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BIG RIVER
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PROFILE
Wellbeing and Nature; Top of the Agenda for Home Owners as More Look to Bring the Outside in
With research proving our built environment has a significant effect on our overall wellbeing, there has been a steady increase in the use of decorative timber in homes in recent years, with home owners searching for a deeper connection to earth and nature indoors. The materials surrounding us on a daily basis are critical to our mood, and the beauty and uniqueness of wood is being embraced for this reason. While some building materials can look hard and cold, the warmth of timber brings a sense of nature and wellbeing into the home, and offers a certain luxury.
Materials and patterns mimicking nature can help achieve a sense of wellbeing, which is at the core of biophilic design. Rather than a trend, architects are incorporating biophilic design as the next standard in residential building. By leveraging natural materials such as wood and stone, homeowners can achieve a sense of wellbeing and visual connections with nature without necessarily having outdoor spaces. This can also be done by utilising organic and biomorphic shapes and forms, live plants, earthy textures and colours, natural lighting and ventilation.
“Home owners are not only looking for sustainable design, but an all-encompassing holistic approach to style and functionality as well as health and wellness in their homes. With an increase in apartment living and smaller house footprints, we are seeing a rise in the use of decorative timbers on walls and ceilings being specified as part of the design element to enhance the living space. There’s a myriad of timbers available depending on where it will be used in the home and the texture and colour the homeowner likes,” says John Lorente, General Manager at Big River Group.
From the natural blonde of Birch and Hoop Pine, to the deep rustic tones of Spotted Gum and walnut colourings of Blackbutt, Big River Group offers a variety of naturally beautiful timber options. All of which are known for their interesting texture and hardwearing finish, adding warmth, style and individuality to a space.
The extensive use of Plytech Birch for interior walls, ceilings and cabinetry, provides a clean, natural look, and merges interior and exterior spaces throughout the home. The premium decorative panel is constructed using high-grade Finish Birch veneer to ensure a consistent high-quality finish, which contributes to a spectacular home that blends beautifully into its natural surroundings.
A stunning choice for a home’s cabinetry and joinery that achieves a natural aesthetic is Big River’s ArmourCab, a new generation of engineered Australian decorative wood panelling. Available in Blackbutt, Spotted Gum and Hoop Pine timber finishes, each with its own natural colour and markings, ArmourCab adds harmonious design and plays an important role in marrying the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Combining the stunning intimacy of native timbers with the rugged durability of a precision-engineered structural product, Big River’s Armourpanel is a decorative plywood and another popular choice for residential application as it has a distinctly natural appeal. “In maintaining the natural characteristics of the selected wood species, every Armourpanel sheet offers an individual and natural look, with the species’ unique grain structures being preserved so no two sheets look alike,” Lorente says. Also available in a range of native species including Blackbutt, Flooded Gum, Spotted Gum and Sydney Blue Gum, its durability makes it ideal for use in hardwearing areas, including flooring, wall panelling, screening, cabinetry, ceiling linings and joinery.
The award-winning ‘Taking it to the Bank’ by JFKDESiGN Landscape Buildings Interiors chose all internal timber to be a variation of Big River’s Spotted Gum plywood, including window reveals, kitchen carcasses, kitchen joinery and wall panelling. The custom joinery units also act as furniture, with various items including the bookcase and concealed desk in the guest room/study.
“The plywood has been a linking feature throughout the home, connecting each expertly crafted space and adding a depth and richness to the overall design. The result is a contemporary and stylish apartment with a focus on liveability, and a home that is a pleasure to live in,” say Jackson Fitzroy-Kelly. “We chose Big River plywood for its durability, unique finish, bespoke application, and Australian origins.”
Armourpanel, ArmourCab and Hoop Pine is manufactured in Australia under the Plywood Association of Australia’s third party audited quality control program and Milled from managed regrowth and plantation forest hardwoods. It is Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) certified.
Big River Group is a wholly Australian owned and operated company. To download a brochure or for more information on Big River visit www.bigrivergroup.com.au
SRF Earthmoving was established in 1996 to fill a growing need in the building industry for high quality Bobcat Operations. SRF founder, Steve Farano has steadily expanded the company, which now provides a comprehensive range of earthmoving and related equipment and service hire.
