture. Designing with metal is no longer limited by the weight or rigidity of the material. Metal Inc studio creates surfaces using gold, brass, bronze, iron, zinc and aluminium. Combined with unique textures like craquelure, shagreen and snakeskin, your options are limitless. Metal Inc artists also specialise in gold gilding and reverse glass painting. metalinc.com.au

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IMAGES: Lewisham House

from Grand Designs Australia, Series 8 Episode 5

THE ARCHITECTURAL

“Concept” The secret behind all good design WO R D S P E T E C O LQ U H O U N P H O T O G R A P H Y R H I A N N O N S L AT T E R

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f there is one thing common to all great design, it is that it’s based on a clear and concise “concept”. It’s a word architects and designers use all the time — but what does it actually mean?

In terms of the home, it’s the difference between designing a home based on definable principles or just building a home and extra space. In architecture the “concept” is the driving force that informs all the decisions and choices you need to make in creating your new home. Perhaps it’s a sense of “wellbeing” or a “better connection with nature”. If you can define what you want in a few simple words, what might those words be? Perhaps peaceful, light, privacy, family… this all helps develop and underpin the concept for the new home design. Developing the concept is the first step that separates just “building space” and “designing a space to build”.

Once you have those simple words or descriptions, we then need to add some parameters that are specific to your individual circumstances. Any concept for the home must then also consider the following:

E X P E RT A DV I CE ARCHITECTURE

1. The Site: this is the shape and size of the block, any local or street styles or local planning and council restrictions… the limits, setbacks, heritage issues and the like. A site analysis plan is one thing architects use to document all the features and considerations.

2. The Brief: the initial concept is also very much driven by the list of spaces and requirements. This includes things like extra bedrooms, a garage and rumpus room; this is also called establishing the program. It’s effectively a list of what you want. If you can also roughly establish the sizes of each space, you will be able to gauge some initial costs.

3. The Budget: the initial concept should take into account what you can realistically spend. A great concept for a home is one that can be applied to both a big or small budget and have various ways for it to be achieved. A great concept is also adaptable and ideally will have universal appeal.

Other things that help deliver architectural concepts are things like materials. Choosing natural materials like stone, wood, concrete or brick may help anchor a design, provide texture, and soften light and sound within a space. They can also create a sense of permanence, reassurance and relaxation, which may all be aims of your concept. Using fabrics such as rugs and curtains is a simple and effective way of softening an area and a more economical way of achieving that concept for your space.

Materials such as steel and the use of large white surfaces, often used extensively in modern design, express order. Steel can carry heavy structural loads effortlessly,

which also creates a sense of elegance.

Keep in mind that materials are a secondary factor in establishing the initial concept. They are used to support and achieve a concept as opposed to being the driving force behind one.

Creating a design without a concept is short-changing yourself in terms of what your new home or renovation can achieve. Spaces without overarching concepts often lack personality, become mundane and quickly dated

and boring. So before you even start planning, try to come up with some concepts of what you are trying to achieve, not how you are going to achieve it — that comes next.

And remember, even the greatest architects in the world, in the pursuit of creating exciting, balanced, nuanced spaces, borrow and steal ideas from everywhere. So to come up with a concept, fi nd some inspiration and use some imagination that underpins your new creation.

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EXPERT ADVIC E BUILDING

IMAGES Bushfire House from Grand Designs Australia Series 1 Episode 1

DIY VS PROFESSIONALS Are you up for the challenge or should you leave it to the experts?

WO R D S C H R I S K N I E R I M P H O T O G R A P H Y R H I A N N O N S L AT T E R

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tatistics show that in 2020 there are more renovations being carried out than new homes being built. If, like many, you are stuck at home watching reality television renovation shows and are allowed to visit the local hardware store for materials to carry out your own renovations, stop and ask yourself, should I be DIYing or leaving it to the professionals?

Here is all you need to know about the renovation setbacks you might face while taking on a renovation project yourself. Renovation is a huge undertaking and it definitely requires a lot of beforehand planning. Good management and budgeting are key factors in carrying out a successful project, but both of these have their own minutiae that need to be carefully ironed out. So let’s take a look at the most common renovation setbacks in detail.

Any designer can tell you without even a breath or a pause that you’ll be wading through muddy waters by not investing in a proper plan.

The fact is, most homeowners are not aware of all the technical lingo, regulations and restrictions that go into green-lighting officially approved renovation works. Here’s the solid truth: your distant cousin or relative who’s an electrician or a plumber isn’t going to save you money by carrying out the works themselves; you will be put on the back burner while they carry out other jobs that actually make them money.

While they are doing those, your project is being delayed and the money you think you are saving by engaging them is actually costing you on interest repayments and delays. So do not try to weasel your way out of proper planning by trying to do it cheaper. Cutting corners is going to get you nowhere, but it’s guaranteed to rack up the expenses. Contact accredited and licensed designers and tradespeople, vet them out, pick those that suit your tastes, and work with them only when you’re satisfied. A competent team will help you meet all deadlines and even get you better deals for materials and furnishings.

Setting a proper budget is crucial to carrying out your project smoothly. If you keep on splurging without setting up boundaries, you’ll end up busting your bank account.

When you create boundaries, you’ll end up knowing your budgeting constraints and stick to just the necessities. You’ll also need to have a contingency within your budget for all the unknown and unforeseen costs that might pop

up during the renovation. This is usually recommended to be at least 15 per cent of your original budget. These hidden costs may be needed for instances such as termite damage, dodgy works by previous contractors and expensive replacements — especially when working on older properties. By keeping this extra amount in your back pocket, you’ll be able to cover all such expenses without succumbing to any hitches. Don’t mess up your plans by opting for a lessthan-recommended percentage of your contingency budget or you might end up with a delayed project due to lack of funds. And if everything goes smoothly, you’ll end up with extra savings that you can use on upgrades.

The era of the internet and connectivity

is taking innovation and self-help to a whole new level. The constantly increasing number of renovation and design shows may seem charming and totally inspiring, but bear in mind that renovation is tough work.

Inexperienced and unlicensed people may end up losing more than just a finger, and can cause great harm to the property. For all those who think they can do anything they put their mind to, here’s a big question: are you willing to hire an unskilled and unlicensed person to take on your renovation project? The answer must be a firm “no”. So why would you do it yourself when you have zero experience in the field?

The problem with DIY is that it seems easy, but when you go for official documentation and actually start the project, what guarantee

do you have that you’ll be able to stick to the budget and timeline without splurging all of your extra funds? Would you be able to guarantee the safety of everyone who will be residing in that home? You might end up having to pay even more expenses than you would have negotiated with a professional.

So always stick with a pro team who actually know what they’re doing. Adhere to the budget, engage a proper team, and don’t try to DIY when you have zero experience!

Chris Knierim is an international awardwinning designer and builder. He is the national president of the Building Designers Association of Australia and sits on the board of the Australian Design Alliance. codegreen.com.au

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INDEX

Index Amber Tiles…...............................................................OBC Bluethumb .........................................................................27 Castworks........................................................................... 31 ComfortHeat.......................................................................6 Cosh Living ..........................................................................4 Danish Red….....................................................................32 Dowell ................................................................................... 14 Duce Timber Windows & Doors ............................20 Espresso Company Australia................................ 143 Hedger Constructions… ........................................…. 18

iHealth Saunas..................................................................10 Liebherr............................................................................... 23 Luxaflex ..............................................................................53 Metal Inc............................................................................. 83 Mr Trampoline…..............................................................95 O’Shea & Sons Builders …..........................................119 Paarhammer ................................................................. IBC Phoenix Tapware .............................................................71 Real Flame......................................................................... 25 Scandia (Adina) .............................................................. 57

Schots Restoration ........................................................ 12 Schweigen….................................................................... 157 SMEG......................................................................................8 Sproutwell Greenhouses..........................................167 The Woodworkers Co ................................................. 16 The Kitchen Collective…........................................ ..107 Tint Paint ............................................................................ 29 Winning Appliances...................................................IFC

GRAND DESIGNS

185

EX PERT ADVI C E ASK OUR ARCHITECT

Ask Our Architect Editor-at-Large Peter Maddison answers your questions

County Derry shipping container house from Grand Designs UK Series 14 Episode 4

Q

My wife and I watch both the UK and the Aussie versions of Grand Designs. We understand Kevin McCloud has just completed his 20th series. Where is the Aussie version up to and when will the next series come to our TV set?

Fremantle Media is making series 9 and 10 to show on Foxtel as I write. Series 9, even with the challenges of COVID-19, is nearing completion, so screening should be in the near term. Series 10, however, will take another year or so to see that batch of houses completed. So yes, it looks like our show will have made up to 100 episodes.

A

Q

We have an Edwardian house in Prahran in Melbourne that is a negatively geared property and badly needs repair. We’ve had quotes from builders upward of $400,00 to rewire, replumb, replace service areas, plus there are some structural issues. At what point do you renovate, compared to rebuild? Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Investment properties, like all houses, need repair and periodic maintenance. If this property has been let go for decades, there will be a reckoning. So I would recommend commissioning a small feasibility study by an architect to cost out both options by a quantity surveyor.

This will make the cost of building works between the two options clear, but you also need to factor in timeframes. Building from new may well mean you are without a negatively geared property, i.e no income for up to a year or more, while a new building takes place. There may well be an emotional attachment to the old building but if it has no heritage value, you could consider using some of the existing material in a new building so that some of the spirit of the old building stays alive.

A

Yellingbo Artist’s House from Grand Designs Australia Series 2 Episode 8

Q

There is a lot of discussion around the cost of building and the cost of land in Melbourne at the moment, which is pushing the younger generation out of the market, like my 30-year-old kids. Is there a way that the younger generation can get a foothold in the property market while retaining their dignity and hope for a quality life rather than being locked in the rent cycle? Is Tiny Housing the answer?

Great question! We have entered a different phase in our economic cycle where land, which was once cheap to us Baby Boomers, is now not so for our kids. Living smaller, living communally, living sustainably and living differently is all part of the answer. For instance, I have just finished an episode of GDA in Inverloch where the parents have a dairy farm and have built for their three kids. It’s a lookalike dairy farmhouse made out of recycled materials. This will be a shared house for the kids to keep them in the country and to give them some hope of ownership and pride. Check out the episode coming your way next series.

There is also an interesting house by panovscott, called Kindred, which won the Victorian Architectural Awards this year. This is where architects have designed one building but compartmentalised it for three different generations, providing privacy and dignity but a sense of community, all within an affordable budget. Check out architecture.au for a profile of this fabulous home.

A

Q&A — Need Peter ’s Help?

Email your queries to homedesign@umco.com.au

186

GRAND DESIGNS

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