Builders choice magazine december 2013

DECEMBER 2013

www.thebuilderschoice.com.au

SILKS RESTAURANT

A Jewel in the Crown CAB Member Since November 2010

“The only limit is your imagination” COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC FEATURE DESIGNS INCLUDING DOORS, RECEPTION COUNTERS, SIGNAGE AND WALL PANELS

Artist: Lorenna Grant Manufacturer: Denmac Industries Photographer: Peter Phoenix

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You choose Metalcote's wide variety of textures, patinas and surface finishes to enhance your project and stand-out from the rest!

Over 200 metal finishes are available in various textures, metals including aluminium, bronze, brass, copper, nickel, pewter, zinc, graphite, iron and various alloys of these metals.

Metalcote is innovative and creative.

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contents

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37 33 34

FROM THE EDITOR ................................................................................... 12 PROFILE Joe Cicirello.............................................................................. 18 PROFILE John Simunovich ................................................................ 20 PROFILE Brent De Pledge ................................................................... 22 PROFILE Norm Sims................................................................................ 24 PROFILE Stuart Hayim ........................................................................... 26 PROFILE Glenn Harbison .................................................................... 76 PROFILE Marc Drexel........................................................................... 107 AND THE WINNER IS ................................................................................16

funded by the Australian Government is opening up new opportunities for apprenticeships.

COMMERCIAL UNITED EFFORT PAYS OFF ........................................................ 37 The combined skills of a well-known Perth architectural firm and established Perth building contractor create a new Perth office for United Voice.

CUTTING EDGE........................................................................... 108 Thermomix Australia’s new Balcatta office is a state of the art building reflecting the product’s engineering.

COVER STORY SILKS STUNNER ................................................................................... 28 Probuild Constructions’ expertise brings a smooth outcome to the spectacular Silks Restaurant at Crown Perth.

INDUSTRY NEWS & VIEWS

on the cover

Amelia Starr, Executive Director Livable Housing Australia, discusses the growing need for “social sustainability” in new housing.

Crown Perth’s spectacular new Silks Restaurant is a triumph of construction and design.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Read our cover story on page 28.

CHALLENGER BUILDS HOPE BRICK BY BRICK............................... 34

Photo: Crown Perth

LIVEABILITY AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ........................ 33

An access program run by the Challenger Institute of Technology and

4 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

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contents

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82

61 74 RESIDENTIAL

OUT OF AFRICA .............................................................................. 74

OPENING DOORS......................................................................... 42

An awesome Eagle Bay residence draws its inspirations from the owners’ love of exotic Zanzibar, Africa.

The Department of Housing develops strategic relationships so that the community wins.

URBAN TO THE CORE .................................................................... 77 LIME ST PRODUCES FRESH ACCOMMODATION .................. 47 St Bartholomew’s provides an innovative transitional housing model for the homeless and aged.

M Square Apartments by Psaros is taking its place in the heart and soul of the city.

HOME FIT FOR A PRINCI .............................................................. 82 HEART OF HIGHGATE ................................................................. 52 St Marks is a stunning, modern boutique development from Finbar in the heart of one of Perth’s oldest suburbs.

This luxury residence enhances the owners’ modern-day lifestyle of running a family and a business from home.

BREAKING NEW GROUND ........................................................ 86

GOOD LIVING IN THE GOOD COUNTRY ................................... 61

Viva Developments gives an old site in Hamilton Hill a refreshing new lease of life.

Pelago Apartments in Karratha is the Pilbara’s first modern residential and commercial development, providing inner-city living and a luxurious lifestyle.

The Seville serves Seacrest Homes well as their flagship display home.

GRAND PALACE .......................................................................... 89

THE WHITE HOUSE........................................................................... 64

HONEYWOOD A SWEET PLACE TO LIVE ................................ 92

Shining like a beacon, this striking Leederville home by Weststyle illuminates the neighbourhood.

What makes Satterley Property Group’s Honeywood estate at Wandi ‘one-of-a-kind’ is its state-of-the-art amenities, sense of community and its unique character.

KNIGHTSGATE SHINES IN CURRAMBINE ................................. 68 Finbar brings a touch of its CBD development quality to Currambine.

HOME ON THE RANGES ............................................................. 94

HAMPTONS HEAVEN IN WA ........................................................ 71

A slick new serviced apartment complex delivers a resort-like ‘oasis’ to the booming Pilbara town of Karratha.

RiverStone’s stunning West Hamptons display home may have been inspired by New York’s ritzy seaside playground but this custom home is tailor-made for WA.

6 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

SOVEREIGN’S MIRAVET .............................................................. 98 Rising high on a corner block, this home is imposing for all the right reasons.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH I N EVERYON E’S R EAC H Polar Eco-View Windows utilise a double-glazed Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) system that offers a simple, energy-efficient, and cost-effective solution to heating and cooling your home.

• Over 1000 window combinations from 3 modern designer colours • Select from a range of modular sizes

Simply get online and with our easy to use website, build a comprehensive, no obligation quote for your home or next project. Our instant delivery ensures you’re just a click away from a more energy efficient home.

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121

TO THE MANOR BORN .............................................................. 101

HIGH QUALITY KONSTRUCTION............................................ 121

This striking modern take on a beachside home from Manor Home Builders is the perfect residence for any Perth suburb.

Boutique renovation, restoration and additions specialist Finished Konstruction is a small company with a big reputation for delivering exceptional results.

GARDEN OF EDEN ..................................................................... 104 A 9 Star rated practical Wembley home points to a new way of sustainable living for West Australians.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN .............................................................. 124 A dark and tired home gets a dazzling upgrade, thanks to Patrick Irwin Architect and HS Hyde & Son Master Builders.

INNER CITY OUTBACK .............................................................. 111 With views from Nedlands to the hills, this South Perth home, designed by Matthews McDonald Architects, is bold but private.

MIXED USE BUILDING FOR DIVERSITY......................................................... 56

STAR POWER ............................................................................... 114

Creating better communities to enable all Western Australians to have a place to call home.

Josh Byrne & Associates showcase the benefits of sustainable housing through an ambitious environmentally sustainable home in Hilton.

ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

HARMONIOUS CONTRAST .......................................................118

NEW PANEL BUILDING SYSTEM AVAILABLE FOR WA MARKET ................................................................................. 127

A 20-year-old home extension makes way for a far more sustainable, and award-winning, solution thanks to architects Hubble Design.

Ecostruct is a new structurally engineered insulated panel building system that can be used in residential, commercial and industrial construction in lieu of brick, timber or steel.

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is produced quarterly by

Business Promotions Australia PO Box 1307, Wangara DC WA 6947 Ph: (08) 9409 5143 Fax: (08) 9409 3372 Email: admin@bpaust.com.au Publisher Gary Boulos Managing Editor / Production Manager Merelyn Demarte Sub-­Editor Norman Burns Admin/Artwork Co-­ordinator Gina York

134

Graphic Designer Pearlin Bracewell Writer Rocky Amatulli Sales Executives Rod Saggers, Mike Thake Accounts Julie Jones

NEW FRONT IN BUSHFIRE BATTLE ........................................ 128 A new Draft Standard for Steel-framed Construction in Bushfire Areas, developed by the National Association of Steel-framed Housing (NASH), has been released.

Printer Quality Press Distributor Northside Logistics

WHY TIMBER HAS OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS SEEING GREEN .......................................................................................... 132 Nothing compares to timber as a sustainable, flexible, building resource.

WATER EFFICIENCY INNOVATION KEY TO SUSTAINABILITY ........................ 134 The Department of Water has collaborated with land developers and local authorities to establish a new water strategy that supports urban development in Perth’s growing north west corridor.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUTURE PERTH; A PURCHASER PROFILE ............................. 135 ARCActive’s Marc Drexel on how sustainable-savvy buyers will help shape the future of the housing industry.

BUILDING PRODUCTS & SERVICES ................................... 136 DIRECTORY LISTINGS ................................................................ 145

10 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

CAB Member Since November 2010 COPYRIGHT: Copyright to all original material in this publication is owned by the publisher, Business Promotions Australia, and cannot be reproduced in any form, whole or part, without prior express written permission of the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: While every effort is made by the publisher to ensure the accuracy of the content of this publication, responsibility will not be accepted for any errors or omissions. The publisher believes all information supplied and featured in this magazine to be correct at the time of printing. Placement of orders for advertisements by advertisers or their agents will be deemed as being an indemnification of the publisher against all liability, claims or proceedings arising from the publication of material supplied by them. All advertising shall comply with relevant State and Federal Laws and the advertising codes of the Media Council of Australia. The publishers and staff of The Builders Choice Magazine do not necessarily agree with opinions expressed throughout the publication.

Please note: The Editor reserves the right to alter and/or trim any submitted text (including advertisements and editorials) to ensure conformity with the publication’s style guide and space allocation.

Hebel Walls, Floors & Fences – the feeling of concrete for a lot less

Aerostone W.A. would like to introduce an innovative building system which offers a quality alternative to traditional brick walls and timber floors in the construction of residential homes.

The Hebel range of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) panels has been an established part of the construction industry in Europe for over 50 years, and successfully building houses here in Australia since 1990.

Aerostone is now able to bring these innovative and speedy to construct systems to W.A. builders. Hebel PowerPanel offers a cost competitive, lightweight alternative to traditional masonry, while still providing the solid feel and quietness often associated with brick construction.

Hebel is very versatile, and does not require conventional masonry trades to install. In addition, the aerated concrete structure of Hebel provides superior thermal performance to brick, while maintaining high acoustic ratings and excellent fire resistance.

If you are looking to increase productivity and speed of construction, while retaining those quality attributes W.A. home buyers desire in masonry homes, Hebel PowerPanel systems are well worth consideration.

For further information, or to arrange a quotation on Hebel wall and floor systems, please contact us at Aerostone on 9258 9377, or email sales@linear-group.com.au

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Lightweight steel reinforced concrete – a strong, economic and sustainable alternative

from the editor It’s that time of the year when BPA and The Builders Choice Magazine has come to the close of what has been an extremely busy and much tougher year in the building and construction industry. In spite of it all we have ensured our readers have been provided with quality information and many outstanding features each quarter.

Like many of you, we will be enjoying a well-earned holiday break, so our office will be closed as of the December 18 and will re-open on January 13.

I look forward to catching up with you all in the New Year, until then, from all of us at BPA, we wish you safe and happy holidays.

We would like to congratulate the many of you who have won awards for your designs and projects this year, and everyone else who had been nominated. It’s a great achievement to win but it’s no mean feat to be nominated or commended for the hard work that goes into creating these designs and construction work.

Our cover story this issue on page 28 – 32 is on Silks, a magnificent high-end Chinese restaurant that exudes absolute style and opulence. Silks located at the Crown Perth. The building was designed by renowned architects Hames Sharley and constructed by award winning builders Probuild.

Merelyn Demarte Managing Editor Email: editor@bpaust.com.au

Another interesting read is an article on Sustainability titled ‘Future Perth; a Purchaser Profile’ which still very much commands global focus. The article has been written by Marc Drexel from ArcActive, who has also allowed us to feature an article on his own family 9 Star home in Wembley. Turn to page 104 for this great read.

I would like to thank everyone who has participated in The Builders Choice this year with their projects, and articles.

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Add a touch more personality to your next home.

Meet Midland Brick’s Handmade range.

We call the deep rustic textures found on each brick in our Handmade range, ‘character lines’. And that’s just what they are. Every brick is individually formed, giving it its own unique personality. With distinctive colour blends to choose from, they’re a perfect way to add character to any building.

Whether you’re building a Colonial style home, a country retreat or a contemporary city apartment, our unique Handmade

range can help create a timeless and individual look. Plus, with all the qualities of natural clay brick, you can feel assured knowing the look will last from generation to generation.

For more inspiration and information about our unique Handmade range of bricks and pavers, call Midland Brick on 13 15 40, visit us online at www.midlandbrick.com.au or drop into a Midland Brick Centre.

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...and the winner is The Builders Choice Magazine would like to congratulate:

Western Australian designers dominated the annual Building Designers Association of Australia National Design Awards held in NSW in October, winning 18 of the 23 gongs on offer.

And Yuro Building Design scooped two of them for its striking Swan Valley project, The Cheese Barrel Cafe. YURO won “Best Commercial Building under $2m” and “Best Non-Residential Sustainable Building” for the project.

Yuro Design: 0417 965 653, www.yuro.com.au

Norman Disney & Young’s (NDY) burgeoning presence in transport infrastructure projects is reflected with the Nebo Rail Maintenance Facility project taking out two of this year’s NDY Excellence Awards held in Melbourne.

The Nebo project was winner in the categories of Best Project Over $20M and Exemplar Documentation, reflecting the scale of the project and quality of design documentation prepared by the NDY team.

“To win two separate award categories is testament to the work of the entire project team,” said NDY Associate and Nebo project representative Jonathan McCowen. “Although the $180m Nebo facility presented some logistical challenges due to its remote location in Northern Queensland, our 3D modelling allowed us to accurately geo-reference all elements of the project. We were able to test the design and coordination virtually on the model prior to building works, so the majority of issues were sorted

16 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

before we went on site.”

Ten awards were presented at the black tie event with entrants and representatives from NDY’s global offices in attendance.

“The NDY awards program actively fosters a culture of excellence,” said NDY CEO Ian Hopkins. “They celebrate the achievements of our people and reinforce our mission to provide excellent solutions.”

Norman Disney & Young is a leading firm of consulting engineers with a global presence. With offices in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Dubai, and Malaysia, NDY is able to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for a diverse group of clients. Established in 1959, NDY remains a private company employing over 600 people servicing key markets in buildings, defence, health, industrial, mission critical, transport and utilities.

Norman Disney & Young: (08) 9281 6800, www.ndy.com

Edward Brewer Homes won the Housing Industry Award for a timber-framed home under $400,000.

The award recognises the quality construction, design, energy efficiency and value for money of what is a beautiful custom family home. It was the first time the company had won an award for a timber-framed home. The Waller St “bach” home was featured in The Builders Choice September 2013 issue.

Edward Brewer Homes: (08) 6364 0248, www.edwardbrewerhomes.com.au

Perth builder Weststyle was a finalist in no less than five categories at the HIA Perth Housing Awards 2013, taking the gong for Small Lot Housing $350,001 - $600,000 for its stunning “white house” in Leederville (see feature story on page 64).

The company was a finalist in: Custom Built Home $475,000 - $625,000; Custom Built Home $1,000,001 - $1,600,000; Excellence in Service - Small Builder; Spec Home $250,001 - $500,000; Townhouse / Villa $450,001 & over and Small Lot Home of the Year Weststyle: (08) 9345 1565, www.weststyle.com.au

hubble d

e

s

i

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n

Hubble Design won the Sustainable Design Award, in the City of Vincent’s Building Design and Conservation Awards, for a brilliant two-storey extension to a Brisbane Street, home. The project was a collaboration between architects Patrick Hubble and Sid Thoo. The home is featured on page 118 of this issue.

Hubble Design: (08) 9242 3167, www.hubble.com.au

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 17

up close + personal with

PROFILE

joe cicirello MANAGING DIRECTOR, CICIRELLO HOMES // interviewed by merelyn demarte

Q: When and where did you start your career in the building industry?

I followed in my father’s footsteps from an early age. My father, Sam Cicirello, our founder and director, came to Perth from Italy in the early 1960s. A bricklayer by trade, he worked the construction sites of Perth, establishing himself as a highly skilled tradesman for more than 15 years before applying for his building licence in the early 80s. As a licensed builder, he quickly established a reputation and building company under the Cicirello banner.

I joined my father Sam on site as a kid, helping him during the school holidays, getting a taste for the industry and laying the foundations for the ultimate multi-disciplinary building apprenticeship. As a teenager, shadowing Dad as he supervised homebuilding projects, I learnt from the tradies on site and started to develop a complete knowledge of the building process.

What encouraged you to start Cicirello Homes or was this a prior family business?

The business was actually started around 30 years ago by my father Sam. It was a very small typical Italian building company where Sam was involved in all facets of the running of the business. After securing my Bachelor of Business degree at university in the early 90’s, I officially joined the business, completing my unique apprenticeship. I learnt from Sam how to build a home from the ground up and manage the myriad elements and trades involved, developing a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to succeed as luxury builders.

Dad and I are very heavily involved in the business now, myself as the managing director and Sam as a supervisor and sounding board. We oversee all aspects of the company. However, we also have a great group of staff that help our clients through the building process and deliver the vision and quality of work that we have built a reputation on over the past 30 years.

18 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

How would you describe Cicirello Homes?

We specialise in custom-built luxury homes and premium quality property developments. Being a family owned company, we put emphasis and focus on making homebuilding a personal and enjoyable journey. We create designs to suit our clients’ lifestyle, provide the highest quality workmanship, and are committed to value that’s guaranteed.

What is your business philosophy?

Our entire team is dedicated to making the homebuilding process an enjoyable experience and bring our clients dream to life. We tackle limited jobs per year so that our staff will give our clients’ custom home personalised attention from start to finish. We focus solely on our clients, creating designs to suit their lifestyle and ensuring that the highest quality craftsmanship is part of every home we build.

Is there a particular build that really stands out for you and Cicirello Homes?

106 Kimberley Street, West Leederville. This luxury two-storey custom home was built in the sought-after suburb of West Leederville. Designed uniquely to suit the owners’ distinctive flair and lifestyle, this home is contemporary and offers four bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms, powder room, wine cellar, and a fabulous pool for outdoor entertaining.

The ground floor focuses on an integration of indoor and outdoor living, with the kitchen, dining and living areas opening up onto the alfresco and pool areas.

The high ceiling in the homes lounge room unites the ground floor and second storey uniquely, with a visible void overpass creating an exciting feature in this home.

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We create designs to suit our clients’ lifestyle, provide the highest quality workmanship, and are committed to value that’s guaranteed.

Do you foresee any challenges for the building and construction industry?

I think there are several challenges that we must all face in the industry. Although the quality of tradesman currently is very high, there is a challenge within the industry to ensure future generations of trades get the required training and support from our current generation to ensure those skills are passed on to future tradesman.

With the recent changes to 6-star energy efficiency requirements, I think the industry will need to continue to find and develop sustainable materials and construction methods to ensure that our future homes interact with our environment and are as energy efficient as possible.

As a family man and busy business owner, what hobbies/ interests do you have outside of work?

Outside of work I try to spend as much time as possible with my two young kids Harrison and Blake and my wife Marija.

We come from big European families, so there is always something going on over the weekends and of course lots of family catch-ups.

I also try to get a round of golf in every once in a while, I find it relaxing to get out in nature and spend some time with friends and catch up with what everyone has been up to.

How would you describe yourself?

I see myself as a hard worker and family man. It is a challenge to grow a business, but without the support of close family it would be a very difficult and lonely journey. Their support puts things into perspective and lets you see things from another point of view. I am very passionate about the company as it’s an extension of what my father built over 30 years ago so I want to honour that legacy into the future. BC

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PH 1300 366 511 Unit 7/2 O’Malley Street, Osborne Park WA The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 19

up close + personal with

john simunovich DIRECTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER – ZAZEN BUILDING AND DESIGN // interviewed by merelyn demarte

When and where did your start your career in the building industry?

I started my cabinetmaking apprenticeship in 1993 for a local Fremantle cabinet shop. We built anything from custom kitchens through to high profile café interiors and pharmacy fitouts. In early 1998 I decided to try my hand at building, gaining a job with Western Australia’s oldest builder as a trainee scheduler. This led to a promotion to site supervisor some 3½ years later, working all over Perth with most of my time spent supervising new homes in the hills and surrounding areas. After 7½ years I decided to gain some more experience with one of Perth’s largest two-storey builders, again as a supervisor in the central southern suburbs. Then in early 2009 the decision was made to start Zazen Building & Design with my business partner Dino Colica.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the industry?

Some of the main challenges I think will be with the lots reducing in size, the abundance of material selection and ranges of products, not to mention the constant stream of new products surfacing, house designs and construction will become increasingly complex. We are living in a time of rapid innovation and technology expansion, which we are seeing flow into the design and construction of new homes.

Other examples of this are the six-star energy ratings and also upgrades of Australian Standards and BCA requirements, which will keep getting more complex with every revision. I think this will put pressure on logistics, planning and quantity of homes being built.

What has been the most unusual or challenging project undertaken by Zazen?

The home we built in North Perth, which featured in the March 2013 edition of BC. Being an architecturally designed home it was always going to be a challenge, due to the fact that it pushed the boundaries from a design perspective to what could be practically achieved on site. This particular home did have its fair share of pushing the boundaries, with a 15 metre-long swimming pool located within a metre of the boundary and needing a well-thought out strategy and 20 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

some “PR” meetings with the neighbours. Other aspects of the build included the front door weighing in at around 240kg, taking four men to lift into position. Then to the custom fabricated balustrade that ran from the ground floor slab to the nominal handrail height up on the first floor. This balustrade was designed to look as if it were one piece and had to be stored inside the house three months before it was required, otherwise access would not have been possible at the later date. The very simple looking but very-complex-to-construct roof frame and structural steel were also testing, as there was a large cantilevered section to the rear of the home with an exposed feature beam. Other less dramatic items were concealed toilet cisterns and recessed skirtings with a negative detail between the top of the skirting and plastered wall. Even the heavily stained black timber floors had to be carefully considered, as the amount of stain to be left on the timber had to be carefully gauged as there was a possibility of de-lamination of the final top coat.

How would you use to describe yourself?

I would best describe myself as a person who is constantly trying to improve. I will always try and identify an area that needs improving and put measures in place for me to achieve that goal. I believe in hard work and not giving up, in honesty and reliability. I am a family man and most of my interests in one way or another involve them. I am also a role model for my children to try and set a benchmark for them to aspire to.

What projects are you working on?

At the moment I am currently working on a home in Trigg that will be Zazen’s biggest contract to date. It’s an incredible home, designed to maximise space on an otherwise narrow block. It boasts a cleverly thought-out floor plan with an abundance of natural light. Some of the special features are again another swimming pool within 1 metre of the boundary, and outdoor/indoor alfresco dining area which can be opened up into the main living/kitchen areas. Polished concrete floors combined with gloss lacquered built-in cabinetry to the main areas. The ceilings have been cleverly designed to define

THE BUILDERS CHOICE SURÀOH

I believe in hard work and not giving up, in honesty and reliability. I am a family man and most of my interests in one way or another involve them.

zones. The use of Quartzite stone to defining panels of the elevation provides an earthy contrast to the textured walls.

Another project that I’m excited about is a large single-storey family home in Floreat. The special features of this home are the use both internally and externally of Bowral 50mm bricks, as well as louvered windows allowing cross-ventilation of areas.

The alfresco is a fantastic area being 11m x 4m, combining Hardigroove ceilings with negative details and washed aggregate concrete. This area will be well utilised overlooking the swimming pool on a lower terraced area of the back yard.

Both homes are being built for professional couples with children.

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What do you love most about this industry?

I know it’s probably a bit clichéd, but turning people’s dreams into reality. Having a good honest relationship with the client, giving advice of what would look better or work better, then to hear and see their responses at handover. I recently had a client who likened us to being midwives, being there throughout the creation of a special little project and after having a painless delivery we were off to deliver the next one. It’s thank-you letters and comments like these from clients that makes all the time and effort worth it.

What’s your biggest headache as a construction manager?

The biggest headache I find is managing people, it takes hundreds of people to build a home. From the concrete delivery driver, to the bricklayer, carpenter, suppliers, through to the house cleaner. At some point someone will have let you down or run behind, get sick, it’s these bumps in the road that can cause delays for pre-organised schedules. But hey, that’s all part of what makes it all so interesting. I like to think of it as character building.

What do you do to relax?

I like to stay as fit as possible, I feel more energised when I train and it reflects in other aspects of my life. We as a family also like to travel, my wife and I have taken our children back to our roots in Croatia and Portugal respectively and have also travelled to Bali on a number of occasions. There is just something we love about experiencing other cultures. Now my biggest vice would be a particular old Holden which also seems to somehow relieve me of some hard-earned dollars from time to time, but it’s a part of me that has been there since day dot and, as I do, my family also enjoys a good old Sunday cruise. BC

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www.jetflightsimulatorperth.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 21

up close + personal with

PROFILE

brent de pledge DESIGNER/DIRECTOR – DE PLEDGE HOMES // interviewed by merelyn demarte

Tell us a little about yourself, and how you got into your industry?

I was brought up on a sheep and grain farm located near a town called Kendenup, which is near the Stirling Ranges. I found technical drawing in high school very interesting and my first job out of school was an architectural draftsman with a small building company in Albany. I worked there for four years where I was exposed to all aspects of the industry, from drafting the homes to completing quantities and supervision. After gaining this experience I left Albany and studied the Architectural Drafting course at Leederville Technical College. After completing this course I was employed by Mansard Homes, where over a four-year period I became the design and drafting manager. At Mansard Homes’ peak we were building 2000 homes a year. I left Mansard and set up a design and drafting practice with a partner in 1988. In 2001 I sold out of the design practise and started working with a boutique builder in Perth for a period of eight years. During this time I obtained my builders registration and am now self-employed running a design practice called De Pledge Design and building on occasions with my building company, Rivelin Homes Pty Ltd What types of projects do you prefer to get involved in, and which do you enjoy best?

I prefer to get involved with designing individual homes and renovations. I enjoy the individual homes the most as it’s exciting working with clients and watching a building evolve into reality from your design concepts. Renovations can be exciting as well when you see a vast improvement to someone’s current living situation. I think building designers are very fortunate as we see a completed building from our design work.

How do you approach the design of each home you create?

I approach each design with my clients as a team effort. They have their ideas on how they want to live and my job is to bring

22 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

that to reality. I interview them and then advise the best way to achieve their outcome, taking into account the requirements of the local authorities, Residential R-Codes and the orientation and topography of their land. I also offer many design ideas throughout the design process. It’s an exciting process working with the clients. I always try to maximise the potential of their design, often attending local authority planning meetings describing the design concept to seek approval.

What inspires you the most?

Having a client who is very proud of their home, seeing their dreams turn into reality and achieving the best outcome for them from what their block of land and budget has to offer.

Is there a particular design project that stands out more than most for you?

I have a couple of design projects that stand out. One is in Page Street, Attadale. This was due to the site having three different height restrictions over the block, also the owners offered me the opportunity to design whatever style of home I wanted. It was a great challenge and the owners were very happy with the outcome. The other home is in Roberts Road, Attadale.

This project stands out as it involved a great deal of neighbour and local authority consultation. This home was designed to maximise the northerly aspect and river views by illustrating how we complied with the Performance Criteria of the R-Codes. Again, the owner is very happy with their home and we achieved all of our objectives.

What is your business philosophy?

To design unique, energy efficient homes that represent the individual requirements, budget and maximise the potential of the site in relation to climatic conditions and local authority requirements for my clients.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE SURÀOH

My hobby is working on my most important superannuation, my health. I cycle three times a week, run twice a week (have completed two marathons), kayak on the Swan once a week, go to the gym twice a week and play golf once a week.

How do you see the building and construction industry going in the future?

I think builders are going to get more involved with using diverse materials and alternative construction methods in order to keep construction costs down. I also believe more individual homes will be designed to accommodate the energy efficiency requirements the land orientation and topography has to offer. I can also see homes being designed to cater for the extended family as children are staying home longer and also some people have their elderly parents living with them. I have designed a couple of homes which cater for this and it works well.

What hobbies/interests do you have outside of work?

My hobby is working on my most important superannuation, my health. I cycle three times a week, run twice a week (have completed two marathons), kayak on the Swan once a week, go to the gym twice a week and play golf once a week. It sounds like a lot but is easy to achieve as is all completed, except the golf, at 6am every day of the week except for Monday. I also have had a passion for motorbikes since I was 10 years of age and have toured all of Australia and parts of America. I currently own a 1968 T120 650 Triumph Bonneville which I have fully restored. I think it’s great to own something from the 60s as this was a very exciting period of time.

How would you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as a motivated person who enjoys his family life, as family is everything. Also the farm life upbringing and farming community has shaped my personality to respect other people, so honesty and integrity means a great deal to me. BC

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 23

PROFILE

up close + personal with

norm sims

DIRECTOR – NORM SIMS REGISTERED BUILDER // interviewed by merelyn demarte

Where and when did you begin your career in the building industry?

My career in the building industry started in Narrogin where I was a bricklayer by trade. I chose bricklaying as it was the best paying trade at the time and it gave a solid foundation for a career in the building industry. Soon after finishing my four-year trade apprenticeship I embarked on completing my Builders Registration, which I did in 1987.

It was a very different course back then, still taking up a lot of extra hours with theory study but the practical element was consuming also. The study laid a good foundation for a solid understanding of the industry and offered a great deal of opportunity.

On completion, I moved to Perth with my wife and young family, and began operating Norm Sims Builders, developing property for myself and for clients.

My first development was a three townhouse site close to the river in South Perth. Since then my work has predominantly been concentrated on neighbouring suburbs, though nowadays I do a lot in the Western suburbs and city fringe areas too.

What was your first job and where?

I first worked at the Railways in Narrogin when I was 15. In the building industry, I first worked with my older brother when I was doing my apprenticeship.

Was there someone in particular that encouraged you to start this career path?

I was encouraged to do a trade by my brother who was in the industry, first working in Narrogin. I soon recognised greater potential to use these skills and to become a builder in Perth.

How best would you describe Norm Sims Builders?

Norm Sims Builders is a family business which has been operating for 25 years, specialising in upmarket property developments and boutique renovations. Largely based in inner-city locations, there 24 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

are now some streets in the South Perth area where I have been the builder for most of the homes.

Being a family business my sons both work in the industry also.

We enjoy building and property development and see continued potential for it, particularly in WA.

How would you describe the building industry today and has it changed the type of builds you take on?

The building industry has become more focused on quality practice over the past 40 years and this is a good thing. There is a greater emphasis on specialised trades people allowing for a better quality completion; the only drawback of this is that individuals are not competent at several trades like they once were. I encourage any apprentice that I take on to be specialised but to also get an understanding of more than one trade. It helps to make a more cohesive worksite and is essential if they want to go on to become a builder.

There is a much greater importance on workplace safety and training which means people are more diligent than before also.

Again, if apprentices learn to have an understanding of all trades it helps to build a safe workplace as they are better placed to watch out for one another and to identify hazards, which is so important.

Is there a particular build that really stands out for you and what?

I have completed many that stand out over the years for their quality and design in ideal locations. Most recently I completed four elaborate multi-storied terrace homes in Parker Street, South Perth. They encompass the best of inner city living, being in walking distance to the South Perth foreshore, ferry and zoo with a premium design and completion. An abundance of space over four levels, including many indoor and outdoor entertainment areas, the homes are contemporary and designed for ease-of-living, ideal for people of any age group.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE SURĂ€OH

Norm Sims Builders is a family business which has been operating for 25 years, specialising in upmarket property developments and boutique renovations. Largely based in inner-city locations, there are now some streets in the South Perth area where I have been the builder for most of the homes.

I have also got great satisfaction out of a number of boutique home renovations that I have completed over the years, but I couldn’t narrow it down to just one. Many have had a unique character, been of different eras and used different or specialised materials making them incomparable.

How do you see the building and construction industry going in the future?

The building industry will continue along as it has for the last 40 years that I have been in it with booms and busts in line with the general economy; the industry has longevity with the opportunity for growth and development. In Western Australia we have a fairly unique scenario where it is difficult to train and keep good tradespeople but in the right economic environment and business management this can be overcome.

What do you believe is needed in the building industry to ensure that more qualified tradesmen and women are available to be employed?

Many builders, especially those relatively new to the industry require more stability. Indemnity Insurance limitations make many reluctant to employ apprentices with the concern that indemnity may be cancelled at any stage, particularly with just one insurer.

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As a family man and busy business owner, what hobbies/interests do you have outside of work?

My main interest is in horse racing. I follow it closely in Western Australia and will travel over east from time to time also. I have had a number of horses over the years and think it is a great industry to be involved in.

My children and grand-children keep me busy outside of work and I am very glad about that. BC

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 25

up close + personal with

PROFILE

stuart hayim DIRECTOR – ECLAT BUILDING // interviewed by merelyn demarte

When did you start Eclat Building?

Eclat Building commenced operations in 1997; however I have been in the building and construction industry for almost 50 years.

Where does the name Eclat come from?

The name Eclat (French word) was chosen because it seemed appropriate as its meaning suggests that “you are good at what you do”.

What attracted you to become a builder in the first place?

I was always good with my hands and became an apprentice carpenter in the Public Works Department in 1966 and then proceeded to spend the next 20 years working on Government projects as a carpenter.

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Have you always lived and worked in Perth?

Born in Holland, after the Second World War, my parents moved to the South West of WA to build a new life and future for their young family.

I did most of my schooling in the small farming community of Donnybrook, however even as a young boy I became aware that life on the land was not for me, instead I was more interested in building underground cubbies to play in and testament to their structural integrity, none of them collapsed.

So I guess I was destined to become a carpenter and later becoming a registered builder.

In the beginning I focused on extensions and renovations and as the business grew I started building modest homes on tight budgets and larger more palatial architecturally designed homes as the business grew. Over the years I have built homes,

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“Quality at the right price – All hours, All areas” 26 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

THE BUILDERS CHOICE SURĂ€OH

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I’m always looking at ways to introduce new building materials to improve the look and functionality of a building while working within a tight budget.

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medical centres, Government offices and places of business throughout regional WA and the greater metropolitan area. In recent years Eclat Building has been recognised as a specialist builder of local government and commercial buildings with many projects in country WA.

What do you think has been your most challenging project in recent times?

One of the more challenging projects was the Lake Grace Shire Offices, where the entire building had to be cut in half and separated, doubling the building’s size. One of the more interesting buildings would be the large retail showroom located at 246 Great Eastern Highway in Ascot; it is a standout building that has become a landmark on Great Eastern Highway.

Do you (or do you want to) work with any unusual materials?

I’m always looking at ways to introduce new building materials to improve the look and functionality of a building while working within a tight budget.

What activities are you involved in outside work?

When the opportunity presents itself, I like to travel, as it broadens one’s horizons and it offers new ideas for future projects. I still find myself excited at the thought of starting a new project and I get a lot of personal satisfaction when a job is completed on time, on budget and of course, a happy client. BC

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COVER STORY 28 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRYHU VWRU\

SILKS

stunner

Probuild Constructions’ expertise brings a smooth outcome to a complex project for the spectacular Silks Restaurant at Crown Perth. // words rocky amatulli // images crown perth

Hames Sharley is a multi-disciplinary practice specialising in architecture, interior design, urban planning and development, and landscape architecture. Its employees work together as a unified group led by Portfolio Leaders and Practice Managers.

Hames Sharley’s aim is to always provide first-grade service to its clients. The practice had already been involved in numerous projects with Crown Perth, including a 1500-bay multi-level carpark, Bistro Guillaume Restaurant and other small projects.

It was Hames Sharley’s commitment, attention to detail, and previous project experience that led the company to be invited to submit a fee proposal for Silks Restaurant.

Having successfully been appointed to the project, Hames Sharley acted as the lead consultant and architect, co-ordinating all disciplines, including design and documentation of all base builds, skylights and the upper dining pod.

Hames Sharley worked on the project in conjunction with Michael Fiebrich Designs (interior design), Creative Kitchen Planners (kitchen layout designers), BCA Consultants (electrical, mechanical & fire engineering), Cartwright Hydraulics (hydraulic engineering), AECOM (structural engineers) and Probuild Constructions, who did an amazing job with their subcontractors to build and fit out a truly stunning restaurant.

Silks is a high-end Chinese restaurant that oozes elegance and

TH

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TE

opulence, however to achieve this result, the space restraints within the building envelope required careful consideration and planning. This is evident walking through the entrance into the main dining area. Originally a pub, the site had low ceilings and a warm, cosy atmosphere. This had to be transformed into a light, bright, high-end restaurant with high ceilings and extravagant lighting.

Materials of significance used to create the restaurant’s sensational interior included double glazing for the skylights (complete with tinted glazing), carpet, timber and stone flooring and painted Lexan lighting panels. Significant features that Hames Sharley created include the sunken dining area (with timber lattice work and skylights glazing over), the entrance portal with stone, timber and natural wall cladding, the painted translucent Lexan decorative lighting panels, and the three sculptured vases in the centre of the main dining area.

One of the main challenges to design and construction within the space was ‘‘breaking’’ huge openings into the existing concrete roof slab to create two skylights and a stairwell to an upper dining area. The space constraints resulted in mechanical ductwork having to fit snugly into bulkheads to such an extent that recesses were designed into the ducts to accommodate light fittings. It was also a major challenge to create the upper

AM

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 29

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRYHU VWRU\

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Proud to be associated with SILKS RESTAURANT 30 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

dining level in a steel fire-protected structure without affecting the existing mechanical ductwork supplying adjacent restaurants.

All the mechanical ducting design and installation for the kitchen around existing services proved to be a huge task.

In the main central dining area, the bulkheads are either circular or arced, and all the ceiling mouldings are correspondingly curved.

This required templates to be constructed and initially installed on the floor, then projected up to the ceiling in order to install those elements into the correct position.

When asked about what he learnt from the project, Hames Sharley Project Architect Desmond Robertson answers (in a tongue-in-cheek fashion) “Stay away from curves!” The other lesson given the location of the site, which is essentially in the Crown Metropol Hotel’s lobby, is “Co-ordination, co-ordination, co-ordination.”

“Working hand-in-hand with the building contractor and all the consultants proved vital to producing a quality product on time and within the budget. When working on an existing building, you

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRYHU VWRU\

Silks is a high-end Chinese restaurant that oozes elegance and opulence, however to achieve this result, the space restraints within the building envelope required careful consideration and planning.

never know what you are going to find when the ceiling and walls come down at the start of the refurbishment,” says Desmond. “It was one challenge after the next, but the project ultimately proved very rewarding for all involved to see the space evolve and the end product coming to fruition.”

Like Hames Sharley, builder Probuild Constructions secured this project after its continued involvement with Crown Perth following the successful completion of other works, including the recent the Gaming Floor Expansion and Isika Day Spa. It acted as the Design Manager and Principal contractor - ensuring buildability, and engaging and managing its subcontractors to complete all facets of the work.

The complexities and constraints of working within an existing building, and one as active as Crown Perth, were enormous. Existing structure and services throughout the restaurant remained live

during the build, so it was only through conducting extensive surveys and ensuring detailed co-ordination that allowed Probuild to construct the new restaurant and all its services around the existing ones. The complexity of the demolition alone cannot be under-rated – the skylights and staircase lobby to the Upper Silks had to be cut through the existing concrete roof slabs with minimal effect to Crown Perth Operations. Noise was restricted in the mornings (hotel guests), at lunch times (restaurant customers) and in the evenings (casino patrons). The Upper Silks ‘dining experience’ also had to be built above Rockpool without affect to their trading. The logistics of constructing the restaurant with out-of-hours work, large crane lifts and extensive effort taken to conceal the project works from the Crown Perth customers and maintain their 5-star experience wasn’t the easiest of tasks.

For Probuild, the project involved intricate joinery, luxury paper

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRYHU VWRU\

The project involved intricate joinery, luxury paper and fabric wall coverings (including hand-painted gold leaf wallpaper), and detailed plasterwork and mouldings.

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and fabric wall coverings (including hand-painted gold leaf wallpaper), and detailed plasterwork and mouldings.

The unique feature backlit ceilings, bespoke fritted skylights and intricate timber latticework, whilst contributing to the wonderful appeal and ambience of the restaurant, also added to the degree of difficulty for the builder. The level of detail required

by Crown Perth and its designers and the complexity of the project location in the heart of the Crown Perth complex needed a builder and subcontractors who were up to the task. Compromise was not an option.

Probuild’s subcontractors included Projek Demolition (demolition), Cays Engineering (steelwork), Frontline Interiors (joinery), MPD (painting and decorating) MPM (mechanical services), and Everett Smith (electrical), who all worked together to help create this masterpiece. The project also brings with it some innovations - the combination of hand-painted and digital artwork for the backlit ceilings to the main dining area. Probuild claims that high-end fit outs (recently completed in Crown Perth’s Sky Salon and the VIP Mansions) set the quality benchmarks for the Silks Restaurant. Probuild continues its ongoing relationship with the Crown Perth complex via the recent demolition of the Burswood Dome, and a bid to construct the proposed Crown Towers. BC Hames Sharley: (08) 9381 0200, www.hamessharley.com.au Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd: (08) 9363 1400 www.probuild.com.au

// words Amelia Starr, Executive Director Livable Housing Australia

While our homes have undergone a ‘‘green’’ makeover in recent years, environmental sustainability is just one part of the equation.

Social sustainability – in which liveability, equity and diversity converge to deliver a high quality of life for all the members of a community – receives considerably less attention.

Australia is changing rapidly, and as it does, what we expect from our homes is changing too.

A number of ‘‘signposts’’ point to a new era of social sustainability – one in which residential housing becomes more liveable, versatile and able to adapt to the changing circumstances of residents.

Consider this. While 14 per cent of Australia’s population is currently 65 years and over, by 2056 this proportion is predicted to rise to one in four. This ageing population will drive demand for more flexibility and choice – and force architects, builders, planners and policy makers to examine social sustainability like never before.

We know people want to ‘‘age in place’’ and they are planning ahead earlier. Research suggests that adults in their 40s are thinking about how they can stay in their current homes and communities for as long as possible.

At the same time, technology is changing the way we engage with the world. As internet access among seniors grows, they are able to stay in their homes for longer – with mobile health apps and virtual doctors, location-aware technology and personal emergency response systems supporting peace of mind.

Around 20 percent of people aged over 65 years are primary carers for young children while their own children work. This means the homes older people need to be child friendly. But are they?

Most accidents in the home involve children under the age of five.

A recent Victorian study found that children under five had twice as many serious falls as any other age group – and the most common reason for falls were split-level steps and stairs between rooms.

The truth is Australian homes aren’t designed with safety and comfort of the whole family in mind. A recent UK study revealed that

the average home design caters for just 18 percent of people. If you are male, fit, aged between 18 and 45, average height and weight and right handed then you are one of the lucky few who fit the ‘‘average’’ profile.

The remaining 82 percent of people have to tolerate homes that don’t meet their needs.

According to the Productivity Commission, investment in housing remains the single biggest financial commitment that Australians make in their lifetime. However, in reality, our lifetime investment is not designed or built for a lifetime’s use. We design and build our houses for a ‘‘Peter Pan population’’ – people who never get older, never have illness, and never have a change in life circumstance or ability.

International research has found that it is 22 times more efficient to design your home to meet your changing needs upfront, than it is to undertake an expensive retrofit. And yet, few people consider liveability when they are buying or building a new home.

Livable Housing Australia is driving a transformation in the way we design and deliver the Australian dream home.

LHA’s practical, common sense guidelines to liveability, the Livable Housing Design Guidelines, outline simple and straightforward design features that can be incorporated into any new or existing home, whether a detached house or apartment dwelling. The designs of more than 250 individual dwellings have already achieved the seal of approval that attests to enhanced liveability.

A number of companies are already taking a lead by embracing the Livable Housing Design Guidelines. Stockland signed on as LHA’s first Corporate Partner in October, and the company’s CEO of Retirement Living, Stephen Bull, has signalled “our commitment to apply Livable Housing Design principles to our entire pipeline of new retirement living villas, townhouses and units.”

The bottom line is simple. A liveable home is really about good design.

Livable homes are safe for young children, able to meet the changing needs of families, support people with disabilities to live independently and help older Australians to age in place.

The Livable Housing Design Guidelines are being embraced by the development industry around Australia, and we are committed to creating consumer demand for liveable homes, and building capacity to help the design and construction industry to deliver.

As the demand for homes that are flexible, versatile and adaptable grows, expect people to ask you the ‘‘million-dollar question’’: is this design liveable?

Find out more about how to work with LHA to achieve independent certification and download the Livable Housing Design Guidelines from www.lha.org.au. Free downloads of the guidelines are also available from the AppStore and Google Play. BC Livable Housing Australia: 1300 738 913, www. livablehousingaustralia.org.au

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 33

INDUSTRY NEWS & VIEWS

Liveability and social sustainability

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Challenger builds hope brick by brick // words craig francis, challenger institute of technology

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34 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

Like so many others in a similar situation, when 23-year-old Tyran Ackerman approached prospective employers seeking apprenticeship opportunities, he was told he was too old to be considered.

Two years earlier, when looking for work, he had endured constantly being told he was too young and inexperienced.

Today, thanks to an access program run by Challenger Institute of Technology and funded by the Australian Government, Tyran is six months into a bricklaying apprenticeship and is, for the first time in his life, excited about his career prospects and future.

“Getting experience is the hardest part of starting out in the construction industry and if it wasn’t for this course I’d still be battling the odds trying to get a foot in the door,” said Mr Ackerman, of Rockingham.

“When I was offered the chance at Centrelink to sign up for this, I jumped at it. It was all entirely new to me but I really wanted to grab the opportunity to acquire some skills that would open the door to a career in the construction industry and I’m glad I did,” he said.

Tyran is among the first batch of students to have taken part in the Australian Apprenticeship Access Program at Challenger.

The program strives to support unemployed and disadvantaged people in communities throughout Western Australia in pathways to training and employment.

Access courses are delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs) who provide training linked to a nationally accredited certificate to meet the individual needs of job seekers, providing a pathway to apprenticeships, employment or further education.

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE WUDLQLQJ GHYHORSPHQW

Access Program Manager (WA) Lee Hayes said the early results from the program were promising.

“The Challenger access course incorporated an exciting hands-on learning environment, with a focus on acquiring relevant skills through a mixture of practical training and mentoring that offered advice about the realities of the workplace,” Ms Hayes said.

“Challenger has provided life-changing opportunities to students in this course, with eight completing the program so far, including three participants placed in potential employment outcomes and two others already in apprenticeships. These results are significant when looking at comparative results across WA and congratulations are in order for Challenger’s Rockingham campus and to all that assisted in this access course.”

Beyond skills Unlike other courses that focus on skills and a resultant qualification, the access participation program provides a holistic approach in three distinct stages.

The first stage focuses on pre-vocation training units that provide the skills applicable to a nationally accredited certificate. Stage two provides up to 13 weeks of job search support, drawing upon the industry networks of Challenger and others.

Stage three provides between 13 and 26 weeks of post-placement support to assist once participants are placed in apprenticeships, employment or further education.

WA’s Construction Training Fund has publicly identified the shortfall in apprentices in the construction wet trades and the need to address this skills shortage.

Challenger’s director building and automotive technology Mike

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 35

THE BUILDERS CHOICE WUDLQLQJ GHYHORSPHQW

Scally said the access program was a way for the institute to tackle this issue.

“The program specifically targeted medium to long-term unemployed individuals, with the group coming from a diverse background in terms of age and previous work experience,” said Mr Scally. “It adds to the growing list of programs Challenger’s construction training area provides to support both industry and individuals within the Peel, Rockingham and Kwinana region.”

Lecturer Wayne Aspden said the strength of the course was that it took into account the potential obstacles that students from disadvantaged backgrounds might face and worked on attitude as well as skills.

“We really look to develop a student’s capacity to problem solve, so they are equipped to act decisively and work their way through different situations,” said Mr Aspden. “We give the students the chance to gain rudimentary skills and a chance to determine which trade they would like to pursue, in construction and wet trades such as tiling, plastering and bricklaying. The other focus is on work readiness skills, including time management, commitment and communications, to prepare the participants for the demands of working on a construction site.”

For Mr Ackerman, whose apprenticeship is with a Meadow Springs housing construction company, the decision to focus on bricklaying was made early in his training.

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“At school I’d hated bricklaying when I was 14 but this time around it was entirely different and I knew within a few days of starting the course that this is what I wanted to do,” he said. “There are so many elements to it, from technical skills and accuracy to creativity and the satisfaction of seeing the finished product.”

Huge investment With the new Building Technology Centre due to open in early 2014 at Challenger’s Rockingham campus, the new crop of tradies can look forward to training in a state-of-the-art facility.

The $28.6 million Building Technology Centre is set to dramatically change the face of trades training in the south metropolitan area.

The new facility will meet Western Australia’s growing demand for skilled workers through the provision of building and construction training in the finest such facility in the state.

Equipped with the latest technology and meeting the highest of industry standards, the facility will play a pivotal role in producing qualified tradespeople. More than 700 students will be in a position to benefit from Challenger’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training programs each year. BC Craig Francis (08) 9239 8301 / 0401 171 689

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COMMERCIAL

United effort pays off The combined skills of a well-known Perth architectural firm and established Perth building contractor create a new Perth office for United Voice. // words rocky amatulli

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United Voice is an organisation made up of more than 120,000 Australian workers. United Voice WA has more than 23,000 members ranging from industries such as hospitals, aged care, schools, childcare centres, disability services, laundries, home care, universities, cleaning, security, hotels, catering, baking, food, and the casino. Its WA members are covered by more than 90 awards and 350 enterprise agreements. The organisation’s philosophy centres on the dignity of workers and the right to fair and just treatment in the workplace.

Architectural firm Bollig Design Group was invited to submit its credentials alongside several other architectural practices. The company was fortunate to be selected as the project architect for the United Voice office. Being a mixed use development, Bollig Design Group became responsible for all architectural and interior design for the project, including all the office areas and the top level residential apartments.

The project was designed and constructed under an extremely tight budget, requiring significant value management and working closely as a team to achieve the desired outcomes. At the same time the relevant sustainability issues were considered and resolved – with passive solar design being incorporated by way of orientation to the north with sun shading, minimising both eastern and western solar loads, and incorporating high-performance thermal glazing to the north and south facades of the building.

“The building design and form are very contemporary, simple and

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 37

The building design and form are very contemporary, simple and clean having intentionally been designed to create a timeless result rather than to reflect a momentary design trend.

clean having intentionally been designed to create a timeless result rather than to reflect a momentary design trend. The residential areas have been well set back from the street providing more privacy whilst still enabling them to capture the great views to the city and beyond to the Darling Range,” says Bollig Design Group Director Edwin Bollig.

Externally and structurally, the project incorporates the use of Ultrabond aluminium cladding, Double Glazing Australasia with Viridian e-vantage glazing, Dribond Waterproofing XL pre-cast concrete wall panels and flooring system and Urbanstone paving.

Internal finishes and fixtures include Interface Carpet Tiles, Vercon Tiles, Vertilux blinds and Eco-pelmet, Burgtec workstations and loose furniture, GWA Gainsborough Door Hardware.

The main challenge in working on this project was completing it on budget (the original builder went into liquidation after starting the project). This led to the project being re-tendered and required negotiation with new contractors to complete the project. The Bollig Design Group team worked very closely with successful building contractor Probuild (the second builder) and project managers Aria Projects to achieve the client’s desired outcome.

Fortunately, Probuild’s expertise encompasses all facets of project delivery – from construction planning through to management.

“This was purely a construction-only project for us. We built it according to the drawings and specifications provided by the architect and other consultants,” says Andrew Tang from Probuild.

But there were also some additional requirements, given that Probuild were picking up a partly built project. “In the beginning, our brief included finding ways to reduce the overall project cost and construction duration. To achieve this, we investigated the option of using precast concrete panels for the structure’s floor and main supporting walls. This option and recommendation was ultimately adopted for the project.”

Andrew feels the four-storey building (with a plant room on the roof ) is unique as an office building because it has a mixed usage comprising of retail, commercial (where United Voice’s office is located) and residential. Lack of accessibility (only having single frontage access) meant that a lot of the work and activity could not be overlapped. This challenge was overcome by Probuild via careful planning and scheduling of the material deliveries and works. Despite being a small scale project for Probuild, the amount

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Roseworx has used its 17-plus years experience to establish itself as an industry leader in steel fabrication. It specialises in the fabrication of structural steel, chutes, plate work, piping and industrial lifting equipment for a range of industries including Commercial, Mining and Oil and Gas. Roseworx provides a full service starting at site surveying,

engineering and shop detailing drawings, fabrication, industrial surface treatment and installation from its base in the Canning Vale Industrial area, as well as ongoing after project support.

The company is committed to the implementation and continual improvement of its Quality Management System, structured to framework in accordance with ISO 9001 that will complement existing management functions which is monitored and maintained on a regular basis to ensure that quality and project deadlines are always met.

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www.roseworx.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 39

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRPPHUFLDO

of effort that went into it to complete the project was no less than a building many times its size - due to the non-repeating and unique details.

Founded in 1987 by Phil Mehrten, Probuild is a dynamic national construction company with a proud history. Innovation, commitment and experience underpin the company’s reputation as a leader in construction. Probuild’s core strength lies with its people, who are dedicated to teamwork and delivering excellence to its clients.

Probuild has the ability to deliver high quality projects on time and within budget, with a strong focus on safety and the environment.

Probuild’s track record for delivering quality outcomes is one of the reasons why it has grown to become one of Australia’s largest and most successful construction companies – and that it was selected to complete this project.

Probuild has controlled its growth over the years, consolidating relationships with valued clients, while preserving its original people-focused culture. In fact, many key people have been with

the company for 20 years. Probuild is now a nationally diversified company with more than 300 employees.

As part of its national development strategy, Probuild has a strategic alliance with Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon Limited (WBHO), one of the largest construction and engineering contractors in southern Africa. This alliance laid the groundwork for Probuild’s national expansion and strengthened its financial capacity (no doubt offering United Voice some peace of mind after the first building contractor failed to complete their project).

Similarly, Bollig Design Group has been servicing the Western Australian community since 1959 and Edwin Bollig is the second generation at the helm of the business. The company is further supported by fellow director Ray Crocker and a group of 18 professionals with the aim of servicing clients to exceed their expectations.

Bollig Design Group provides architectural services as well as interior and urban design, with a strong focus on producing high

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The four-storey building... is unique as an office building because it has a mixed usage comprising of retail, commercial...and residential.

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quality integrated design outcomes but within a commercial framework. When asked to reflect on this project, Edwin says: “We learn from every project we are involved with and the main lesson learnt on this particular project is that working as a team with all parties - from client, contractors and consultants - is of paramount importance to achieving quality project outcomes, especially when challenged financially as we were on this project. Given the earlier disruption to the project, the final result is now a client that is pleased with the outcome in spite of that original adversity.”

Bollig Design Group is in the process of completing the new HIF of Australia office building, the City of Cockburn’s Integrated Community Health & Library Facility and GP Superclinic, and an office building at 1 Ord Street West Perth. BC Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd: (08) 9363 1400, www.probuild.com.au Bollig Design Group: (08) 9321 4402, www.bollig.com.au

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www.hanson.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 41

RESIDENTIAL

Opening doors The Department of Housing develops strategic relationships so that the community wins.

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// words rocky amatulli // images sks corporate photographers

The Department of Housing purchased 146-150 Fitzgerald Street, Perth in February 2007 at a cost of $2.85 million under the State Community Housing Investment Program (SCHIP), to be used for community housing in the inner city area. That year, the City of Vincent developed a set of design guidelines and development objectives for the area in which the proposed development was located, which included: facilitating good quality and well-designed buildings for residential, commercial and mixed-use purposes; maximising the use and enjoyment of the excellent public open space afforded in the area; maximising the opportunities afforded by the area’s proximity to the central business district, major public transport routes, road networks and gateway to the Town of Vincent; creating a premier example of robust building forms catering to a variety of uses within a pleasant inner-urban environment; creating a mixed-use environment where the amenity of all users is respected and considered; building on the sense of place evidenced by the area’s history and cultural diversity; and encouraging the use of ‘‘green building’’ techniques and the provision of ‘‘affordable housing’’.

In May 2010, Cabinet endorsed the Community Housing Growth Strategy. A key element of the strategy was the transfer of public housing assets to the community housing sector to enable them to grow their business and leverage assets to increase the supply of social and affordable housing stock.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

The screens are punched to a pattern developed in conjunction with the project artist and treated with an anodised finish.

Nine community housing organisations signed Community Housing Agreements with the Department of Housing under the Asset Transfer Project – including Community Housing Limited (CHL) which contributed 15 percent of the cost of the project (equating to $2.6 million).

The Fitzgerald Street complex was designed by JCY Architects and Urban Designers to provide a variety of low-cost, high quality apartments for a mix of families, elderly and single/ couple occupants. It comprises 49 residential units (18 seniors, 11 two-bedroom family and 20 one-bedroom singles units) and two commercial units. The development is made up of three separate buildings organised around a central landscaped courtyard, located on the basement car park with a total of 49 dwellings. Building 1 is a three-storey building fronting Fitzgerald Street with the two commercial units at ground floor level and eight one-bed family dwellings above. Building 2 is a series of

three and four-storey buildings in the centre of the site on the south side of the central courtyard. The three-storey buildings accommodate 12 one-bed family dwellings and the four-storey building accommodates eight two-bed family dwellings. Building 3 is an eight-storey tower fronting Pendal Lane with vehicular and pedestrian entrances from the laneway and service facilities at ground level. At courtyard ground level are three two-bed family dwellings, with six levels of two-bed aged person’s dwellings above.

The development has been designed to respond to the conditions of the local climate and the buildings are orientated to maximise sustainable living solutions, including passive solar heating, cooling, cross-ventilation and day lighting strategies.

The dwellings have been provided with private outdoor living areas and communal landscaped areas not required by the R-Codes. The palette of materials chosen provides architectural,

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

engineering and construction benefits that have a positive impact on the affordability of the development. Finishes are simple, but contemporary and vibrant. For example, perforated aluminium solar shade screens and privacy screens form a design feature of the development. Public art has been incorporated into the pedestrian entrances off Fitzgerald Street and Pendal Lane and the art work has been integrated throughout the development, including the pattern of the perforations to the aluminium screens and stencils throughout the basement car park.

The Department awarded construction of the complex to Pyramid Constructions in December 2009 for $14,128,880.

Construction works commenced on January 18 2010 and Practical Completion of the works was granted on April 27 2012. While construction of these units was originally due to be finalised in April 2012, additional works were required due to several complaints from neighbours regarding privacy issues. The WA Planning Commission requested the Department install additional privacy screens to the units at the rear of the complex. However, the WA Planning Commission assisted the Department by granting permission to occupy the front 18 units of the complex while these works were completed. Selected tenants began moving into the front units in October 2012. Fabricated steel screen frames were installed to the rear units in February 2013 and the units are now occupied by tenants.

The complex comprises three structures which are built of a common transfer slab set over the basement level and covers

the majority of the site. The transfer slab and suspended slabs throughout, fire tank and low-level core walls are reinforced in-situ concrete. All external walls, including basement and boundary walls, and internal load bearing walls are reinforced concrete walls that use the AFS Logicwall system - a permanent formwork system consisting of lightweight sandwich panels formed by bonding fibre cement sheets to galvanised steel stud. The use of the AFS wall system provides a finished wall surface and also has the ability to reduce timeframes in construction of the building structure.

Balustrades to the unit balconies were a combination of low-height AFS walls and aluminium framed glass balustrades. The roof structure is made from structural steel framing with metal deck sheeting.

External screening to the balconies, open stairwells and exposed lift shaft was provided by perforated aluminium screens fixed to hollow section steel frames. The screens are punched to a pattern developed in conjunction with the project artist and treated with an anodised finish. Pedestrian and vehicle access gates to the site are also constructed from matching perorated screens and steel frames. External common paved areas including stairs, landings and bridges are finished with exposed aggregate concrete. The flooring to the communal courtyard also includes artificial grass.

Anodised aluminium windows with 10.38mm laminated Comfort Plus glass front onto Fitzgerald Street and Pendal Lane and 6.38mm laminated glass fronts onto the communal courtyard to meet acoustic requirements. Internal non-load bearing walls are built

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

The Fitzgerald Street Housing development is ideally located for affordable social housing.

from either lightweight stud or 90mm blockwork (to reduce possible damage) – again reducing maintenance costs.

Internal floor finishes are carpet (in the aged persons units) and vinyl (in the family and single units), with tiling to wet areas throughout.

The Fitzgerald Street Housing development is ideally located for affordable social housing with the proximity of the site to Robertson Park and Russell Square, public transport and cycle paths into and out of the City, and local amenities, including a local supermarket on Newcastle Street as well as butchers, bakeries, cafés and restaurants, a petrol station and delis, all within or just beyond 500m of the site. The 49 apartments and two commercial units in this development were transferred to CHL under the Asset Transfer Project. This will allow them to borrow against the asset and build more social and affordable housing.

The terms and conditions required by the Department were accepted by CHL, endorsed by the Department’s Asset Transfer Project Board, and approved by the then Minister for Housing. CHL undertakes the property and tenancy management for the complex. Tenant allocation of the units under the terms of the agreement is 70% social housing and 30% affordable housing.

The project was one of 12 winners in the Royal Institute of British Architects International Awards for architectural excellence announced on June 13 2013. It was also awarded a commendation in the Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing category at the 2013 Western Australian Architecture Awards. BC

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Department of Housing: (08) 9222 4666, www.housing.wa.gov.au Pyramid Constructions (WA) Pty Ltd: (08) 9340 988, www.pyramid.net.au JCY Architects and Urban Designers: (08) 9481 1477, www.jcy.net CHL: (08) 9224 7200, www.chl.org.au

PROJECT SUMMARY Commercial Units: 2 Residential Dwellings: 49 (20 x single bed/18 x 2-bed aged person (adaptable) 11 x 2-bed family dwellings) Basement Car Park: 40 car bays (including 18 accessible bays and three commercial bays)

M: 0419 424 690 P: (08) 9331 8236 F: (08) 9331 8237 U2/9 Weatherburn Way Kardinya WA 6163

www.kineticelectrical.com.au 46 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

Ph: 13 15 40

RESIDENTIAL

Lime St produces fresh accommodation Lime Street provides an innovative transitional housing model for the homeless and aged

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St Bartholomew’s House (St Bart’s) is a community housing organisation registered as a ‘‘preferred provider’’ with the Department of Housing. In 2007, St Bart’s applied to the Department for funding to develop crisis and transitional accommodation for homeless men, longer-term residential accommodation and an aged persons’ facility. In May 2009, St Bart’s signed a 40-year lease agreement at a ‘‘peppercorn’’ rent to secure a site at Lime Street, East Perth (owned by the East Perth Redevelopment Authority) for the construction of the facility.

The Lime St project arose from the vision and passion of then-St Bart’s CEO Lynne Evans. During her 15 years working with Perth’s homeless, Lynne had observed how often homeless clients would enter St Bart’s crisis accommodation facility in East Perth, thrive in its supportive environment, ‘‘graduate’’ to much smaller long-term residencies out in the suburbs, and there, finding themselves isolated from their new friends and support network, return to old habits, and eventually find themselves back on the street. For Lynne, the cost of this standard model of homeless accommodation was unacceptably high, both for the individuals concerned, and the society that must continue to support them.

So Lynne devised an innovative new model – based on a

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 47

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

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concept of continual care for Perth’s homeless, where crisis, transitional, aged care and long-term accommodation are housed in the same building, and clients can move from one accommodation type to the next, while remaining part of the same community. It is the first time that a program of this kind, and a homeless facility of this complexity, has been attempted in Australia.

Fortunately, St. Bartholomew’s and the Department of Housing had already developed an excellent working relationship, which started in 1992 through its community housing programs. The majority of funding for the construction of this $35 million development was from the State Community Housing Investment Program which allocates funds to community housing projects and a specific

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P 08 9342 4111 F 08 9342 5199 M 0408 941 424 6 Canham Way, Greenwood WA 6024 E reception@butkotransport.com.au

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

...based on a concept of continual care for Perth’s homeless, where crisis, transitional, aged care and long-term accommodation are housed in the same building, and clients can move from one accommodation type to the next, while remaining part of the same community.

grant for crisis accommodation. The total cost of construction was $30.6 million, funded by St Bart’s ($1 million), the State ($22.3 million) and Commonwealth Government ($7.33 million).

Lotterywest contributed $2.36 million for fit-out of the building.

St Bartholomew’s Lime Street is in East Perth, on an angular block adjoining railway tracks, a highway and car park on three sides, and the urban agricultural collective at City Farm. The site is a short walk from St Bart’s existing facilities and office, and offers obvious advantages for homeless clients in terms of access to public facilities and the inner city (which most homeless people prefer to the suburbs). However, the site had drawbacks, including its lack of an immediate urban context and, above all, its small size relative to the number of units that had to be housed in order for the project to be operationally and financially viable. This last constraint compounded the overriding architectural challenge for the project – how do you build a facility of this scale, with so

many different user and accommodation types, while meeting the client’s key built form objectives – the retention of a human scale and the creation of a unified and sustainable community?

According to Formworks Architecture lead designer Kelly Rattigan, the key to resolving this issue was an observation she made during her many conversations with St Bart’s clients: invariably, she noticed, they liked to gather in the pathways and alcoves of its existing facilities, in informal public spaces. So Lime Street is designed around its own internal street, and the usual north-south configuration of such buildings has been turned 90 degrees so that sunlight favours not individual units, but the north-facing walkways, courtyards and roof-top gardens where residents like to gather. Each building houses specific user types, enabling the design to congregate different security and access needs, while the careful use of different materials and colours works both to give a sense of unity to the entire development and

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by Solargain and the other being that the installation was to be carried out during the construction phase of the building.

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

further break down the buildings’ masses This mass is broken down by splitting it between specific north and south buildings which assists in separating the distinctly different accommodation types including 12 crisis rooms, with shared bathroom (one-week stay), 42 transitional rooms with individual bathroom (up to five months’ stay), 40 low-care, aged care rooms with individual bathroom (long-term), and 54 self-contained units (long-term).

While solving these and other issues, the project team also successfully applied for $750,000 of extra funding, with the money going towards Lime Street’s solar panels and wind turbines, and the design’s unusual north-south configuration which also provided passive cooling, by allowing Perth’s sea breeze to flow through the building. These and other challenges were successfully overcome, and the result is a completed building that has surpassed the expectations of its clients. Indeed, one visitor commented after seeing Lime Street’s compact, self-contained studio units that an investment property he had recently purchased in East Perth was not as large or as well laid-out and finished.

When government funding requirements later meant the number of storeys at Lime Street needed to be increased from six to eight, EPRA suddenly announced that it would only approve a four-storey building. Formworks Architecture managed to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the authority’s Design Review Committee, (something no architect had ever done before), and negotiated a compromise seven-storey solution that saved the

Ph: 13 15 40 50 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

project from failure, then in only a week, redesigned the facility to seven-storeys, without losing any rooms or increasing the client’s design fee. Other key wins negotiated included reducing the number of on-site car bays to a single bay for the disabled, eliminating the need for a government appointed project manager on a government funded project, and eliminating the requirement for side and front set-backs.

Whilst the facility comprises 148 units, it still retains a sense of community and domestic scale on a very small site. The seven-storey building has no corridors, which typically become ‘‘dead space’’ and create an institutional feel; instead, open, sun-lit walkways look down an internal street and allow conversations and visual sight lines between different parts of the facility. The building also has an unusual east-west configuration, which prioritises sunlight for communal spaces ahead of private rooms, while also maximising the cooling effect of Perth’s sea breeze.

It is the first time that a program of this kind, and a homeless facility of this complexity, had been attempted in Australia. The Lime Street development is one of many inner-city accommodation options the Department of Housing is developing as part of the State’s Affordable Housing Strategy, which will provide 20,000 affordable housing options by 2020. By improving and increasing its engagement with the private and not-for-profit sectors, the Department has been able to leverage resources and expertise to create more affordable housing opportunities for the benefit of Western Australians. St Bart’s took a very active role by project

CONCRETE 13 26 62 AGGREGATES 13 36 66

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Lime Street is designed around its own internal street, and the usual north-south configuration of such buildings has been turned 90 degrees so that sunlight favours not individual units, but the north-facing walkways, courtyards and roof-top gardens where residents like to gather.

managing the construction of the facility, and it continues to manage its day-to-day operations.

At the 2013 Western Australian Architecture Awards in July, Lime Street won in the Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing category and will move on to compete in the national awards. The Lime Street Project also won the Sustainable Urban Development category as well as the prestigious President’s Award in the 2013 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA Awards for Excellence. The President’s Award recognises a project as being the best among all winning submissions.

The rest of Lime Street’s environs await development, and the neighbourhood is dominated by large, single-function government offices. The developers have tried to create the prototype for a future, more diverse streetscape by including a chapel, internet cafe, hairdresser and podiatrist along the public street, while a generously proportioned and secure entry point leads directly into the internal street. Again, the emphasis here is

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on safe connections and a sense of community; the aim being to build not an institution, but to lay the foundations for a socially sustainable ‘‘village’’. BC Department of Housing: (08) 9222 4666, www.housing.wa.gov.au Formworks Architecture: (08) 9335 5220, www.formworks.com.au St Bartholomew’s House: (08) 9325 5100, www.stbarts.org.au The Northerly Group: (08) 9442 3888, www.northerly.com.au

PROJECT SUMMARY Value: $35 million Residential units : 148 (54 x 1-bed units / 12 x 1-bed crisis units / 42 x transitional ‘lodging house’ beds for homeless men / 40-bed aged care facility)

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RESIDENTIAL

Heart of Highgate St Marks combines Finbar’s latest development in one of Perth’s oldest suburbs – and does it with style!

T

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TE

AM

// words rocky amatulli

St Marks represents one of the two main types of residential developments that Finbar produces regularly. One is the multi-level tower such as the numerous Finbar apartment developments on Terrace Road in the city for example. The other type (of which St Mark’s is an example) is the suburban residential low-rise with clustered buildings and open spaces in between.

St Marks is a boutique development and it is only fitting that it sits in Highgate, Perth’s second-smallest suburb. The site of the St Marks development is the former Christian Brothers High School, which operated from 1936 to 1978. It then became a senior high school until 1981, after which it was then taken over by St Mark’s International School until its closure in 2010.

Located one street back from bustling Beaufort Street, St Marks sits at the quieter end Stirling Street, close to Forrest Park and only a few blocks from Hyde Park. Highgate still has two other primary schools, one being Sacred Heart, a Catholic school and Highgate Primary School (the second-oldest government primary in the state). Highgate Primary School has students from over 50 different nationalities and backgrounds. The location also has access on foot to some of Perth’s trendiest and chic eateries and shops, which is undoubtedly why all of the 130 apartments in the development

52 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

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were sold out even before completion of construction.

And as with all Finbar developments, location, amenity, quality and detail are all equal first priority in this residential development which wraps around two sides of the original school building (which has been earmarked for office or educational uses).

The staggered-height complex contains rises to a maximum of five levels, and its modern façade and elevations provide a contrast against the predominantly red-bricked old school building. The new buildings are mainly neutral in colour, but have splashes of vibrant accents, which give the development a character and identity of its own.

Given the importance that buyers (and residents in general nowadays) place on security of their home, St Marks caters in true Finbar fashion.

St Marks offers secure basement and lower ground parking and store rooms (although one could almost dispense with a car if they worked in the area as all other living and entertainment requirements can be met from the adjoining streets). Unlike some other Finbar developments, St Marks does not contain any commercial units on the ground floor under apartments.

The commercial use is entirely contained within the old school building, meaning that residents can own a ground floor unit complete with its own courtyard.

The development incorporates an audio intercom system for controlling access to the lower ground floor and ground floor entrance lobbies and main pedestrian entry gates from Stirling Street, two remote controls per apartment, surveillance camera system with digital recorder provided for review by the strata

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Location, amenity, quality and detail are all equal first priority in this residential development which wraps around two sides of the original school building.

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

body for security purposes, and electronic entry to the ground floor lobbies which also controls lift access to each individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s floor. This system is also integrated with the carpark gate remote control.

Apartment types vary from 1 bed/1 bath to 3 bed/2 baths, and in total, St Marks offers 12 different apartment layouts. As with other Finbar developments, many of the balconies and courtyards are huge, and some apartments even have two

We  can  deliver  anywhere,  anytime  &  on  time Specialist  Providers  of  Ceilings  &  Walls  for  any  situation WA Direct Plasterboard would  like  to  take  this  opportunity  to  congratulate  the  HANSSEN  GROUP  and  the  FINBAR  GROUP  on  a  wonderful  job  on  ST  MARKS  APARTMENTS. We  would  also  like  to  commend  Gerry  Hanssen  for  his  commitment  to  the  future  of  the  building  industry  with  his  continuous  investment  in  Youth  Employment  and  Apprenticeships,  the  lifeblood  of  our  industry.

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balconies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one at each end of the apartment.

There are the (what have now become expected) leisure facilities (which are not always delivered by all developers) in the complex â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a solar-heated swimming pool, poolside furniture, air-conditioned pool lounge, BBQ and sink, bar area, air-conditioned games room, air-conditioned meeting room, gymnasium, sauna and change rooms.

Having said that, even the extent of the provided facilities at St

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The new buildings are mainly neutral in colour, but have splashes of vibrant accents, which give the development a character and identity of its own.

Marks are at the better end of the scale…with a 21-metre pool being one example. All this almost changes the status of the development from merely ‘‘residential’’ to ‘‘self-contained resort’’.

This is usually the way in which Finbar designs and builds its developments. BC Finbar: (08) 6211 3300, www.finbar.com.au Hanssen: (08) 6218 3800, www.hanssen.com.au SS Chang Architects: (08) 9481 8988, www.sschang.com.au

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Building for Diversity TH

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Creating better communities to enable all Western Australians to have a place to call home. // words rocky amatulli // images courtesy of foundation housing and coda studios

The Department of Housing seeks to build better communities and enable all Western Australians to have a place to call home. Through the State Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2020: Opening Doors to Affordable Housing (Opening Doors), the Department of Housing is firmly focused on helping Western Australians progress towards home ownership. It provides public housing for those in need, when in need; affordable land and housing opportunities for those on low-moderate incomes; assists with housing finance through Keystart; provides rental assistance; and provides government employees in regional areas with quality homes so that they can deliver the necessary services to their communities.

In the late 90sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the then Perth Inner City Housing Association identified the need for an increased level of lodging and affordable housing within the Perth CBD. The majority of inner city lodging accommodation was in older rundown properties with share facilities such as bathrooms, toilets and kitchens. Building on its previous successes, City Housing (later to become Foundation Housing Ltd)

56 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

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The primary aim of the development was to increase the supply of additional social and affordable housing accommodation in the inner city area - thus providing substantial benefit to families, single people and key workers on low incomes, seeking long-term accommodation options in this area.

identified a suitable site at Lot 371 Newcastle Street Perth and negotiated the acquisition with the East Perth Redevelopment Authority and then approached the Department of Housing for a joint venture to develop the project. In 2009, the Department of Housing entered into a partnership agreement with community housing organisation Foundation Housing Limited (FHL) to construct a multi-storey building to accommodate social housing needs on this site. FHL is a developer and manager of social and affordable housing for people who may be homeless, at risk of homelessness or otherwise inadequately housed. The Department of Housing co-funded the $16.8 million development on land owned by FHL, with FHL contributing $1.5 million towards the project.

The primary aim of the development was to increase the supply of additional social and affordable housing accommodation in the inner city area - thus providing substantial benefit to families, single people and key workers on low incomes, seeking long term accommodation options in this area. The secondary

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aim was to successfully integrate lodging accommodation with apartments and commercial premises. The project was the subject of a design competition attracting some 35 entrants of which 6 were shortlisted. CODA Studios won this competition and was selected as the architects for this project. The complex comprises 17 residential units, a 44-bed hostel, nine commercial units and 24 car parking bays. One of the commercial units is an existing heritage-listed building, which has been restored as part of this project.

Pyramid Constructions (WA) Pty Ltd was awarded the building contract on a competitive tender - winning the job by only 0.6%. The company undertook the role of head contractor on the project. Construction incorporated the use of masonry and Hebel blocks, concrete structure, aluminium windows and doors, aluminium cladding, perforated metal panels and screens, and artwork. The site footprint was very small, and had to accommodate two separate buildings with the apartments/hostel rooms and 8 commercial units - including a heritage building. The

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project was built boundary-to-boundary on all four sides. This meant attention being devoted to multiple staging of works sequencing of trades and delivery of materials due to limited laydown areas. Pyramid also had to retain the front facade of the existing building and refurbish the heritage components.

Use of the lightweight Hebel blocks (created by the recycling of industrial by products from other industries) for constructing the lodging tower, provides a sustainable structure which is thermally efficient. The utilisation of an Eco Skeleton which in turn reinforces the structural strength of the construction provides a reduction in heat loading to the eastern and western exposures of the building.

John Jones from Pyramid Constructions says that, “the project was successful on a number of levels, one being the delivery of high density living on an urban infill block which had limited use as a commercially viable development. It also succeeded in the selection of building materials and structural design solutions that suited the nature of the site.”

But the project’s uniqueness isn’t just captured in its inception, site or construction. The incorporation of a public art program within the contract provided commission opportunities for young artists to produce works for the public

to view. The refurbishment of the adjoining Heritage building and its conversion to a café further enhanced the project. The commercial premises are also leased to Work Power and provide the opportunity for residents of the complex to attain work experience in the hospitality industry.

Liaison between the Department and FHL continued through the various planning and approval processes to the eventual completion of this project in March 2012.

The ‘Building for Diversity’ Newcastle Street Development was awarded a commendation in the Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing category at the 2013 Western Australian Architecture Awards.

Peter Lonsdale, Director of Housing Programs at the Department of Housing, says the project reflects the effective outcomes of its partnerships. “(This shows) the advantages of working in partnership with the not-for-profit sector to produce the excellent quality of housing being delivered jointly by the Department of Housing and community housing organisations.”

Peter Lonsdale has worked for 30 years within the social housing sector. Peter was with the NSW Government for five years and has spent the past 25 years at the Department of

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www.excellockers.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 59

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Housing in WA. He has worked across a number of areas within the Department ranging from social housing, policy, community housing and government regional officers’ housing. Peter also has a personal commitment to community housing and assisting those most vulnerable within the community through his involvement in national charity and community development partnerships.

Hans Gerritsen, FHL’s Treasury & Project Account Manager, adds that, “In any further major projects, FHL would to look at means of incorporating all 4 aspects of housing such as lodging to social housing to affordable housing and to free market housing all within the one development. Where at all possible, we would also want incorporate a component of commercial.” FHL is presently working on a major development on land owned in East Perth. DA has been received from City of Perth and the project is already at an ‘in-depth’ design stage. Hans originally spent some 14 years in the banking industry until he felt it was time for a change, finally joining the community sector as a development officer.

Pyramid Constructions is also expanding its construction portfolio further, working on ten other projects ranging from apartment developments, aged care/retirement facilities, schools, hospitality and a 6 green star designed training centre. BC Department of Housing: (08) 9222 4666, www.housing.wa.gov.au Pyramid Constructions (WA) Pty Ltd: (08) 9340 9888, www.pyramid.net.au CODA Studio: (08) 9433 6000, www.coda-studio.com Foundation Housing Ltd: (08) 9422 0706, www.foundationhousing.org.au

PROJECT SUMMARY Value: $16.8 million Commercial units : 9 Residential units : 17

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Great living in the Good Country Pelago East brings high-rise luxury apartment living to Karratha. // words rocky amatulli

E TH

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AM

Karratha is a town adjoining the port of Dampier in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is located approximately 1535km north of Perth and 850km south of Broome on the North West Coastal Highway. The town’s name in the local Aboriginal language means ‘’good country’’ or ‘’soft earth’’ Planning for the construction of Karratha began in 1968 when land for the town was excised from the Karratha Station pastoral lease. Karratha was developed to accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining company and later the North West Shelf petroleum and LNG operations in the 1980s. It has a current population of about 20,000, but the Shire of Roebourne and the WA Government have launched exciting new plans to transform Karratha into a world-class City of the North. A new-look town centre, waterfront developments and new residential lots lead this growth for Karratha to become a major Australian city with more than 50,000 local residents. The plan foresees the region with vastly improved infrastructure and amenity, and offers more affordable and diverse styles of housing for people working in the area.

With WA home to internationally significant deposits of LNG, the Carnarvon Basin near Karratha is the largest. Due to its proximity,

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Karratha is expected to become a major focus of development in the North West as it expands to accommodate and service the LNG sector and its workforce. Iron ore sales are increasingly based on spot pricing and the resource is therefore impacted by volatility in international markets (as is currently the case).

In contrast, LNG typically secures longer term contracts for 25 to 30-year supply. It is the North West’s strong exposure to both LNG and iron ore that will underpin Karratha’s economic growth in the long-term.

Overall, the Karratha area will need between 40,000-50,000 workers by 2035 in order to sustain the resources sector and its anticipated growth. This in turn will be reflected in the demand by companies for accommodation and in particular apartment living, which offers a greater degree of comfort, amenity, and climate control for residents. (Unemployment in Karratha peaked at 3.9 percent during the GFC as compared to 5.5 percent in the rest of WA, and is currently is below 2 percent).

Historically, modern apartments such as Pelago weren’t available; therefore companies would have to look at providing alternative accommodation solutions for their workforce.

Traditionally, those companies would either have to build their own accommodation, or buy property – in either case they would then have to maintain the premises. For many

companies this is not the best use of their valuable capital and resources, taking their focus away from their core business activities. Additionally, the standard of accommodation was not always of a particularly high standard when compared to options available in Perth.

Pelago Apartments in Karratha is the Pilbara’s first modern high-rise residential and commercial development, providing luxury inner-city style living. The project, developed by Finbar, comprises two stages – Pelago West and Pelago East and encompasses a total of 310 apartments and commercial lots.

Pelago West completed construction in August 2012 and Pelago East more recently in November 2013. This year saw Finbar win two prestigious 2013 UDIA awards for Pelago West wining the Judges’ Award and the High Density Development Award.

Located on the corner of Sharpe Avenue and Warambie Road and within walking from the Karratha central business district, the eight-storey Pelago East apartment complex is primed to take advantage of the unique Pilbara lifestyle – fuelled by the region’s resources boom. The ground floor of the development (comprising buildings A and B which form Pelago East) consists of secure parking and 14 commercial tenancies (which vary from offices to shops/takeaway/café spaces). The first and

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE PL[HG XVH

Pelago Apartments in Karratha is the Pilbara’s first modern high-rise residential and commercial development, providing luxury inner-city style living. The project, developed by Finbar, comprises two stages – Pelago West and Pelago East and encompasses a total of 310 apartments and commercial lots.

second floors have almost identical layouts with apartments on the two street frontages and parking to their internal areas. Level 3 accommodates more apartments, but also contains the gym, games room, a meeting room, the pool, and a large terrace which separates the two buildings from this level upwards. Levels 4 to 8 on building A contain further apartments, whereas building B stops at Level 6.

The high-rise apartment complex, Karratha’s first, offers the town a lifestyle never before seen. Pelago East not only allows companies to house their key personnel in absolute comfort, but it also changes their thinking and approach to worker accommodation. The ongoing benefits of a strata managed complex also prove to be a key drawcard at Pelago. With all facilities fully managed by the strata company, maintenance and landscaping concerns are virtually eliminated. Finbar is even able to offer a completely furnished apartment if required - right down to linen, towels, cutlery and soft furnishings.

Pelago offers residents (and their guests) spectacular resort-like facilities including a pool, fully equipped gym, residents’ lounge, spa, pool tables, sauna and BBQs as well as ocean or town views.

These multiple common areas and facilities provide company employees the opportunity to meet other residents, providing increased social connection and adding to their enjoyment and satisfaction. Ultimately, Finbar believes this leads to increased employee retention for companies who choose to accommodate their employees in Pelago. Comprising one, two or three-bedroom apartments and an assortment of commercial spaces, the development is literally a stone’s throw from the soon-to-be entertainment precinct of Sharpe Avenue. The precinct will include restaurants and cafes with indoor and alfresco dining, nightclubs and bars along with cinemas and a theatre, providing city living right alongside the unique Pilbara lifestyle. Along with luxurious living in an architecturally-designed apartment, as one would expect, Pelago East ensures its residents 24/7 security and amenity.

The complex incorporates a 20-metre swimming pool surrounded by sun lounges, casual tables and chairs. There are gas barbecues with stainless steel sinks for alfresco dining, and a synthetic rubber-floored children’s play area adjacent to the pool deck. A games area has its own pool table along with a 42-inch LCD TV, while the bar has a sink, microwave and refrigerator – all set up and ready for entertaining or casual dining.

A state-of-the-art gymnasium is fully equipped for weight training or aerobic exercising by including weights, an exercise bike, treadmill, rowing machine and an elliptical cross trainer.

Ultimately, as the long-term demand for steel is projected

to exceed supply, this provides a degree of certainty for the future of WA’s iron ore sector. This will mean that towns such as Karratha will continue to develop and grow. For people living and working in Karratha, this should translate to more commercial and residential developments like Pelago East. It would not be unrealistic to expect that Finbar will continue the lead it commenced in Karratha with possibly other similar developments in the town and other important Western Australian regional towns. BC Finbar: (08) 6200 3300, www.finbar.com.au Hanssen Builders: (08) 8 6218 3800, www.hanssen.com.au

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 63

RESIDENTIAL

The white house

Shining like a beacon, this home by Weststyle illuminates the neighbourhood // words rocky amatulli

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64 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

This home (on St Leonards Avenue, Leederville) is the private residence of Weststyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager and designer, Gavin Hestelow. The home was designed by Gavin, and built by Weststyle.

Two years earlier, when looking for work, he had endured constantly being told he was too young and inexperienced.

Gavin wanted to create a home which had minimal detail but timeless style. The design had to have an emphasis on three main things - space, the outdoors and occupier privacy. The home was designed to fit on a narrow 306 sqm lot block only 7.5m wide and with a 3m fall from front to back. This presented a series of challenges for Gavin, but the final result is a 310 sqm home which is a perfectly executed design for this site.

With the narrow width and front-to-back fall, retaining and waterproofing were the first hurdles that needed to be overcome.

Being built hard-up against existing neighbouring structures and parapet walls which were 100-plus years old meant careful consideration and sensitivity was required.

The solution to this problem involved staged chemical injection to eliminate the impact of large machinery and other piling approaches.

Small excavators were also used to ensure that the vibrations were localised and kept to a minimum.

The restrictive width of block combined with boundary-to-boundary design limited the methods of construction as well as creating access difficulties for contractors.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

In order to provide access to the rear of the proposed retaining walls for waterproofing, Weststyle suggested removing the footings and stumps of the neighbouring property (as this home was set 1.6m below ground level). Weststyle then replaced them with a superior product once access was complete.

Weststyle also upgraded the waterproofing design for the retaining walls to create a failsafe product. This was achieved with a combination of solid core bricks, thicker gauge steel mesh, 50mpa concrete with Xypex waterproofing additive, and corner wet seals (used in the internal junction between concrete and masonry).

Another example of access limitations was highlighted during the installation of a full-height glass panel five metres wide and weighing 700kg. A staged building approach with internal scaffolding was utilised, with preventative screening ensuring that the neighbouring structures were not damaged. Installation of the large single-glass panel was handled by a specialist crane operator with the assistance of 12 men to guide the glass into position.

Meticulous programming and management of sub-contractors was also necessary to avoid site congestion, restrictive on-site parking issues imposed by council, staged material deliveries, and overall quality control.

Waste and rubbish was also tightly managed with a greater frequency of collections necessary to ensure unrestricted access was maintained. By overcoming these issues Weststyle was able to maintain (and improve) the design integrity and quality of the building.

Being such a tight and restrictive site, it was critical to exploit the illusion (rather than the reality) of space. This was achieved by drawing focus to the boundaries of the site. The effort to sink the house 1.6m below the neighbouring property resulted in the unusually high

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 65

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

internal boundary walls, creating the desired privacy that Gavin wanted.

The use and installation of a single piece of full height glazing (when compared with the three-panel design) combined with concealed window framing successfully ensures that there is no visual barrier to the external entry courtyard. This draws the eye to the polished concrete boundary wall and large feature entry gate (constructed from 100mm aluminium framing and clad with a single sheet of Alucobond) which are at the furthest point.

This courtyard is perceived as an extension of the internal space and is complemented by the black granite reflection pond (built off-site as a single piece to ensure quality workmanship, and then craned into position). This feature bounces light back into the internal spaces of the home.

In the opposite direction are oversized custom-made full-height glass doors which have been also been engineered to have minimal obstructions (achieved by producing a strengthened custom-made frame).

This draws attention to the large mature trees at the furthest extent of the yard. From the main living spaces in the house, the eye is drawn to these two opposite extents of the property - giving an overwhelming sense of light and space.

In addition, daylight from the double-glazed sky windows creates an

Ph: 9344 1135 66 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

“In the opposite direction are oversized custom-made full-height glass doors which have been also been engineered to have minimal obstructions...”

1300 360 344

expansive light-filled entry experience whilst also being energy efficient. Intentional alignment of internal walls running from inside to outside also contributes to the perception of these spaces being linked. Some of the internal walls have been constructed 350mm wide to achieve this impression.

The homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s external finishes are generally smooth and modern, using dark Alucobond in contrast to the contemporary white painted surfaces. Strategic orientation of the home and careful material selection reinforce the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architecture and form. These crisp and modern finishes are complemented with warm timber features.

There is definitely a Japanese influence on the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior and design. An example of this is evident in the layout of the master ensuite, with its adjacent dressing room (with two vanities) sitting next to a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;wet roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (3m x 3m and incorporates two showers and a freestanding bath).

The home has custom-made extruded windows (being only 5mm thick) which project 600mm outside the building with surface-mounted glazing, and three large double-glazed sky windows with 2m-deep light wells above the staircase.

The raw-look floor finish continues externally with no change in levels and conceals the window channel to achieve a seamless transition.

A minimal central timber veneer box (3m x 3m x 3m) has secret

doors which exist as logical panel breaks to conceal many amenities such as a built-in fridge/freezer, generous wine cellar, glassware cabinet and portion of the staircase. There is also a continuous 15m-long air conditioning linear bar grill.

Asked how he felt the project went, Gavin says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a great success speaking with the neighbours prior to construction commencing, and being as informative as possible. This made the building process an enjoyable one for all parties. This is moreso relevant and critical when building sites are very narrow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as was the case here.â&#x20AC;?

Weststyle is a family owned company with more than 40 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the building industry. After the recent inclusion of its own internal design team, Weststyle now offers its clients a comprehensive design and construct service. Weststyle is also affiliated with many respected Western Australian architectural practices and building designers, and has built many outstanding homes for the clients of these companies.

Weststyle has entered this home into the MBAWA awards as a finalist in the Innovative Construction for Small Lots category. The company is currently working on several small lot designs for new homes given the response it has had to this home. BC Weststyle Design and Development: (08) 9345 1565, www.weststyle.com.au

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STAINLESS STEEL & ALUMINIUM BALUSTRADING STRUCTURAL STEEL ARCHITECTURAL FABRICATION M: 0407 473 367 jppeng_mbb@iinet.net.au Unit 2 / 6 Lindsay Road Wangara WA 6065 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 67

RESIDENTIAL

Knightsgate shines in Currambine Finbar brings a touch of its CBD development quality to Currambine.

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Finbar Group Limited is a listed Australian property development company established in 1984. The company has established itself as a market leader in built form apartment developments in the Perth metropolitan area. Finbarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core business generally lies in the development of medium to high density residential apartments and commercial property. Knightsgate Residences, whilst a departure from the CBD portfolio that has helped establish Finbar as a leader in such developments, still follows Finbarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s model of also developing attractive sites in key suburban areas of the Perth metropolitan area.

The Knightsgate development is located in Currambine, north of the city. It is close to Currambine train station and the Mitchell Freeway offering alternative and direct routes to the CBD. It is also in an area near leisure activities (cinemas, parks, sporting facilities, Hillarys Boat Harbour) and a major shopping centre and commercial and industrial estates (in Joondalup). But possibly most importantly, it is near many state and private schools, and Edith

68 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

With beautiful Burns Beach just minutes away, these modern resort-style apartments in Currambine offer the ultimate in lock-up-and-leave lifestyle.

Cowan University and the West Coast Institute of Training (formerly West Coast TAFE). This means that the residences have a wider appeal to singles, couples and families. Given the variety and configuration of the five different types of 1 bed/1 bath and 2 bed/2 bath units over three levels, the development has proved very popular with first homebuyers (with 41 apartments sold in the 43-unit project).

Knightsgate features 12 one-bedroom apartments and 31 two-bedroom apartments, ranging from 54sqm to 87sqm respectively. All apartments offer modern, open-plan living areas that include stainless-steel appliances and granite bench tops, and generously sized balconies. Residents can enjoy resort-style features, including an on-site gym and heated 13-metre swimming pool, an outdoor entertaining area, secure car parking and storage, and automatic intercom and remote controlled access. With beautiful Burns Beach just minutes away, these modern resort-style apartments in Currambine offer the ultimate in lock-up-and-leave lifestyle. And in the usual tradition of providing a complete and comprehensive product, Finbar has included pay TV points, flyscreens, built-in robes with sliding doors, shelf and hanging rail, quality stainless steel electric cooktops, ovens, and rangehoods, water filters, and electric clothes dryers. Some of the less obvious (but highly important features to resident and visitor safety) include smoke alarms, fire alarms, and one-hour fire rated self-closing entry doors.

Externally, the grounds are landscaped and have reticulated gardens. The complex includes lockable letterboxes and poolside furniture (sun lounges and casual table and chairs), a pool lounge furnished with contemporary furniture, a bar area (fitted out with a sink, microwave and refrigerator), and an electric BBQ to pool area. Even the gymnasium has been given the ‘‘Finbar treatment’’, being equipped with a weight rack, dumbell set, multi-station weight training system, exercise bike, treadmill, elliptical cross trainer, incline/decline benches, abdominal toner, anti burst fitballs, exercise mats and a mirrored wall!

Builder Ren Construction Services was able to showcase its expertise by constructing and finishing the complex to the high standard that Finbar expects and prides itself on. Rodney Naef from Ren Construction Services began his working career with Hanssen Pty Ltd, in 1992. In 1999 Rodney had the opportunity to take on a supervisor’s role

on a Finbar project in South Perth, and in that same year he began studying for his Builders Registration – which he completed in 2002. Rodney stayed in a supervisor’s role with Hanssen until 2007, until he had the opportunity to build a project in East Perth for Finbar direct. Rodney describes the development as “having a relaxed, homely, holiday vibe about it, being surrounded by a central pool and amenities including fully equipped gymnasium. And the advantage of being close to public transport, beaches and restaurants, makes everything you need so conveniently close.”

Although a unique development requiring a high standard for the area, Rodney says that “this was a relatively straightforward build; any of the usual construction project challenges were dealt with and handled promptly so as to avoid any delays. There are never such things as problems… only solutions. As with any project, it is important to maintain a hands-on approach, treat all trades with respect and ensure they are provided with everything they need to permit the job

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

The development [has a] a relaxed, homely, holiday vibe about it, being surrounded by a central pool and amenities including fully equipped gymnasium.

to be completed on time and on budget – and to the level and standard required.” (And speaking of taking things to a higher level, Ren Construction Services is currently working on the construction of a Catholic Church in Lower Chittering.)

Knightsgate Residences is another example of Finbar’s exceptional quality and timely delivery, and takes Finbar’s total apartment complex developments count to 39. The company has produced, marketed and sold more than 2500 apartments since it has been operating in Western Australia.

Finbar’s business model involves the acquisition of suitable development land either directly or by way of incorporated joint ventures (whereby equity partners with up to 50% shareholding) are sought to allow the company to leverage into larger redevelopment projects, take advantage of the benefits of economies of scale, and help spread the project risk.

Joint venture opportunities are also brought to the company through land owners who require partners with project delivery expertise. Joint ventures of this type enable the Finbar to leverage its development expertise and help limit the level of capital contribution required by the company to achieve higher returns on equity.

In addition to residential projects, Finbar is currently developing (and intends to retain an interest in) office buildings to provide future annuity income to supplement

70 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

core residential development income. Finbar outsources its development activities to external consultants, sales persons, and building contractors – so it generates work within the state. The administration of the company along with the operating, investment, and acquisitions decisions are made by the company board and management. And all this with a company that only employs 15 staff members in its East Perth offices. BC Finbar: (08) 6211 3300, www.finbar.com.au Ren Construction Services: 0402 457 774

PROJECT SUMMARY Apartments: 39 Levels: 3 Apartment Types: 5 Configuration: 1 bed/1 bath & 2 bed/2 bath Size: 54 sqm – 87 sqm (excluding balcony, storage and garage) Facilities: Swimming pool, gym, security gate with remote control, automatic intercom and controlled access.

RESIDENTIAL

Hamptons heaven in WA RiverStone’s stunning West Hamptons display home may have been inspired by New York’s ritzy seaside playground but this custom home is tailor-made for moments made in WA. // words paula evans // images allan myles

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A home to enjoy with family and friends, it captures the essence of relaxed living and then combines it with the warmth and casual sophistication of iconic Hamptons styling. From the heart-of-the-home kitchen with its comfortable breakfast nook, to the window seats and informal library, it’s easy to feel right at home in this Swanbourne showcase.

The welcoming sense of style starts outside with the weatherboards, mouldings and pretty porch, drawing you in to enjoy the inviting light-filled living spaces and beautifully constructed detailing.

Downstairs, the relaxed open-plan design encourages everyone to come together, whether your kids are toddlers, teens or older, and grandparents will love the fact there’s plenty of space for energetic little visitors.

At the same time, individual spaces feel intimate, comfortable and welcoming. From reading quietly or enjoying a glass of wine in front of the fire, to playing with the kids or chatting with friends, the West Hamptons appreciates the everyday moments you enjoy the most.

In the family room, a double-storey void and soaring chimneybreast emphasise the great sense of light, height and volume in this bespoke

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 71

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

home, while beautiful timber panelling and built-in window seats reflect iconic Hamptons styling.

Upstairs, the children’s playroom or second sitting room features a cleverly designed floor-to-ceiling bookcase with a clear Perspex backing to help keep the happy sounds of activity from filtering down to the living area below.

It may have been inspired by iconic Hamptons homes, but RiverStone’s take on this hugely popular look has been designed to suit WA’s sunny lifestyle to a tee.

Extra-tall sliding doors open up the living space to a shimmering blue pool and a stylish freestanding cabana for alfresco dining and general lounging around. And when it’s time

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72 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

to call the kids in, they can come straight into the downstairs bathroom for a post-swim shower.

Even furry four-legged members of the family get a wash and brush-up at the dog-washing station in the laundry.

Capturing the artistry of Hamptons-style detailing, a gentle arch frames the family-friendly kitchen that’s at the heart of this home. It’s here that you’ll enjoy your early-morning coffee in the breakfast nook, bake cookies with the kids at the vast island bench or rustle up a family roast. The simplified Shaker-style cabinetry is perfectly in tune with the home’s glamorous beachside look, while the adjoining scullery is a must-have for today’s busy families.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

It may have been inspired by iconic Hamptons homes, but RiverStone’s take on this hugely popular look has been designed to suit WA’s sunny lifestyle to a tee.

Chosen for both its performance and supreme good looks, the top-of-the-range engineered wood floor in Royal Oak is beautiful, hardwearing and easy to look after. It’s the perfect complement to the crisp white mouldings, timber panelling, deep skirting boards and timber windowsills that help define the Hamptons style.

Three bedrooms and three bathrooms mean this is a house for the long-term, no matter how old the kids – or grandkids – get. An indulgent bathroom and fully fitted dressing room are included in the master suite, while the landing has been neatly turned into a reading area complete with a stunning walk-through bookcase and a window seat that invites you to stop awhile and take time out.

The youngest members of the family have their own wing, with two generous bedrooms off the upstairs sitting room that’s perfect for play, study or hanging out with friends. On the first floor, a large den is the place for hobbies or a home-based

business and can quickly be turned into a fourth bedroom when guests come to stay. And they will want to stay.

Not only has RiverStone paired old-school detailing with modern living to create the West Hamptons, but the luxury homebuilder has also made sure it’s as easy as possible to get the look you love. What you see really is what you get, with a long list of features included in the price, from the stunning fireplace surrounded by stone and white-painted wood, to the Quantum Quartz benchtops, timber flooring, wood panelling, bookcases and window seats.

Whether it’s sophisticated beachside chic, uber-edgy urban or classic European, RiverStone brings an unerring eye for detail and quality to each and every project. And, like the West Hamptons, its homes can be designed as a complete package so that there’s nothing more to do except move in. BC Riverstone: (08) 9436 9696, www.riverstone.com.au

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0458 982 831 frenchshgs@live.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 73

RESIDENTIAL

Out of Africa This stunning Eagle Bay home draws its inspirations from the owners’ love of Zanzibar. // words rocky amatulli

Zanzibar City is in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Stone Town (known in Swahili as “old town”) is the old part of the city and has prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th Century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, and has a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and Portuguese influences. The name “Stone Town” comes from the use of coral stone as the main construction material - the stone giving the town a characteristic, reddish warm colour. The other well-known feature of Zanzibari houses are the finely decorated wooden doors, with rich carvings and bas-reliefs, sometimes with big brass studs.

Taking its inspiration from these Zanzibari cues, this architect-designed five-bedroom/three-bathroom Eagle Bay home, built by Harbison Construction, combines these historic references with contemporary design. The Zanzibari and Portuguese styles in the home complement the beautiful South-West location and scenery perfectly. It sits on a 5175 square

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74 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

metre block, and has 545 square metres of floor space. The clever design ensures all rooms have ocean views to Eagle Bay. “Zanzibar is a place close to the owner’s heart and they have replicated the feeling of those houses through the use of similar colours and furnishing styles throughout the house,” Harbison Construction director Glenn Harbison says. “The owners are local people, and our company was recommended to them.”

Harbison Construction built this holiday-inspired dwelling for the family with three adult children who study in Perth and return home to the South-West during holiday breaks. The company worked off plans drawn by designer Mario Bernardi and a client brief where quality construction was paramount.

Glenn says that this was achieved “by having a hands-on approach to my building and engaging only the best subcontractors and trades. For example, due to a distinct and planned absence of skirting, architraves and tiles, construction and supervision of the home required each trade blending their work into each others’ neatly. Construction was also challenging due to the irregularity of the floor shapes between the upper and lower floor.”

As is often the case when building in the South-West region, the site presented the builder with some degree of difficulty when it came to the large amount of granite that needed to be removed. The owners request to preserve as much existing natural vegetation as possible also meant that Harbison Construction had to be very careful during construction - the desired minimal clearing around the large building footprint resulting in contractors working within fairly tight confines. Building started late in September 2011 and was completed in December 2012, so the home took just on 15 months to finish.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

The boxed design of the resulting home has a light colour palette (predominantly of white and grey) broken up by splashes of colour, and quirky dĂŠcor by the owners. This allows the owners to change the look of the home with accessories and furnishings. The floors throughout, including the stairs, are all finished in polished concrete. Walls are all either sand finish or glass finish render. This finish was chosen because of the ease of cleaning and minimal maintenance required. The effect that they create provides large, neutral-coloured spaces that have subsequently been enhanced by colourful furnishings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While they look simple and streamlined, the craftsmanship to finish each section is a time-honoured art form,â&#x20AC;? says Glenn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no tiling, nor are there any shower screens, in bathrooms as these areas have walk-in showers with the glass finish render to their walls.â&#x20AC;? The home also has exposed concrete beams lining the ceiling expanses throughout. These contrast with the rendered interior walls and provide a further hint back to the influence of Zanzibarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exposed architecture by highlighting the construction detail.

Entering off a private pebble-lined walkway, large slatted timber sliding doors open from the entry foyer into a large open-plan living area with views to Eagle Bay. A feature fireplace sits at the head of the living zone while display shelving defines the dining area and a timber-topped island bench on wheels offers a lightweight anchor to the kitchen.

The kitchen has a roomy walk-in pantry which contains the fridge and freezer. Two walls with bifold doors open from the living area to a loggia and bi-fold windows opening as a servery to the decked alfresco area which contains an enclosed barbecue and outdoor shower sitting between the main house and garage. Two minor bedrooms with terraces, and a powder room and the bathroom/ laundry are found in a separate ground-floor wing.

The three remaining bedrooms are on the first floor, each with their own balcony. The master bedroom and the other two minor bedrooms are separated by their own living space which leads out to a large terrace. The main bedroom has a large walk-in robe and

ensuite and the other bathroom on this floor has a feature turquoise timber vanity unit sourced by the owners.

Harbison Construction is based in Dunsborough. Glenn Harbison has been building in the region for the past 35 years, and has worked on a wide variety of residential and commercial construction and renovation projects. Quality craftsmanship and meticulous standards of construction are the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main focus. BC Harbison Construction: 0408 096 584, www.harbisonconstruction.com.au

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The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 75

up close + personal with

glenn harbison DIRECTOR/REGISTERED BUILDER, HARBISON CONSTRUCTION // interviewed by rocky amatulli

How did you get started in the building industry?

I am a carpenter and joiner by trade. I was steered into the industry by my family, starting my apprenticeship in 1977 when I was 14.

From there it was a natural progression to become a builder as the trade was oriented this way. I run a family owned and operated company which builds and renovates a variety of residences and buildings.

What roles do you undertake at Harbison Construction?

Everything! Being a small company I do the supervising, project management and of course the builder’s duties. My wife Jacqui undertakes the financial and administrative functions. Over the past 35 years I have been involved with a wide variety of residential and commercial construction. I always enjoy a challenge that keeps me interested and of course the people who are involved in any project determine how much I enjoy doing what I’m doing.

Where do you draw some of your main inspirations from?

Being a ‘‘subbie’’ and working for other builders over the years I’d seen some bad practices to avoid. Correspondingly, I’d also seen some good things which I took inspiration from.

What were some of the main challenges on projects?

Constructing a ‘‘square’’ round room was one of the interesting ones! It was an administrative and multi-purpose room for the Yallingup Steiner School. The room (called ‘the square round room’) is a building without four corners – a square room with circular corners. The ceiling consists of a circular series of raking ridges and valleys clad with acoustic ply, giving it a concertina or flower-like effect. It was designed in keeping with Waldorf/Steiner principles.

Harbison Construction won the BankWest MBA Construction in Excellence Award for Commercial Buildings under $1million for that building in 2012 – thanks to the design and quality workmanship by all involved.

How do you overcome them?

I take input from others and think it all through.

What makes your approach unique?

I like to have a ‘‘hands-on’’ approach to my work – this way it ensures that quality of construction is maintained. I’m not driven by the cheapest price; I prefer to use the best trades where possible. Using like-minded people who take pride in their work (and are a large component of our team) can have significant impact on quality and outcomes.

76 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

What are some of your favourite materials?

Obviously being a carpenter I particularly like working with timber.

When I first started all we used were jarrah, bricks and asbestos so I also really enjoy the wide variety of new materials that are available now – although sorting out the good from the bad is always challenging.

What have you learnt from your experiences?

That everything needs to be checked over more than once to make sure it’s right. It’s also beneficial if you can have a broad knowledge base of the basics of all the trades work involved.

How has the industry changed since you first started?

When I started, the carpentry and joinery apprenticeship was set up so that at the same time you could study for your builder’s registration course but you didn’t have to be a registered builder to build a house for someone else. Builders weren’t even required to be registered. The focus was on broad practical knowledge more so than on the administrative side of the business. Now it’s much more stringent and regulated.

What are the main challenges that you see for the building industry?

There is a huge amount of paperwork and emails involved with complying with regulations of various departments and authorities (e.g. building codes, fire ratings, energy efficiency, council requirements). However, the builder still ultimately has to take responsibility for the outcome of all the different components of a building. It is therefore vital that the builder gets it right – as the onus is placed squarely on them. The time spent on this compliance is increasing to such an extent that I think it will be prohibitive for a single person to become a builder in the future - they will either need to incur additional costs to employ people to perform some of their work, or engage a partner in the business. A young person trying to become a builder will therefore find it increasingly difficult due to the additional financial and compliance requirements that have been introduced by the industry and government bodies over recent times. To regulate the industry and to protect the consumer is necessary, but in the future, where the line between consumer protection and over-regulation sits may become a challenge.

What would you like to be remembered for?

My happy disposition!

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

Boating, fishing and riding my bike. BC

RESIDENTIAL

Urban to the core M Square is taking its place in the heart and soul of the city // words rocky amatulli

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M Square Apartments by Psaros is a 48-apartment complex with four ground floor commercial tenancies. It is just 650 metres from the Perth railway station and within easy walking distance of shopping, cultural, dining and sporting experiences. The development was undertaken as a joint venture between Psaros and another major Perth-based property owner (who chose to partner with Psaros due to their expertise in apartment developments, and understanding of the demographics and buyer profile for the area). Psaros had developed a number of other successful apartment projects in the precinct and clearly understood the type of product desired by potential buyers. Psaros undertook the multi-faceted role of developer, builder, marketing and sales on the project.

And it is this understanding of the demographic of the area that influenced the design, with one of the key influences on the project being the overall market acceptance and market need. Buyers have become more discerning in recent years and have greater choice, so it was important to listen to the market and create a design that offered liveability and longevity. According to Psaros, the design needed to incorporate lifestyle facilities such as a pool and gym.

This building is the second of a pair of buildings developed along Stirling Street and Parry Street - creating a northern gateway into Stirling Street, with access to a new Greek â&#x20AC;&#x153;tapasâ&#x20AC;? bar in the first building owned and operated by the Psaros family. Although predominantly residential in nature, the construction of the

The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 77

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complex was treated commercially, incorporating AFS (concrete insitu walls), metal roofing, and frameless commercial glass balustrading and aluminium screens. One of the key challenges was the timing and working around traffic flow as the project was located on a busy intersection which required constant traffic management. This combination and the corresponding palette of colours help to create the clean minimal design to the exterior.

The grounds incorporate a large communal area which include a gym, swimming pool, and entertaining area with a feature privacy wall to the back of the pool. The upper levels of the development boast city views, which only serve to

enhance the overall living experience at M Square. But this proximity to the city (which adds to the experience and value of living or owning an apartment at M Square) also proved to be a hindrance during the construction of the complex. A key set of challenges for the construction team were timing and working around traffic flow as the project was located on a busy intersection. Again, Psaros’ experience in these types of projects and logistics ensured that the development’s programme and quality weren’t compromised. It was also important to keep buyers informed of the project’s progress and allay any concerns that they may have had regarding their new home or investment being ready on time. Psaros have learned that

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M Square blends one and two-bedroom apartments, each having generous open living areas opening onto large balcony living spaces.

purchasers are often happy as long as they know what’s going on.

M Square blends one and two-bedroom apartments, each having generous open living areas opening onto large balcony living spaces. The deliberate connection between the large open living areas with the balcony areas creates a flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces perfectly suited to entertaining all year round. And given this focus on entertaining and lifestyle, it is no wonder each kitchen is appointed with stainless steel appliances, engineered stone benchtops and the provision for convenient and easy placement of additional appliances. A storeroom for each

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The Marbleman has installed approximately 25,000 benchtops in Western Australia alone, It has been an honour for The Marbleman to have worked along side and to have commissioned all the bench tops on the M2 project in our local Perth CBD for Psaros Buiders this year.

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apartment allows owners to keep their apartment free from unnecessary clutter and retain the clean, sleek and minimal design.

The introduction of a quality finishes supervisor together with Psaros’ structural supervisor has raised the bar even higher on the product being delivered to purchasers, much more in line with expectations. The apartments have small, but significant, details such as coving to the ceiling, and a Class 4 finish to all AFS and painted hardwall plaster. All apartments have reverse-cycle air conditioning to ensure absolute comfort.

Resident security also ranks high on the deliverables list for this development. All residents have secure keyless electronic entry to the ground floor lobby which is integrated with the lift and car park. All common doors are monitored and residents have remote gate control, with each apartment also fitted with an intercom.

Psaros is working on many other projects. These include: Edge by Psaros (96 x 1 and 2-bedroom apartments on Newcastle Street which includes a sixth level pool and communal kitchen facility and outdoor entertaining area); Flo

by Psaros (86 x 1 and 2-bedroom apartments at the Springs

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With nearly 30 years’ experience in residential and commercial projects in Western Australia, Psaros has evolved into a robust, diverse and respected mid-tier developer and builder.

precinct in Rivervale which includes swimming pool and BBQ facilities); Depot by Psaros (35 x 1 and 2-bedroom apartments to be released early next year on Brewer Street in Perth directly opposite nib Stadium, Perth); Corner by Psaros (34 x apartments and 1000m2 of commercial space in Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley); Octo by Psaros (with retail and commercial space on the ground, first and second floors, and 1 and 2-bed apartments to levels three and four); and Bravo by Psaros (including commercial space , 16 apartments and six townhouses, Oxford Street, Mt Hawthorn).

Since 1983, Psaros began creating for itself (and its clients) a niche within the luxury home building market.

With nearly 30 years’ experience in residential and commercial projects in Western Australia, Psaros has evolved into a robust, diverse and respected mid-tier developer and

builder - one capable of delivering positive outcomes coupled with architecturally considered built forms and consistent craftsmanship. On this often-awarded journey, Psaros has never lost sight of the foundations of the business, its foundations firmly planted in the values of integrity, craftsmanship and building excellence. BC Psaros: (08) 6380 3030, www.psaros.com.au

PROJECT SUMMARY Residential Apartments: 48 Commercial Units: 4

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RESIDENTIAL

Home fit for a Princi This luxury residence enhances the owners’ modern day lifestyle of running a family and a business from home.

// words rocky amatulli

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After building homes for clients for many years, Vestra Personal Builders directors Tony and Audrey Princi decided that it was time to design and build a new family home for another very important family – their own. Tony, who has always had a passion for design, brought his vast experience ‘‘to the table’’ and provided important feedback from a practical perspective into the design phase of this exciting project.

With help from designer Mario Figliomeni, this contemporary double-storey split level home is now completed and features natural quality finishes combined with modern technology.

Careful consideration was given to the existing contours of the block on which the home is built. Creating an interesting split-level feature with the lower floor of the home, this not only produced an aesthetically pleasing result, it saved considerable money on earthworks and retaining walls. The pool is area visible from the entrance and creates a striking first impression whilst also connecting the indoors and outdoors. Two separate large entertaining areas fully embrace Perth’s alfresco living trend and provide another practical area that can be utilised.

The home’s split-level lower floor incorporates a four-car garage/ workshop, separate guest powder room, laundry, and a large open-plan living and dining area overlooked by the luxurious and well-appointed kitchen. The kitchen connects to a fully-serviced entertainer’s alfresco area overlooking the pool and water feature - via a bifold window over the main kitchen bench. Upstairs, a walkway

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leads to another living area and an activity area with built-in bar which open onto a balcony overlooking the pool. The three children’s bedrooms (with their two bathrooms, one of which has its own luxury spa bath) and the main bedroom (with its ensuite, walk-in dressing room and even a walk-in shoe robe) are also on this level, as is a laundry chute down to the laundry below. The home also includes an office from which Tony and Audrey run Vestra from – thus allowing the home to also serve as a display home for the company.

“Rather than focus on normal conventions, we focused on what we wanted from our home – this is the whole point of custom building. We needed four garages and extra storage space. We wanted a very large home office, and the children voted for a pool. We didn’t want bathrooms that were high maintenance and difficult to clean. And we wanted large, versatile, entertaining areas,” says Tony. “So in this particular Vestra home the master ensuite does not have the lovely spa bath that a lot of homes of this calibre have but it does however have a separate shoe walk-in-robe and a dressing room as this was what we wanted. The beauty behind custom building is that each family has different living requirements. What is important to one family may not be to the next. You should consider and determine what your priorities are, and that in turn should drive the design of your home so that it will enhance your lifestyle.

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“Modern homes today are generally all about suiting peoples’ family and busy lifestyles, and enhancing enjoyment during their precious down time,” says Tony. “Our home is all about our lifestyle, as we have children and run a business, but we also love entertaining. The superior Siemens cooking appliances combined with a versatile and spacious kitchen are a testament to this. The alfresco kitchen and main kitchen area are both low maintenance with their Corian seamless benches and splashbacks. Storage is another big factor for most home owners. No space has been wasted in this home and the abundance of storage cupboards means that everything has a place. Even the stairwell has been cleverly hidden behind clad doors that conveniently pop open when pressed to reveal huge storage areas.”

One-metre by one-metre floor tiles on the lower level result in a seamless floor that enhances the concept of spaciousness.

Bifold doors and a bifold window that combine to open the whole

entertainment area up further create large open versatile spaces.

The travertine cladding from Zuccari makes a huge impact on the feel of the whole house as it has been used internally and externally. The rich colours and textures add warmth to the home which can only be achieved with natural products. The 1m x by 1m floor tiles are stunning and help to create very clean lines; Tony wanted these simple, clean lines and one of his goals was to make sure that finishes were as low maintenance as possible for the busy couple – given his wife Audrey also works with him at Vestra. “After all, people want to live in their homes and enjoy them without having to spend endless hours cleaning and maintaining them,” says Tony. Marri timber floorboards have been used on the second floor and the combination of colour and warmth is a feature in itself.

The ceiling in the alfresco is made from flat LED panels that are an amazing feature at night. These LED panels are low in cost to run while providing their light. Tony wanted something different that

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1300 360 344 84 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

he hadn’t seen before in the alfresco so designed and constructed this feature himself. Several of the panels can change colours and can even be programmed. The home’s music is able to be played in many areas of the house at once via the Sonos system. The house is completely smart wired and most of the home’s functions are controlled via an iPad. Environmental impact was a crucial design factor for the home, but a 6.5 star energy rating was easily achieved with some pre-design planning. The home is fitted throughout with LED downlights, a variable air-conditioning system (helping minimise the impact of unnecessarily cooling multiple large areas at once), and modern hidden ceiling fans in the bedrooms. These initiatives all help to make the home more efficient to run.

Vestra Personal Builders is a custom builder and Tony has been in the industry for more than 15 years. His passion for building led

him to do further studies to get his builders registration before establishing his own building company in 2007. Vestra won the MBA award for Best New Builder in 2011. The company has previously undertaken commercial and residential projects, but its focus is now primarily on residential custom-built homes.

As this house in Lancaster St, Dianella, is Tony’s own home he built it primarily to suit his family’s lifestyle given their love of entertaining. However, it was also built to show Vestra’s clients what can be achieved, and that it is possible to build an energy efficient luxury home. Tony also wanted to be able to showcase the quality building standard that Vestra prides itself on.

The home is open for public viewing by appointment. BC Vestra Personal Builders 0417 194 011, www.vestrabuilders.com.au

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 85

RESIDENTIAL

Breaking new ground Viva Developments gives an old site in Hamilton Hill a new lease of life. // words rocky amatulli

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Viva Developments wanted to bring affordable properties to the market within the financial reach of the first home buyer or investor.

The site on which these units were built was zoned R30/40, so Viva wanted to take advantage of the full potential of the site. With the new zoning guidelines this enabled Viva to design and build a multiple dwelling development comprising four units – each with an average floor area of 53m2 per unit.

The overall block size is only 332m2 and because it was on a corner with some unusual angles, Viva was challenged to extract the maximum usage in obtaining the four units to fit during the design phase of the project. Viva decided to meet with the City of Cockburn’s Planning Department during design, to work through and negotiate certain requirements which enabled it to get the result it achieved.

And as the property is located on a corner site, it has two ‘‘front’’ elevations which had to be designed and finished accordingly.

These elevations have been finished with the use of Stainless Steel Balustrade and texture coating walls to provide not only aesthetically pleasing elevations, but ones that have durable surfaces.

“The use of the dual colour texture coat to feature walls is evident and complements the development along with canopy feature

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awnings which are located over the two entrances on the ground floor,” says Viva Developments director Daniel Scafetta.

Visual ‘‘substance’’ is also added to the development by the durable Colourbond roof which is pitched at 25 degrees. Brick paving has been used on the driveways and courtyard areas with minimal landscaping being required, so the exterior of the development is clean and requires only a low level of maintenance by the owners.

The development comprises one unit and all four garages and stores on the ground floor, and the remaining three units (with large furnishable and functional balconies) on the first floor.

Access to all four units is via a foyer – with the exception of the ground floor unit which also has access through its adjoining garage.

With a 31-course ceiling height and many highlight windows ample letting light filter in, the units all have a spacious feel.

Internally, practicality of finishes prevails again with the main floors being tiled (with the exception of carpets to the bedrooms).

Each unit has a split system air-conditioner, an alarm system and an intercom system for added security and convenience - but also provided the purchasers a finished product.

Says Daniel: “There are not many of these developments under construction in the area, as it is a relatively new concept which has only been made possible through the rezoning of land in some pockets, as well as the introduction of the new R-Codes. In Hamilton Hill this project is a first and people have really warmed to the idea. The four units in the complex all sold off the plan prior to construction. We learnt that the demand for multiple unit developments is strong and in general they are an affordable investment.”

Because Viva’s role on the project has been from design right through to construction and final handover, Daniel and his fellow director Mel Letizia pride themselves in their ability to dealing direct with their clients and offer them a unique one-on-one service to achieve the best individual home that caters for that client’s needs.

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“Our use of top quality craftsmen, along with paying attention to detail at all levels, ensures the end result is nothing short of exceptional,” says Daniel. Viva is currently constructing a six-unit multiple dwelling project for a client and the company also has a 17-unit multiple dwelling project in the pipeline and due to be advertised in the market early next year.

Viva Developments Pty Ltd is a family run building company formed in 2006 by Daniel and Mel. Since the age of 18, it was always Daniel’s intention to become involved in the building industry. With his father working in construction all his life, Daniel knew that he wanted to follow suit in some way. It wasn’t until 1993 with some help from his father when Daniel was offered the opportunity to work for a well-known local builder specialising in upmarket homes.

Since then he has never looked back. Daniel initially started out as an estimator/scheduler and worked his way through the different stages of construction to eventually become a site supervisor. Whilst working fulltime he decided to obtain his builders registration by attending night school at TAFE. He became a registered builder in 1999 and worked with a number of building companies within the industry, gaining the necessary experience before deciding to start Viva Developments with his long-time friend Mel. Mel started his career as a junior draftee in the building industry

in 1994. Working for a well-known project builder, he gained extensive experience in drafting, working his way up to becoming a drafting manager and then an on-site supervisor in the building industry.

Being a property developer from an early age, Mel has had extensive experience in design - whether it is a single or double-storey home or multi-unit development site. Mel is very familiar with the requirements on design R-Codes and prides himself on achieving the maximum potential for any building site.

Mel works closely with all Viva Developments’ clients to ensure the building site for their home or development is carefully selected so as to meet the client’s requirements.

Daniel and Mel bring to the company a combined total of 37 years’ of construction knowledge covering all facets of residential building. Viva specialises in upmarket single and double-storey homes and multiple unit developments.

The company provides its clients a service which ranges from the initial concept design through to project completion where the owners simply move in. The company also develops a number of its own speculative projects such as the Hamilton Hill development. BC Viva Developments: (08) 9414 9011, www.vivadevelopments.com.au

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Grand palace The Seville serves Seacrest Homes well as their flagship display home. // words rocky amatulli // images joll (photogrpaher)

The Seville, the current display home for Seacrest Homes in Swanbourne, is a modern five-bedroom, three-bathroom, 531 square metre home. It has been the company’s main display home for the past two years. Situated on one of the larger blocks in the land estate, the house sits on a 500 square metre block.

Entrance into this home is via a 1.2 metre-wide timber-framed pivoting glass door with glass sidelights either side. Whilst the door is clear glass for display purposes, an owner could easily add frosting for privacy. The door opens into an entry ‘‘foyer’’ which leads into a living room (on the right), the kitchen dining and entertaining areas (through to the rear), and the staircase leading to the upper level.

With long-term family living in mind, this house was designed with the ground floor serving as a ‘‘one-bedroom apartment’’.

The living area immediately adjacent to the foyer has a large

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wide entrance which could easily be enclosed for privacy purposes should an owner wish to convert it into an office. This room has low-light horizontal and narrow vertical windows to the front elevation, the reason being that this home faces west and is therefore subject to the harsh late afternoon summer sun and heat. You walk through the main living areas of the home to a luxuriously appointed kitchen. Here, Seacrest has opted for the stark contrast of black and white finishes on cabinetwork on benches (dark granite for the main preparation bench/breakfast bar/upstand and highly lacquered dark veneer doors for the hot plate bench). Other full height cupboards on an adjoining elevation have white lacquer doors. Another distinctive feature of the kitchen is a double drop-down bulkhead. This serves two purposes. It helps define the kitchen within what is a large open plan area, but also allows Seacrest to conceal both softer coffer lighting and linear air-conditioning outlets which service the kitchen, meals and sitting areas.

The adjacent dining area opens out via bifold doors to a covered alfresco area which also has a granite bench with inset sink and cupboards beneath. The lap and plunge pool are accessible from this area. The location of the alfresco and pool work particularly well because both are on the north-east corner of the block, and therefore sheltered from both the winter wind and rain and the overpowering afternoon summer sun. The master bedroom (also on the ground floor) also opens up to this alfresco area. Internal; entry into the master bedroom is behind the grand staircase and down a passage which resembles a gallery with its artwork inset into recesses in the wall. The passage does not have solid walls on both sides however – there are cut-outs in the wall on one side which open onto the ensuite.

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Again, owners may choose to infill these cut-outs with frosted glass, however for display purposes this allows a view from the ensuite out to the pool, and also helps keep the passage looking more open and spacious.

The master bedroom is very generous size; however the ensuite is the true feature of this adult retreat. Apart from being massive, it is sumptuously finished off with full height granite cladding to the walls and granite floors, and vanity bench tops. Again in true Seacrest form, even the layout is unique. Along the longest wall is frameless glass which at one end houses the WC and the other the shower, with the bath tub sitting centrally in front of that glass wall, opposite the vanities and the cut-outs which look out of the pool.

The master bedroom also contains a large walk-in robe.

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Upstairs features four generously sized bedrooms, one of which is larger and acts as a guest bedroom. The upper level also has another room which has a wide opening and no doors. This has been set up as an office/study. It is located on the south-east corner of the home and has views looking back over parkland. It also has a built-in bench with recess sink and cupboards beneath.

The remaining room on the upper level is situated at the front of the home. It is the theatre room, but unlike similar rooms in other homes, the level ceiling (which is already around three metres) steps up to 4.5 metres!

Whilst possibly perceived as having been designed to create a feature to the theatre room, the actual reason was that it made the front exterior elevation work better.

Finishes used in the home internally (wallpapers, marble, granite, travertine, class balustrade, stainless steel handrails, highly lacquered veneers, textured carpets) have not only all been used to help define its features, they are also there for practicality. For example, the traditional timber skirting boards have been replaced with marble skirtings which match the floor finish. To avoid the cut top edge being visible due to the thickness of the marble, Seacrest has finished these off with brushed aluminium. The look is clean.

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The idea is practical and durable. (In their next display home, Seacrest Homes is planning to recess the stone skirtings into the wall so that the finished plaster face of the wall and face of the skirting are flush.)

As Seacrest Homes’ designer and sales representative, Peter Musuruca says: ‘‘For Seacrest homes, good enough isn’t ever good enough. We push ourselves to make our homes as desirable and as practical as possible for their owners. Whilst builders only have a limited liability for the home they build (usually only seven years), we see these homes as a lifetime investment for our clients. It’s this detailing that makes all the difference. A similar example is the way that we have recessed the wall under the main stairs slightly so that the stairs treads overhang and appear to float. Whilst most people wouldn’t notice this detail, it’s subtle but at the same time achieves a desired effect.’’

Peter talks about the bulkheads in the kitchen, upstairs study and outside the home theatre in a similar way.

Whilst they are functional in that they provide either supply or return-air to the air-conditioning system, they also add a point of difference without being obtrusive or dominant. They become unexpected and attractive features of what is already an attractive home. This seems to embody Seacrest’s approach to designing and building homes, and is becoming Seacrest’s signature according to Peter.

Peter is very excited about Seacrest’s new home in Minim Cove. He sees designing and building every home as an opportunity to learn and improve, taking things to another level. This new home includes Alpolic cladding (an aluminium composite panel) to parts of the exterior. Whilst Peter points out that this is not the cheapest of finishes, it is there for a good reason – it is extremely durable and the edges are very clean so its lines stay true and straight. Whilst this new home is very contemporary in its design, Seacrest started 25 years ago and originally built mainly traditional homes. The company has continued doing so, often in more established suburbs such as Dalkeith where these designs fit in better with the existing homes. Many of the homes Seacrest builds are also in beachside suburbs, so Seacrest want to showcase that it is equally as adept at designing and building contemporary homes. Seacrest builds homes valued between $700,000 and $1.2 million on average, but can design and build quality homes either side of these ranges.

Peter has a background in architectural design and has been

with Seacrest Homes for 13 years, starting off as a designer. He then found himself spending more time with clients explaining the features of their home and how Seacrest could assist them, and so found himself gravitating towards sales.

The Seville has served Seacrest homes during its tour of duty. It will soon be replaced by a 900 square metre (including garages) home in Minim Cove. The as-yet unnamed display home will open next year. BC Seacrest Homes: (08) 9302 1717, www.seacresthomes.com.au

Carpentry Services Structural timber framing specialist 25 years experience

Proud to be associated with the Seville display PAUL DARRINGTON 0417 983 912 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 91

RESIDENTIAL

Honeywood a sweet place to live What makes Satterley Property Group’s Honeywood estate at Wandi ‘one of a kind’ is its state-of-the-art amenities, its sense of community and its unique character. This is why hundreds of people have the pleasure of calling Honeywood ‘home’. // words satterley

Since releasing land almost three years ago, Honeywood has grown to become one of the most sought-after residential communities in Perth’s south, with around 500 home lots sold.

Honeywood is a beautiful, master-planned community only 25km from the Perth CBD and is located on the eastern side of the Kwinana Freeway, bordered by Rowley and Anketell Roads.

Having been in the business for more than 40 years, Satterley’s chief executive Nigel Satterley understands the market and the need to create wholesome communities.

“Honeywood offers a healthy, happy lifestyle with beautiful parks and open spaces for the whole community to enjoy,” he said. “A quarter of the 170-hectare estate consists of parks and public open space including playgrounds, conservation wetlands and parklands.”

Four new parklands opened recently in Honeywood, including two unique playgrounds of spectacular design.

An Australian first in playground equipment has transformed a public park into an artistic playground for children.

Tall grass-like sculptures are linked with playground specific ropes to attract children to climb.

The concept, which came from Europe and is known as Grass Blades, aims to attract children to a safe and clean environment

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so they can use their inbuilt artistic talents to develop their own ideas on having fun in the park.

The second playground is a wooden carved gecko – which you won’t find anywhere else in Australia.

This playground was designed to challenge children in terms of climbing, swaying movement, group sitting and interaction while also allowing parents the opportunity to sit close by with good visibility.

Highlights of the other two parks include AFL goalposts, a feature shelter, picnic setting and a planting habitat for the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.

Every Satterley estate is designed around modern amenities and facilities such as parks, schools, shops, playgrounds and public transport.

Honeywood is close to the Cockburn Train Station, Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre, the new Fiona Stanley Hospital and Coogee Beach.

When complete, Honeywood’s comprehensive master-plan includes the community’s own local primary school, offering the opportunity for students to walk to school.

Residents have the new Aubin Grove Train Station at Russell/ Gibbs Road to look forward to which will be a boon to the thousands of new people moving into the community.

“The Aubin Grove Train Station which will open in 2016 and that means the people of Honeywood will be able to have a rapid transit system close by with easy access to employment, schools and services,” Mr Satterley said.

The $80 million station will include 2000 car bays, making it the biggest park ‘n’ ride station on the Perth rail network.

Honeywood also has quick access to the Kwinana Freeway, making the city and Fremantle just 25 minutes away. Nearby Forrest Highway makes travel to the South West easy.

This year, Honeywood has the honour of being home to the 2013 Telethon Home.

When WA’s Channel 7 Telethon needed land for this year’s home, it was once again Nigel Satterley who put up his hand.

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“I had no hesitation in nominating a 418sqm lot of land at Honeywood for the stunning, two-storey home built by In-Vogue,” he said.

The Telethon Home is just a few hundred metres from of one of the largest and busiest display home villages in the State.

The Honeywood Display Village opened in March last year and since then, thousands of people have visited one of the 29 homes open for display.

And there are more to come. In all, there will be 31 premium homes from WA’s leading builders.

“We’ve seen increasing visitor traffic all year, which has resulted in Honeywood being one of our top performing estates,” Mr Satterley said.

Mr Satterley said there was a display home to suit every budget.

“In fact, you’ll find an unprecedented variety of single-storey and double-storey homes as well as a range of cottage to traditional-sized lots,” he said. “There is a mix of design options with lot sizes ranging between 360sqm and 580sqm with frontages from 12.5 metres up to 18 metres. Home sites around 375sqm-450sqm are our most sought-after lot size and buyers are favouring low-maintenance, lock-up and leave homes with a courtyard or alfresco area for entertaining.

“Cottage lots or homes on small traditional lots are ideal for downsizers and those people wishing to experience the excitement of building a new home. Satterley master-planned estates focus on providing easy access to the great outdoors and walkable neighbourhoods with a real sense of community.”

This all contributes to Satterley having one of the largest in-house community development teams working full-time to implement its Community First Program.

The company commits extensive time and energy into the program and invests substantial up-front capital to create sustainable and connected communities.

The proactive, well-defined and structured Community First Program has Satterley staff helping new residents settle in and then liaising with them to establish recreation groups, playgroups, early learning facilities, social clubs, sporting clubs and activities for women, children, men, youth and seniors.

Ph: 9261 1866

Ph: 9214 1133

Regular newsletters are sent to residents to inform families about upcoming events and meetings and to form such activities as Neighbourhood Watch committees.

Satterley staff are there to run the meetings, background those present, and follow through until a committee is set up.

Calendar of community events at Honeywood include: t Group fitness training t Native night walks t Walking groups t Movie in the Park t Music in the Park t Neighbour Day t Garden workshops t Healthy workshops for kids t Welcome Resident Functions Not only is Satterley dedicated to providing residents with a safe and enjoyable community, the company also strives to create a more sustainable environment for families.

Honeywood is nestled among a number of protected conservation areas which have been retained for the many species of native flora and fauna. A fauna management plan has been developed to safeguard and enhance the potential habitat of the wildlife which ensures the impact on fauna is minimised.

“The environment surrounding Honeywood is as idyllic and tranquil for the native species as it is for the residents,” Mr Satterley said.

Three conservation category wetlands exist on the site and a series of Wetland Conservation Reserves have also been established within the estate.

When complete, Honeywood will have around 1900 homes and be home to 7000 people.

For more information, contact Honeywood estate manager Andrew Antonas on 9368 9079 or 0477 000 160 or visit the sales centre on Morwell Entrance (off Lyon Road), Wandi on Monday and Wednesday from 2pm-5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1pm-5pm. BC Satterley: www.satterley.com.au/honeywood

Ph: 9202 9202

Ph: 9214 1199 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 93

RESIDENTIAL

Home on the Ranges A slick new serviced apartment complex delivers a resort-like “oasis” to fast-growing Karratha. // words rocky amatulli

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The Pilbara town of Karratha is the resource and export capital of Australia. Karratha’s City of the North Plan outlines a vision for the growth of the town from 18,000 in 2012 to a city of 50,000 people by 2041. Presently, the existing accommodation in Karratha is not only limited, it is generally ageing and of varying quality. Hotel accommodation is available, but also of varying quality and typically the suites are small. The owners and builder of The Ranges had their own vision - to develop a quality alternative that provided short-term workers in Karratha with an “oasis” where they could rest, socialise, and even work from.

The developers’ experience with creating and managing resort-style properties provided them with a clear insight to the most suitable architectural style for the region. They also understood the unique issues related to building and managing such properties in remote locations, far from most support services. They located the Ranges on Karratha Road (in Regals Valley on the former drive-in theatre site). The completed development will eventually fill the floor of the valley, surrounded by the Karratha Hills. It is a picturesque and peaceful location for a high quality resort-style neighbourhood, yet the Karratha CBD is only 1.5km away. Set on 10 hectares of land, The Ranges has luxury single serviced apartments with clubhouse, a licensed 250-seat restaurant, two swimming pools, two tennis courts, gymnasium and 19 BBQ gazebos all surrounded by 3.5 hectares of communal open space with extensive landscaped gardens.

Stage 1 of the development was completed in October 2012. It consists of 41 furnished self-contained one-bedroom

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apartments, a manager’s residence, a reception and office, a pool area with gazebo and BBQ, storage areas, first aid rooms, parking areas and carports, plus several cabanas placed within the landscaped gardens. The apartments all have an internal area of 50 square metres (excluding a shaded timber veranda), and include Foxtel and high-speed internet connections, covered guest car parking, boat parking and wash-down bays, and visitor car parking.

There is also WiFi available at reception. The kitchen, dining and living area are totally separate to the bedroom, en-suite and self-contained laundry. A further 67 one-bedroom self-contained apartments are being constructed to complete the rollout of Stage 1. Planning for future stages of the $250 million masterplanned

development is well advanced and currently before the council for development approval.

Thomas Building constructed The Ranges. Over the past 25 years, managing director Alan Thomas had previously built in the state’s North West – and in Karratha in particular. As a result, the company became well-known for its ability to deliver major construction projects within budget and on time. The extreme shortage of building tradesmen and worker accommodation in Karratha is well known, and these issues would have considerably extended the construction timeframe of The Ranges, had they not been handled properly. The solution for Thomas Building was to construct the guest accommodation units in Perth and then transport them to

Construction Core

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site where they were completed. Additionally, the units’ decks were also built in Perth, flat-packed, transported to site and bolted into position.

However, it was paramount that the guest accommodation did not resemble typical modular units that might be found in workers camps. Considerable effort was invested to avoid this by building the accommodation units with concrete floors, high-pitched roofs and raked ceilings. This in itself led to other challenges such as transporting the 41 pitched-roof guest units, as their height required power lines to be lifted in several places.

As a former drive-in theatre, the site on which The Ranges is built contained extensive areas of bitumen. Beneath this, the ground was very rocky. Thomas Building engaged a local contractor with a rock crusher to process the bitumen and below¬ground rocks and recycle that material into road base for the several roads and parking areas found in Stage 1. Due to the comparatively remote location of the site, a new 2km sewer line had to be constructed to the nearest sewer station. Additionally, a 300mm water pipe was laid under Karratha Road to connect into the main water supply line servicing the Karratha Light Industrial Area.

Thomas Building developed effective processes to ensure both speed and quality of construction at all stages of any development. Due to the off-site modular construction of the units, the company’s processes were supplemented with additional checks before the units left Perth, and on arrival at site. The Perth inspections were performed by representatives

Phone 1300 266 660 96 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

from Thomas Building, the client, and the interior designer, and were conducted at five stages during construction of each unit (Steel frame and roof/cladding/1st fix - gyprock; door frames, and doors/2nd fix - tiling; cabinets, and painting/prior to departure).

Upon arrival in Karratha, the units were inspected for signs of transport damage, and again inspected once completed.

Corrective actions were taken for any defects identified during this quality inspection processes. One quality parameter established for The Ranges was that the modular nature of the guest units should not be evident. The client and Thomas Building both believe this objective was achieved. An equally rigorous approach to quality construction was taken for the site-built structures and facilities at The Ranges, including items such as communal facilities, outdoor gazebos, fish cleaning station, roads, pathways, and landscaping.

The unconventional construction methodology undertaken

by Thomas Building produced a financial benefit for the client and investors that could not have been achieved by any other means. Construction of the development was performed in approximately half the time it would have taken if a traditional insitu methodology had been applied. Civil works were undertaken in 12 weeks following which the first modular guest unit arrived on site. In-situ construction of the manager’s residence, reception and office buildings also commenced at that time.

Subsequently, Thomas Building was able to deliver four units to site every week.

The speed with which most buildings were erected enabled the surrounding facilities and landscaping to be started (and finished) much quicker than would have been the case had the 41 units been constructed in a rolling insitu build. Consequently, Stage 1 of the project was completed one month ahead of schedule. Overall, the developers saved at least six months’

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRPPHUFLDO

It was paramount that the guest accommodation did not resemble typical modular units that might be found in workers camps. Considerable effort was invested to avoid this by building the accommodation units with concrete floors, high-pitched roofs and raked ceilings.

interest on borrowings, and revenue started flowing six months earlier. Thomas Building believes these two factors (while unquantified) amount to a considerable economic advantage to its clients. That client satisfaction and repeat business are demonstrated measures of value for money that Thomas Building offers. With Thomas Building having been invited to negotiate construction of Stage 2 of The Ranges, the company believes the client recognises those benefit.

Thomas Building is also fortunate to have a site supervisor who is one of the most experienced in Karratha. Jason Strange was responsible for ensuring the project ran smoothly on site and that works complied with all control documentation. He reported directly to the project manager on all site-related issues and programming. The site supervisor was responsible for the effective and efficient performance of survey and set out, civil works and services installation, installation of modular guest units, insitu construction of other buildings and facilities, landscaping, cleaning and commissioning

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The speed with which this project was delivered is a testament to the effectiveness of Thomas Buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procedures and to its staff professionalism. Monitoring of the construction schedule was a high priority to ensure that key activities were being undertaken to the timetable, and that milestones were achieved when planned. Monthly review meetings were held onsite by the Project Control Group, which consisted of the project manager, contract administrator, site manager, client representative, and project architect. The Project Control Group compared actual construction with the construction schedule, identified approved contract variations, inspected works under construction, and inspected completed works. The project management system adopted by Thomas Building was effective indeed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no significant issues arose between parties during the course of the project. BC Thomas Building: (08) 9445 2888, www.thomasbuilding.com.au

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RESIDENTIAL

Sovereign’s Miravet Rising high on a corner block, this home is imposing – for all the right reasons. // words rocky amatulli

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Sovereign Building Company’s concept home, The Miravet, has been created to showcase the company’s excellent workmanship and new and innovative products the Sovereign team has incorporated.

This feature-packed home really needs to be seen in order to experience not only the exceptional quality and detail of the company’s building work, but also the details – from building products to kitchen appliances. The Miravet was designed by Sovereign Building Company’s in-house design team and also incorporates a range of environmentally friendly features, including Velux remote-controlled skylight windows for additional natural light and cross-ventilation, the use of photovoltaic cells to reduce energy costs, and solar orientation with strategically placed windows that benefit from the northern winter sun and capture the prevailing cool breezes to facilitate temperature control within the home.

Located on a corner block, it was essential that Sovereign was mindful of the multiple visible elevations, and so the company designed the house with that in mind. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by the grand elevation, which features the Donnybrook stone cladding and cedar lining to the portico and balcony facades and soffits. Inside the entrance is the stunning staircase with frameless glass balustrading and stairwell void.

On the ground floor are two large minor bedrooms (with an adjoining bathroom), laundry, powder room and an entertaining area which includes a games room, activity room and home theatre - all of which have access out to the covered alfresco area with its fully built-in kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven. Beyond are beautifully landscaped gardens with a tiled pool and a water feature surrounded by frameless glass balustrading.

To capitalise on the picturesque ocean views of Burns Beach, Sovereign’s design team creatively came up with the innovative idea of having ‘‘upstairs living’’ which features the kitchen, dining and family room on the upper floor. By locating these rooms on the upper floor, the layout differs to that of conventional double-storey family homes – providing a completely different dynamic and way of interacting and living in the home.

The dining and family rooms have a spacious open plan layout with a raked ceiling, and one can step out onto the balcony from the upper area to look at the wonderful ocean view or proceed straight down the exterior spiral

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This feature-packed home really needs to be seen in order to experience not only the exceptional quality and detail of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building work, but also the details.

staircase to the garden and pool area below. (As a result of the indoor living areas being upstairs, Sovereign built a decorative solid wall to the ground floor to provide privacy to the pool, alfresco and courtyard areas.) A novel feature of the kitchen is the dumbwaiter, which makes it effortless to take shopping upstairs.

The dining and family rooms have a great open feel thanks to the raked ceiling, which includes four electronically-controlled skylights. The room is kept warm by an inbuilt gas fireplace. The upper floors also contain the master bedroom (with its own balcony) and massive ensuite, and a guest bedroom (again with its own ensuite), along with a second powder room.

Apart from the Donnybrook sandstone cladding and cedar lining, other materials used on this home include acrylic texture brickwork to external elevations, porcelain tiling to living areas, Quantum quartz stone benchtops and vinyl wrap cabinetry to the kitchen, bamboo flooring to main bedrooms, carpets to minor bedrooms, stainless steel and glass balustrading to stairwell, and frameless glass balustrading to pool area.

Specialising in individually designed single-storey, split level and multi-storey homes, this featured project in Iluka is immaculately designed to utilise the site characteristics (location, orientation and outlook) and respond well within the context of those site parameters. This sophisticated and feature-packed home boasts incredible street appeal with its clean lines infused with subtle hints of modern classic architecture.

Sovereign Building Company was established in 2005 by brother and sister team, David and Danielle Savietto. David is a registered builder with more than a decade of experience in commercial construction industry where he started out as a qualified formwork carpenter before gaining his registration. He has extensive experience as a salesperson, construction manager and supervisor.

Danielle Savietto-Parri completed her Bachelor Degree in Applied Science (Construction Management & Economics) and

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adds to the company her experience as a scheduler, estimator, accounts, administration, and pre-start manager.

Since its start, the company has been continuously expanding (due to ongoing client recommendations and referrals) and has grown into a recognised and successful residential building company. Sovereign carries out all design and documentation (from concept design to full working drawings complete ready for construction) in-house. It offers 2D and 3D design facilities to its clients.

Sovereign has a proven track record in design and construction and has been a finalist in more than 22 award categories, winning the 2010 Master Builders Association Customer Service Award and joint winner of Best New Builder in 2011 and Best Contract Home for 2013. The company specialises in building individually designed homes, from single-storey and double-storey houses to multi-unit developments. Servicing Western Australia’s metropolitan region, Sovereign Building Company builds about 50 homes each year.

Sovereign’s clients have the opportunity of dealing directly with the business’ owners - who both have a great passion for their industry.

The company is currently designing and building personalised and individual designed double-storey homes for clients in Wembley, Gooseberry Hill and Floreat. BC Sovereign Building Company: (08) 9444 3943, www.sovereignbuilding.com.au

RESIDENTIAL

To the Manor born This striking modern take on a beachside home from Manor Home Builders is the perfect residence for any Perth suburb. // words rocky amatulli // images joel barbitta – d-max photography

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The Oakford Manor features a classic elevation with modern hints. The traditional cedar louvres are complimented by the hand-dressed stone on the portico and chimney stack and the raised parapet wall over the entry together with the second storey overhanging to the garage to give the home its modern hint. The Oakford Manor is designed to not look out of place in any of Perth’s suburban streets.

Hidden behind the solid pivot Rosewood front door is a beautifully designed home with influences from the 60s and 70s. The first thing you notice is the polished concrete floors, the soring entry void and the frameless glass balustrade…and a hint of something special at the end of the hallway.

The parent’s theatre/lounge room is to the right of the entry and perfect for that relaxing evening cocktail or for watching a movie. The room is wired for sound with a full structured cabling package including speakers, internet-connected smart TV, 2 terabyte network hard drive for storing all your movies and photos and iPod connectivity.

The atmosphere is enhanced by the LED fire in its marble and rosewood surround. Completing the room is a coffered ceiling

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with lighting trough and the magnificent solid rosewood sliding door.

Further down the hall there is the entry from the garage and an alcove to the study and powder room. The powder room has a feature wall of “timber tiles” and a unique pedestal basin… but all the while the eye is drawn down the hallway to the breathtaking feature pool.

The pool is the main feature of the home as well as serving its more practical role of zoning the downstairs living spaces. The pool combines with the reflection pond and some innovative window design to create a “land bridge” connection to the living pod.

The living pod contains the kitchen, dining, living, and laundry areas where most of the daily activities take place. These living areas are designed to combine the indoor/outdoor relationship of the home by overlooking the fabulous pool and landscaped gardens. A wall of featured louvre and bi-fold doors connect the living/dining to the alfresco. The louvre and bi-fold doors have the added benefit of allowing the control of the sea breezes.

The kitchen is a masterpiece of quality materials and minimalist design. The 1200mm-wide feature island bench with its bookend design and 60mm-thick Egyptian marble top

dominates. The handmade surgical stainless steel sink with veggie spray mixer tap and the glasstop Smeg hot plate are both placed on the bench so as the cook can not only enjoy the view while working but never have his or her back to the other people in the living space.

Behind the bench is a wall of cabinets that contain the integrated fridge, bi-fold door appliance cupboard complete with marble workbench, 12 pot drawers, a steam oven, a regular oven, a microwave and two pot drawers. The kitchen package is completed with a semi-integrated dishwasher and a surprise concealed walk-in pantry.

Next to the kitchen is a superbly appointed laundry. The laundry features timber veneer and marble-topped cabinets that match the kitchen as well as neat inclusions such as concealed washing machine taps, pull-out laundry basket drawer and integrated linen storage.

Completing the ground floor is the resort-style master suite, again overlooking the pool but with its own private outdoor seating and bathing areas. Completing the master suite is the WIR featuring a custom fit out and a beautifully finished ensuite with double-sized shower.

Upstairs is accessed via the timber-clad stairs with frameless

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The Oakford Manor is a modern interpretation of a beachside residence, perfect for the Perth coastal lifestyle. It combines the use of quality materials in simple and effective ways to create a stunning but very liveable home.

glass balustrade. The staircase is in the middle of the home and not the entry so as to improve the traffic flow of the home. The upper floor is the devoted childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s zone. It features two double-sized bedrooms with built-in robes (additional bedroom designs available), separate sitting and study areas and a well-appointed bathroom, W.C. and linen cupboard area.

The Oakford Manor also features double-glazed AWS Vantage window frames throughout the home, (5mm tinted on the outside and 4mm clear on the inside) dual Rinnai instantaneous gas hot water systems and dual Daikin air-conditioning systems. Other features of the home are the integrated alarm system, video intercom and wireless network connections.

The Oakford Manor is a modern interpretation of a beachside residence, perfect for the Perth coastal lifestyle. It combines the use of quality materials in simple and effective ways to create a stunning but very liveable home.

Manor Home Builders is an independent family owned and operated boutique building company that is uniquely positioned to offer a full range of custom home design options as well as our standard home range. Manor also specialises in upmarket home renovations through its â&#x20AC;&#x153;Manor Renaissanceâ&#x20AC;? brand and a full range of commercial buildings including apartment developments, office buildings and factory/warehouses through its â&#x20AC;&#x153;Manor Projectsâ&#x20AC;? brand.

For further details and information please visit the Manor Home Builders website www.manorhomes.com.au or call Gary Brown on 0418 835 483 for all sales and design enquiries. BC

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Manor Homes: Gary Brown â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 0418 835 483, www.manorhomes.com.au

The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 103

RESIDENTIAL

Garden of Eden A 9 Star rated, practical Wembley home points to a new way of sustainable living for West Australians. // words rocky amatulli

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With a reported 63 percent of all Western Australians becoming more concerned about their power bills, it is some reprieve that all new homes in Western Australia are now built to a 6 Star rating. Some people are embracing this shift to gain (and help others gain) a competitive advantage. Sustainable property consultant Marc Drexel, director of ARCeden and ARCactive, is one of those people. Marc has built his first 9 Star energy rated development - his own home. The home was a finalist in the Housing Industry Association’s Green Smart category, and attracted more than 400 people to its opening as part of the Sustainable September series.

The home a four-bedroom, two-bathroom residence (which includes a separate study) is divisible into two separate living areas which are suitable for retirees, professional couples, or a family with small children.

The home focuses on ‘‘embodied sustainability’’ so that it is not only built with the environment in mind but is also extremely efficient with regard to ongoing energy and maintenance requirements...or more so the minimisation thereof.

The design of the home is where the sustainability starts. The exterior utilises products and materials which are practical, had a low carbon footprint to produce, require little maintenance, and/or have been salvaged and therefore have not had to be manufactured specifically for this project. Simple blockwork and concrete finished walls and recycled timber all form part of the exterior fabric of the home, whilst having the benefit of adding interest and texture to a design which is simple,

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

The home focuses on ‘‘embodied sustainability’’ so that it is not only built with the environment in mind but is also extremely efficient with regard to ongoing energy and maintenance requirements. geometric, and uncluttered. What then overlays this exterior are the plants and gardens which add to the sustainability of the home in various ways – by shading, or by contributing edible produce (by way of the front verge vegetable and herb garden). Even the selection of many of the plants growing on the property has been carefully considered insofar that many of them are not only native to Australia, but native to the suburb itself. Whilst the property does not have an instant garden (which again would require considerable resource and wastage to achieve) the garden will develop naturally and improve energy performance of the home with time. As with most things, preparation is often the key to success. This goes as far as what Marc refers to as ‘‘the unsexy end of sustainability’’ – preparing and conditioning the soil before planting. This demonstrates one of the underlying principles of sustainability, that is, that a combination or compounding of actions and decisions can make all the difference. ‘‘Our home is often the last bastion of impracticality,’’ says Marc. ‘‘We as consumers need to become empowered, and we do that with the choices we make. What I believe that ARCeden is developing is what I refer to as a success driven model for the alpha generation. What we are doing as a society is leaving behind a toxic legacy. It is easy to ‘greenwash’ a project and pretend that we really believe it to be sustainable, but true sustainability goes much deeper than that. And whilst there are some great tools available, most of those tools have previously sat in isolation. What we have been able to do via ARCactive, is to create a rating system which considers and combines seven indices.’’

Marc’s approach to his own home then, was to make the house work first and then bolt on the facade and other treatments, as opposed to doing the opposite. For example the house has no passages or hallways. Whilst most people would be reluctant to forego these in their own home, it is possibly out of habit and expectation rather than necessity that these wasted areas are included in many homes. ‘‘As long as there is no transfer of noise between adjoining rooms and access to each of those rooms is easy and practical, then what purpose

do hallways serve?,’’ asks Marc. It is actually a difficult question to answer, when asked!

Marc’s other criticism is that many people get caught up in chasing ‘‘stars’’. What he felt was needed was a more balanced set of measurements and results, which is why ARCactive developed its own rating system which has now been adopted by one leading real estate firm and one of the busier local councils in Western Australia (who acknowledge that having an ARCactive rating can provide a simple yet comprehensive overview of the performance of a development or home).

The home was designed with the rating system which ARCactive devised, and therefore incorporates considerations across seven different categories: property fixtures (that conserve and produce energy), fixtures and appliances (that conserve and reuse water), liveability (considering the building life and energy content), materials (factoring in finishes, their use, and how they impact on human and environmental health), community (proximity to parks and local amenities), nature (type amount of diversity of vegetation), and transport (encompassing walking cycling and public transport). The combined rating is known as the ‘Eco-nomics’ rating of the home, which in this case is 9 Stars.

In creating his 9 Star home, Marc systematically addressed each of those seven categories with tried and tested technology and solutions. However it is the way in which many small things contribute to the sustainability of home, the really make the biggest difference over a period of time. For example central switches which turn all the lights off from one point can save homeowners up to four percent of their annual power bill.

Even through the use of innovative benchtop material such as

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 105

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

‘‘Paperock’’ (which costs similar to other laminated board products currently used) can make the difference. The product is incredibly sustainable in its manufacture and is extremely serviceable and durable. Furthermore, no special processes are required for working or installing the product. Marc was so impressed with the product, he has become the state distributor for it.

The home’s internal temperature is extremely stable and comfortable all year-round. The home does not have any air-conditioning as it does not require any. There is some supplementary heating that is rarely used. The internal temperature of the home can be further controlled through the use of ceiling fans. There are large areas of exposed brickwork located high up and pick up heat from northern sun entering via highlight windows. This heat is then radiated back into the home due to the thermal mass of the brickwork.

Even the selection of appliances was carefully considered. Whilst Marc admits that whilst historically they would not have been his first choice, this time he chose appliances which clearly outweighed many other brands when considering the environmental impact during their manufacture and subsequent running. And at the end of the day, they still do what they need to, so there is no disadvantage or compromise as far as the homeowner is concerned. ‘‘Consumers should ask themselves what role does

106 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

a house play, but also what role do they play when it comes to sustainability?’’

Anthony Pillinger (director of Swell Homes which built the home) comments that whilst the home was enjoyable to build, it did not provide any unusual difficulties. “It was really just an application of some of the most recent building materials, coupled with the old school ones,” says Anthony.“Working with Solarspan for the first time on this job was very interesting. Understanding how to get the services throughout the house with Solarspan as a roof was a little tricky, but we managed without any problems. Basically, the home is an example of composite construction through and through.

It essentially has a honed concrete slab, concrete block face work outside and plastered inners, with some reverse brick veneer to the front and shadowclad walls to the upper level. Good things do really come in sensibly sized packages.”

And while Marc loves living in his home, it is currently on the market because ARCeden is moving on to a more ambitious project - what Marc refers to as ‘‘the green cell collective’’. This project is like a townhouse development with a sustainable value overlay. In fact, it will be very much like a traditional village. BC ARCeden/ARCactive: 0412 928 504, www.arceden.net / www.arcactive.com.au E: Marc.Drexel@arceden.net Swell Homes: 0438 388 892, www.swellhomes.com.au (also on www.houzz.com)

up close + personal with

marc drexel DIRECTOR, ARCEDEN & ARCACTIVE // interviewed by rocky amatulli

How did you get into the industry?

I spent around 30 years working in property and real estate in some of the most affluent suburbs in Perth. As a real estate agent I helped many people buy and sell very large homes – what I refer to as McMansions! Indeed, I lived in one of them. Needless to say, these homes were very energy hungry, and were therefore not particularly sustainable in their design or running. By way of total contrast, I also worked for a national real estate company in rural Western Australia.

Here I got to experience first-hand some of the effects of climate change on the environment. Reflecting on that entire part of my life and career, I became acutely aware of the limitation and cost of valuable resources such as water and fuels used for heating and cooling homes. It was at this point that I made a decision to change my way of life, and in doing so, help others to do the same. I then went on to form ARCeden. However rather than fight ‘‘the system’’ (referring to how the real estate and property markets work), I used that to my advantage and the advantage of my clients.

What does your organisation do?

ARCeden is a sustainable property consultancy. My consultancy fulfils a number of roles relating to sustainable housing and developments. It assists people in sourcing appropriate sites, developing designs, and then building sustainable homes. Whilst ‘‘sustainability’’ clearly incorporates what are becoming more understood and accepted aspects of conserving resources and minimising wastage, to me sustainable living also includes creating homes for people that are located within walking distance of amenities (or their favourite bar after a night out drinking when they shouldn’t be driving), connect with nature, and are located in a community which is safe. Many of these aspects are often ignored or are not considered when people think of sustainable homes and living. My intention was to utilise my skills and experience to help people combine three important factors into their homes: affordability; sustainability; and style.

Where do you draw your inspirations from?

Some of my thinking actually draws on my personal interest in anthropology and in particular the Aboriginal culture and their spirituality. As a culture, they have outlived many other (supposedly more civilised and educated) cultures such as the Egyptians and the Mayans, but have done so with a minimum of resources and in a particularly harsh environment. When we ask ourselves why this is so, some of the answers lie in their self-sustainability and connection with their environment– which they choose to work with, rather than against. I think that we can all learn a great deal from this observation. I also draw inspiration from Europe. As a far older ‘‘Westernised’’ continent than our own, many countries in Europe have managed to retain the village way of life. It was here that I was able to experience first hand the connection between people within the community space – what I refer to as ‘‘the values of humanity’’.

Is that how design and construction of your own home in Wembley came about?

Yes. Given what I had learned and what I knew I still had to learn, I decided to make myself the experiment. It really was a case of putting my money where my mouth was if I was to make real changes myself. It was only then that I felt I could help others make changes in the way they live their lives. And to me, small changes are better than no change at all. Better to make a 10 percent difference to 90 percent of people than the other way round. The exciting thing about all this for me is that consumers nowadays are becoming more educated. They are questioning things more. They are starting to dictate more. They are mean to say ‘‘no!’’ This inevitably pushes boundaries and leads to change anyway. If I can educate people on the way and facilitate that change, then all the better.

How has the response to your home, and indeed ARCeden been?

Very positive indeed! The extension of what I’ve done has also been to develop ARCactive, resulting in a rating system which we have developed. Our rating system provides a ‘‘matrix of meaning’’ which connects over seven indices. It is what we refer to as ‘‘Eco– nomics’’. What this has done is that it has helped to break down the confusing language of sustainability, particularly when with respect to building. This rating system has been adopted by the City of Vincent, and one major real estate company within the western suburbs of Perth. What I’m delighted about is at our rating system takes the salesperson out of the equation. It means that assessment of homes can be based on quantifiable measures. What this does the homeowner is allows them to future-proof their asset.

What are some of the challenges that you face?

I think one of the biggest challenges is lack of education. Even when I worked in rural Western Australia, I was astounded by not only what I saw was happening to the environment but by the lack of knowledge that people living in those areas had about what was happening around them. So I made it my mission to educate myself.

Now my mission is to educate others, which is never easy. I believe the key to sustainability lies in accepting responsibility for our own actions and working with integrity. This is not as always something that other people want to do. Therein, lays the challenge. However I am totally committed to the belief that we can all make a difference and accordingly, we can all benefit. That is what drives me to meet this challenge head-on.

Is this is what you would like to be remembered for?

It certainly is. I believe that we are all really just carers of this place we occupy, and that we leave a legacy. Some cultures believe that our legacy lasts seven generations. If that is so, then we should consider very carefully our actions. We live in a society of excess, and I think it is time that we ask ourselves ‘‘when is enough, enough… and what do we do with all that excess?’’ It’s up to us! BC The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 107

COMMERCIAL

Before

Cutting edge Thermomix Australia’s new Balcatta office is a state of the art building reflecting the product’s engineering // words rocky amatulli

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The Thermomix kitchen appliance was first designed in France in 1970 as a way to blend and heat soup in one machine. It proved just as useful at creating sauces and warm desserts, so this multi-functional machine was tested and updated by Vorwerk International the German manufacturer of the machine, until it became the Thermomix we know today. Grace Mazur (managing director of Thermomix Australia) was first introduced to the Thermomix during a holiday in Poland. While visiting a childhood friend, Grace was amazed to see this machine create an entire meal in minutes.

Being an avid cook, she had to bring one home. After discovering it had never been sold in Australia, Grace won the rights to become to sole Australian distributor from the manufacturer.

Founded in 2001, Thermomix Australia has become the leading independent distributor of Thermomixes worldwide in 12 short years.

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRPPHUFLDO

The curved lines of the façade draw one towards the building and direct you to the main entry statement, consisting of a white light box that ‘‘floats’’ above the full-height frameless curved glass entry.

Starting with one head office in Perth, Thermomix Australia has now expanded to include offices in Melbourne and Auckland, New Zealand. The owners of Thermomix were recommended to Roberto Forgione (designer, and director of Concept Building Design) by one of CBD’s previous clients for whom CBD had designed a commercial building. CBD was not only engaged to design the new Balcatta building for Thermomix, but to also project manage construction on behalf of the client.

The original was to transform the existing office structure into a building that could be the new face of Thermomix Australia. The exterior was envisaged to reflect the powerful blades and mechanisms of the Thermomix machine.

The curved lines of the façade draw one towards the building and direct you to the main entry statement, consisting of a white light box that ‘‘floats’’ above the full-height frameless curved glass entry. This leads into a reception area which has a full-height void incorporating natural stone finishes and feature lights.

The concept for the exterior façade is sharp, contemporary and reflects the image of the product that it stores and represents. It was an important requirement that Thermomix’s corporate colours be incorporated throughout the interior and exterior of the development without overpowering the design. The use of the external ‘‘Ultrabond’’ panels was a key in blending the feature greens and greys into the curves and blades, and in keeping the concept uniform throughout.

“The clients Thermomix, and their management, are extremely professional and switched-on business people,

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www.rightmetalproducts.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 109

THE BUILDERS CHOICE FRPPHUFLDO

and they knew exactly what the building needed, which made our job easier. We hope to continue to grow our relationship with Thermomix and assist them with there growth as we now have a good understanding of how their business operates,” says Roberto. “With every project I get involved in, we always review the end results to see how we can learn and improve how we run our next job. The design for this project has turned out exactly as we wanted it to, but there are always new and better materials that come onto the market after a project is finished. If some of these had been available at the time of designing Thermomix, they would have made the project perfect.”

Roberto is no stranger to the world of commercial design.

“My father, being the typical Italian, developed houses and commercial buildings so at a young age I enjoyed looking at his plans and tracing them. That stuck with me as I was growing up. I then went on and studied building design and worked for various architects and building designers. Finally, in February 1997, I started Concept Building Design,” says Roberto. The company now has offices in Perth and in Albany, and is working

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on residential projects from Subiaco to Esperance and Denmark, and a range of offices and shops.

Tommaso Trentin (one of CBD’s senior building designers) and Roberto Forgione worked together on the Thermomix project as a team. CBD tackles all of its projects in a similar manner within a team environment, which Roberto feels provides the best outcome for his clients. The company has nine staff comprising seven building designers and draftspersons, and two administration staff. CBD designs medium to large commercial and residential buildings throughout WA. The firm specialises in designing with lightweight construction methods to assist with both cost and speed of construction. Roberto believes that it is important not only to design well, but to also document well to assist the builders of the projects CBD works on. “During the construction stage, it’s a very competitive market in WA and we want to make it easier for builders and subcontractors to price and do their jobs,” he says. BC Concept Building Design: (08) 9272 3956 (Perth) / (08) 9842 1157 (Albany) www.concpetbuildingdesign.com.au

It was an important requirement that Thermomix’s corporate colours be incorporated throughout the interior and exterior of the development without overpowering the design.

RESIDENTIAL

Inner city outback With views from Nedlands to the hills, this South Perth home is bold but private. // words rocky amatulli // images robert frith – acorn photo

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This home is located on a corner, narrow, sloping site at the east end of South Perth with sweeping panoramic views of the Swan River and Perth city that extend from Kings Park to the Darling Ranges. Matthews McDonald Architects was commissioned by its clients to provide full architectural services including design, documentation, tender co-ordination, contract administration, and interior design and fitout.

The initial briefing by the client was to demolish the existing house and rebuild a comfortable family home that recreated their love of the outback and capitalised on the views. The final home is the result of careful consideration of client’s wants and needs coupled with a clear understanding of the potential of the site.

The site had an existing house where the owners had lived for a number of years, which enabled Matthews McDonald Architects to establish what did and didn’t work. Alterations and additions to the existing house by previous owners had resulted in a compromised spatial layout and a building that had considerable construction defects. The architects’ response has been to create a house where each room takes advantage of the views and has a strong connection between the internal and external spaces. In contrast to traditional suburban development the house wraps around a courtyard that forms the main outdoor space. A gallery space links the two building forms.

Built over three levels the basement contains the service spaces, with living and sleeping on the entry and upper levels. The client’s love of cooking and entertaining has been given careful consideration, as

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While the house is unapologetic in its cubic form and use of both modern and traditional materials, it responds to its context in a number of ways. has been the need for a degree of flexibility in the way the home will be used during different times of the year and for the couple’s extended family and friends.

“For us the site posed the biggest challenge - being a very exposed, sloping corner site. However, as is so often the case, these became opportunities. The courtyard plan was a response to the need for privacy both from overlooking from neighbouring properties as well as from the street, and a desire to have direct access from living spaces. The sloping site allowed us to have ground access on two levels with a lower level garage and private entrance accessed off the side boundary and the main entrance repositioned to reinstate the original address at the front of the house. The narrowness of the site has resulted in a long, single zoned plan which means all rooms have views and also allows for good natural light and cross ventilation for natural cooling in summer”, say the architects.

While the house is unapologetic in its cubic form and use of both modern and traditional materials, it responds to its context in a number of ways. The bulk of the house, particularly along its exposed length, has been broken down into smaller components and different materials are used to articulate parts of the building.

Masonry walls create a podium and backbone for the steel and glass boxes and the boundary walls define the external spaces while also providing a backdrop to verge planting and contributing to the appearance of the streetscape.

Steel was the obvious choice in many respects for parts of this

112 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

residence. Hot rolled welded structural steelwork frames create the wide glazed openings, staircase and link structure. Steel provides the necessary strength, flexibility, and detailing for the support framework of the extending cantilevered shading structure.

Internally, lightweight framed walls minimise dead loads on the wide spanning suspended concrete slab. Low maintenance polyester coated multipanel steel cladding wraps the building as a lightweight skin, spanning economically with support fixings at just four points vertically on its cold rolled steel support structure. With an effective combination of insulation and minimal connection points between skin and support structure, heat transfer is minimised, thereby creating a thermally efficient steel framed wall system. Steel also enabled the architects to combine these elements with a palette of traditional materials including face brickwork and concrete to create a striking, visually lightweight and thermally efficient residence.

Additional to appropriate orientation and planning, passive systems and initiatives to minimise energy consumption and environmental impact have been incorporated, including initiatives such as single-zone planning (to maximise natural ventilation and daylighting), compartmentalisation of active areas within the house (to facilitate controlled economical heating and cooling in extreme temperatures), double-glazing throughout, and insulation to minimise building envelope heat transfer. A solar pool heating system and rigid operable swimming pool cover increase the swimming pool’s year round use without additional energy for

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

heating, as well as minimising water loss through evaporation.

The gas boosted solar hot water system with recirculating loop provides energy efficient hot water with minimal water wastage.

Additionally, active systems have been employed at a considerable investment as part of this commitment. The client recognised the importance of this initiative to minimise energy consumption and promote these technologies to encourage investment, research and development for the future. These systems include photovoltaic collectors, rain water harvesting (for use in the toilets and swimming pool maintenance and general external use), mechanical shading devices (including adjustable louvers and extending awnings for additional sun control on the long northwest orientated building elevation), and a hybrid air-conditioning/ventilation system (that adjusts to meet a varying demand for heating and cooling to different zones of the house).

The system can operate in ventilation mode (for example at night) by harnessing cool external fresh air.

Materials were chosen to minimise maintenance throughout the home. These include concrete, face and rendered brickwork, Colorbond pre-painted steel, powdercoated joinery, and travertine internal and external flooring.

For the owners, the house is the product of spending many years working and living in the harsh environment of the northern parts of Western Australia, yet it also represents their love of the beauty of that landscape with its wide open spaces, colours and strength. A three-level water feature which trickles down to the long pool below is reminiscent of a waterhole in the state’s north-west. Laser cut security doors, iron, steel, glass red carpet and red retractable blinds all serve to reinforce the owners’ love of the Pilbara and its textures and finishes.

Socially, the building has also been designed to provide for changing needs of the owners. The ground floor contains the master bedroom, kitchen and living areas, outdoor entertaining and pool – so it is effectively self-contained. With a lift servicing the home, the upper level has a study, two bedrooms, a lounge, and balcony and outdoor kitchen, so the home is planned with living areas to allow for extended family and possibly carers if required in the future.

The home was nominated for the WA Australian Institute of Architects Award for Residential Architecture - Houses; Colourbond Award for Steel Architecture. For the architects, it has been a satisfying project and the culmination of their experiences thus far. Both of the project’s architects, Leonie Matthews and Paul McDonald, have fathers who were architects.

They studied architecture at Curtin University (formerly WAIT), and then worked for a number of architectural practices in Perth,

before establishing Matthews McDonald Architects in 2000.

With a clear focus on residential projects, the firm provides individualised architectural services to meet the needs of its clients. Matthews McDonald Architects has a number of projects on the go including new houses, a holiday house currently under construction in Exmouth, and alterations and additions to a 1960s house in Kalamunda. The company has also just completed concept work for a couple of retail fit outs including a project at Myer Fremantle for Common Ground (a collective of local designers). BC Matthews McDonald Architects: (08) 9299 7346, www.matthewsmcdonald.com

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www.exclusivepools.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 113

RESIDENTIAL

Star power

Showcasing the benefits of sustainable housing to the community through demonstration and inspiration // words rocky amatulli // images joel barbitta – d-max photography

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Josh Byrne is the director of Josh Byrne & Associates (JBA), a multi-award winning landscape design, environmental consultancy, and communications company, based in Fremantle. He has just completed not one, but two, homes that have been awarded the ultimate energy efficiency rating - and one of the homes is his own.

Both homes have achieved a 10 Star NatHERS energy efficiency rating, whilst utilising conventional building materials and construction methods so they can easily be replicated.

(NatHERS, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, refers to a rating system which is based on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest rating score. 6 Stars is the minimum energy efficiency standard required under current the Building Code of Australia.)

Josh is probably best known to most for his work on the ABC’s Gardening Australia programme. Over the past 10 years, he has shared and demonstrated nationally many practical ways to create productive and water-efficient gardens. Few might know that Josh is actually an environmental scientist with a passion for sustainable gardening, appropriate technology and innovative environmental design.

So what instigated this project? Tired of hearing that sustainable construction ‘‘had to cost more’’, Josh and his colleagues wanted to prove that resource-efficient homes could be built at comparable

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costs and timeframes to regular houses. So after 20 years of renovating other people’s homes and gardens, Josh decided to undertake his most ambitious project yet – the design and construction of not one, but two 10 Star energy efficient homes (in Hilton, near Fremantle. ‘‘Josh’s House’’ was the name given to this ambitious project, and as Josh embarked on his long-held dream to build his own environmentally sustainable home, he documented every step via the open-source Josh’s House website.

The 1160 square metre site was chosen primarily because

of its ideal orientation for climatic-sensible design, However Josh and his family also loved the suburb given the location’s proximity to shops, parks and public transport. The location and suburb also had a strong and vibrant local community – so all in all, it could be said that the project was not only about a sustainable home (or two) but also about a total way of life for the family.

Josh bought the property confident that the modest four-room dwelling wasn’t of heritage significance. An independent assessment confirmed this and Council gave

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 115

approval for its demolition. Measuring around 60m by 20m on an east-west axis, the block was subdivided in a typical ‘‘battle axe’’ arrangement to provide two building sites which maximised the potential for northern solar access. The site had a number of other things going for it – it was flat, free draining, and clear of any significant vegetation. The only obstacle was the removal of the original timber-framed, asbestos-clad 1950’s cottage.

With the asbestos carefully removed and disposed of by specialist contractors, most of the remaining materials including framing timbers, floorboards and roof sheeting were salvaged for later use in other projects. The original window frames, doors, sinks and bath tub were also saved and offered to neighbours who were renovating cottages from the same period.

The house designs were firmly based on well-established solar passive design principles to ensure maximum comfort all year round, as the homes do not have any air-conditioning or artificial heating.

Ph: 13 15 40 116 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

The designs also incorporated water efficient fixtures and appliances, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and on-site power generation. In addition to private garden areas, a common productive garden was designed to supply both houses with fresh food.

The key solar passive design principles employed for the homes included; east-west orientation (with maximum glazing to the north for winter solar gain and shaded in summer); minimal glazing to the east and west (to minimise summer heat entry); high thermal mass materials used on the inside of the buildings (to absorb winter solar gain and stabilise internal temperature during summer); high insulation value to roof and walls (to minimise uncontrolled heat loss/gain); and pelmeted curtains on the windows (to reduce heat loss in winter).

Construction of the homes started in November 2012. A combination of reverse brick veneer and double brick walling was used in order to increase internal thermal mass – but only where needed.

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The project demonstrates a more sensitive approach to residential subdivision that has considered maximising effective garden area around the homes to allow for natural shading, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play spaces and local food production.

Where this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t required, timber-framed walling was used instead because those materials have a lower embodied energy value and therefore a lower carbon footprint.

Low-e glazing was chosen throughout the homes to regulate heat flow, however surprisingly, only one double-glazed window was required in each house to achieve a 10 Star rating. This was placed in the kitchen where the use of curtains to keep in winter warmth wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t practical.

Lighting was provided by a combination of LED down lights in the bedrooms and living areas (kitchen, dining living room and activity room), and fluorescent globes in occasional use areas (bathroom, laundry, toilet and hall way). Reversible ceiling fans were also installed in the bedrooms and living areas to provide downward air movement in summer and circulate warm upper air in winter. Each house has its own 3kW grid-connected photovoltaic system installed which generates more power than required to run the homes, as well as gas boosted solar hot water systems. Solatube skylights help to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;daylightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; internal areas such as walk-in robes to reduce the need for artificial lighting. High efficiency shower heads and tapware was selected, and the low-volume dual flush toilets have integrated hand basins which use tap water to fill the cistern rather than just run down the drains.

The landscaping also helps to address a number of pressing urban sustainability issues, including improved household energy efficiency through appropriate shading, habitat provision with local native planting, and local food production with an extensive shared vegetable garden, home orchard, poultry and composting and worm farm system â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something Fremantle and surrounding areas was well known for.

The hard landscaping works also incorporated locally sourced and salvaged materials.

Permeable, rather than sealed surface treatments were to be used where possible to allow for localised storm water infiltration.

The direct diversion greywater systems which both houses have provide irrigation to selected areas, as do they have rainwater tanks for internal usage with mains water back up for dry periods.

The productive garden is watered from a shared bore and state of the art centrally controlled irrigation system, incorporating both soil moisture monitoring and weather monitoring to maximise water efficiency. As a keen gardener in a dry spot like Perth, water has always been important to Josh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From my late teens on weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had water saving measures in place, and as a food gardener Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always trying to come up with better watering systems,â&#x20AC;? he says. There was no doubt then that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Joshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; would be a water-smart home.

The two dwellings have been completed in just six and a half months, with construction finishing in June this year. One home is now occupied by Josh and his family, and the other by his sister-in-law. The project demonstrates a more sensitive approach to residential subdivision that has considered maximising effective garden area around the homes to allow for natural shading, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play spaces and local food production â&#x20AC;&#x201C; important health and lifestyle benefits that are rapidly disappearing from our suburbs. And as tends to be Joshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way, there have been no delays creating that common productive garden around the homes.

Josh is recognised as a national leader in sustainable landscape design and urban water management. He also has strong links with Murdoch University where he is engaged in teaching and doctoral research in the areas of environmental design and urban water management, and has recently been appointed as a Research Fellow with Curtin Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sustainability Policy Institute. He has been the recipient of four consecutive National Horticulture Media Association television awards, and he was recognised as the Australian Water Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Water Professional of the Year for WA in 2010 and the National Young Water Professional of the Year in 2011 for his commitment to promoting water sensitive gardening through the media.

Josh is an Ambassador for the Living Smart Household Sustainability Program, and Patron for the Conservation Council of WA. He has also been appointed Ambassador for the national Smart Approved WaterMark program. The Joshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House website contains full house and landscaping plans, fact sheets and videos to inspire anyone to build an energy and water saving home. BC Josh Byrne & Associates (JBA): (08) 9443 3721, www.joshbyrne.com.au

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The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 117

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Harmonious contrast A 20-year-old extension makes way for a far more sustainable solution // words rocky amatulli // images sid thoo

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Patrick  Hubble Â

118 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 Architect  (B.Env  Des,  B.Arch  hons)

Since he was as young as he could remember, Patrick Hubble always knew that he wanted to practice architecture and design buildings.

Making a difference to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives through the design of their homes, workplaces and social spaces has been Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priority ever since.

Patrick has a fervent belief that the environment we live in can be improved by architecture and building, bringing the latest technology to bear. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practice, Hubble Design, prides itself in designing specifically for the requirements and tastes of its clients, including as a priority designing sustainably.

The clients, Jamie and Sally approached Patrick and project co-architect, Sid Thoo to design an extension to their early 1900 home.

The house had an existing 20 year old extension which Patrick describes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;poorly designedâ&#x20AC;?. He goes on to say of the old extension, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was little natural light, and the spatial proportions were not practical.

Furthermore, aspects of the site such as views, ventilation and northern light were simply not being utilised.â&#x20AC;? It was decided that rather than replicate the style of the original home in the extension, the project would be best served by what Patrick describes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;harmonious contrast that reinforced the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of historyâ&#x20AC;?.

There were numerous sustainable objectives on the table from the outset of the project. Both the owners being working professionals

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

It was decided that rather than replicate the style of the original home in the extension, the project would be best served by what Patrick describes as “harmonious contrast that reinforced the home’s sense of history”.

with environmental and electrical engineering backgrounds, they were keen to introduce new technology into their home that clearly demonstrated sustainable living and energy efficiencies via low embodied energy design. Not only did the Patrick and Sid do the architectural design for the project, but they also carried out the thermal performance analysis which predicts temperature at any time of day using climate data. As a significant influence on the project, sustainability outcomes became the major goal for the many design decisions during the course of the project. Thermal modelling using Ecotect was used to build a virtual thermal model of the house as precisely as possible. This enabled design decisions, such as the reverse brick veneer, internal ponds, and location and type of thermal mass and insulation, to be made in an informed manner. Utilising these new modelling methods to determine temperatures and comfort levels throughout the life of the home, and new configurations of

innovative materials in its construction, the architects were able to satisfy (if not surpass) the clients’ requirements and expectations.

The extension itself is constructed in “reverse brick-veneer”.

This form of construction ensures that the thermal mass is on the inside of the building where it is most effective, and not on the outside as in traditional brick-veneer construction.

The exterior cladding is then covered by a layer of insulation, using a product called Weathertex (which is a recycled timber cladding with very low embodied energy). Ceilings and walls are further insulated using EarthWool, a product made from the glass from recycled bottles. The stairwell, which is a double height void volume, uses a translucent cladding called Danpalon, which was filled with a translucent insulation called Danpatherm. This allowed the double height volume to be well lit during the day, and transmit light at night, but without any reduction in thermal quality. In

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 119

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

“The modern architectural form of the extension was integrated with as much technology to create measurable sustainable outcomes.”

addition to having some translucent walls which allow winter sun into the home, the home also incorporates hydroheat pipes that can heat and cool the concrete slab, reducing electricity costs.

The home also has a dual circulating hot water system to save water. This is all, of course, over and above the standard features of ceiling fans, natural ventilation and north and south only facing glazing.

The home also includes a suite of other sustainable and low energy features. It includes a rainwater tank where drinking water is harvested, and has an inside pond for natural air-conditioning.

Materials such as the kitchen floors and benchtops are salvaged karri, and window frames are made from sustainable harvested cedar. Paints and other finishes are zero VOC, and exposed concrete floors are dark in colour to absorb more solar radiation and provide thermal mass.

What is evident straight away is when walking from the old part of the house (which uses standard brick construction) to the new part, is that there is a noticeable drop in temperature and much more light, openness and useability. This indicates anecdotally that the results of the thermal modelling have been successful and realistic, and the efforts placed in design at the start of the

120 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

building process are well worth the outcomes when the project is completed.

“All in all, the modern architectural form of the extension was integrated with as much technology to create measurable sustainable outcomes. Whilst all building projects have challenges,” says Patrick, “the commitment to the project of Jamie and Sally and the principles it tested was enough to withstand any challenges that presented themselves.”

Patrick started his own firm soon after graduating and has established many industry contacts over that time. He also lectures at UWA and Curtin University in the fields of architectural design, technology and computing, giving a unique insight into the up-and-coming issues facing the industry and the profession in general. Patrick finds that being in touch with students keeps design ideas fresh and new for him. Hubble Design is currently working on many more extension projects, but has also started to work on prefabricated projects. With factory built, high precision made structures it is possible to achieve cost savings and integrate yet more technology into future dwellings. BC Hubble Design: (08) 9242 3167, www.hubble.com.au Campbell-Howard Building Company: 0407 441 175

RESIDENTIAL

High quality Konstruction Boutique renovation, restoration and additions specialist Finished Konstruction is a small company with a big reputation for delivering exceptional results. // words norman burns // images stephen nicholls photography

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In the highly competitive world of the construction industry, word of mouth can forge your reputation - or break it.

So boutique Perth renovation, restoration and additions specialist Finished Konstruction must indeed be doing something right.

Successful completion of one job seven years ago in the western suburbs, where Finished Konstruction concentrates its business, has led to numerous other projects, (the most recent a beautiful renovation/ addition to a home in Gregory St, Wembley) thanks to the superb quality of owner Jimmie Roche’s work and the glowing - and unsolicited - recommendations from happy customers.

“One job in Menora came from an architect that one of the clients had used, and that became a year and half’s work,” says Jimmie.

With more than 30 years’ experience in both building and renovating single and upper storey additions in the western suburbs, Finished Konstruction delivers projects to a successful completion with

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 121

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

exceptional attention to detail, on budget and within contracted timeframes.

Being a small company (Jimmie and his wife Sheena who is the office/business manager); Finished Konstruction says it offers a personal level of service and commitment many of its bigger rivals find difficult, if not impossible, to match.

Essential to Finished Konstruction’s business ethos is keeping to within contracted timeframes. If the client is still occupying a home undergoing renovations or additions, Jimmie aims to keep disruption to their day to day life as minimal as possible.

“We did one job in Claremont where the client stayed in the house and he said it saved him around $100,000 in rent,” says Jimmie.

122 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

After arriving from Europe, where he predominantly worked in renovation, in 1984, Jimmie honed his skills as a carpenter for more than a decade before becoming a registered builder and forming Finished Konstruction.

Finished Konstruction employs hand-picked sub-contractors for all trades on its projects, with Jimmie casting an expert eye overall as the full-time site supervisor.

Finished Konstruction has since carved an enviable reputation in the western suburbs, working with other reputable suppliers such as Subiaco Restoration (skirtings, architraves, doors), Cedar West (supplier of traditional windows and doors) and Chris Savage and Associates Design (Pty) Ltd (decorative cornices, ceilings roses, fireplace surrounds, corbels and columns) to deliver beautiful, expertly

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

Work included a new living/kitchen/alfresco/double garage on the lower level and a new adult wing/bedroom with en-suite and retreat on the upper level.

finished additions or restorations that perfectly complement the clients’ wishes and the style of the dwelling.

Federation, or Heritage-listed, style homes are a speciality for Jimmie, who will go the extra mile meeting challenging tasks; one such project involved tracking down the right materials to match an existing 1920 staircase.

“We had to try to replicate the groovings within the handrails; it turned out exceptionally, well,” says Jimmie Finished Konstruction can either design and build for the client or work with a design brought to them by the client.

“We’ll also do custom-designed new homes…we are very, very 100 percent focused on honesty and integrity,” says Jimmie.

“Constant communication between ourselves and the client is vital; we listen to the client right throughout the process.

“We will usually construct a maximum of three projects at a time to give each client the personal attention they deserve, from the planning/design stage to the building stage and right through to the final handover.”

Finished Konstruction recently successfully delivered a renovation/two-storey addition to a magnificent Federation home in Claremont.

The beautiful home features all-around verandahs, high

ceilings and old brickwork and the client, who hired Finished Konstruction on a work colleague’s recommendation, wanted to update the living areas and sleeping quarters with an upper storey addition and renovation but still retain the home’s original character.

Finished Konstruction was also contracted to work on a renovation/two-storey addition on a Tudor-style two-storey home in Menora in Perth’s northern suburbs.

Work included a new living/kitchen/alfresco/double garage on the lower level and a new adult wing/bedroom with en-suite and retreat on the upper level.

Features included hand-cut mosaic tiles from Italy, chandeliers from the USA and tapware from the UK. The contract was signed on April 2011, with an initial build time of 12 months; however the clients sought several contract variations.

Due to constant communication and personal consultation on the project, Finished Konstruction was able to finish the home almost on time, allowing the client to resume living in their home much sooner than expected. BC Finished Konstruction: Jimmie Roche 0413 327 435

Custom Kitchen & Furniture Designs

(08) 9249 9982 As the name suggests, every kitchen is unique and with over 15 years experience our team can help you design the perfect kitchen for your next project.

We use the best quality manufacturing materials and accessories and can offer the latest in clever storage solutions and effect lighting With a wide selection of bench top and door finishes, we are positive we can find the perfect match for your project.

E: geoff@uniquekitchencreations.com.au Unit 26, 244 Beringarra Ave MALAGA WA 6090 www.uniquekitchencreations.com.au

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 123

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PATRICK IRWIN ARCHITECT

124 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

Way back in 2008 the clients approached Archicentre WA (part of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects) for a Design Report on their property in Mundaring. Patrick Irwin Architect prepared that report (to a fairly modest initial budget) but over time and with client consideration the scope of the project was increased. The original 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house appeared to be soundly built - other than being too small and very cold with inadequate light levels to the bedrooms due to a low dark pergola behind a high parapet wall to the north. The potential to improve the house in respect with passive solar design principals was evident from the outset, as was exploiting the primary asset of the site which had a northern outlook over abundant trees and native bushland.

Project discussions re-commenced in 2010 - with review of the Design Report which was then developed to an extended scope, including the need for cat enclosures at the back of the house. The clients put the project on hold for a couple of years while they established their careers and firmed up on their commitment to the project. The project evolved into an extension containing a double garage with a living room above, along with forward extensions to the front bedrooms, a refit to the laundry and the ensuite shower-room, and a new kitchen at the rear.

The old kitchen was reconfigured as a new light filled bathroom.

The extended and renovated home now has is a new front stair, plus

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

The project evolved into an extension containing a double garage with a living room above, along with forward extensions to the front bedrooms, a refit to the laundry and the ensuite shower-room, and a new kitchen at the rear.

a new internal stair from the garage, and an extended and rebuilt front terrace running full width under a galvanised steel pergola.

The extensions are in similar construction to the existing house.

Adequate shading and clever ventilation solutions help keep the house cool in summer. For example, the front pergola is designed to be high enough to also admit winter sunlight, while in summer the original grape vine (once re-established) will provide ample shade across the front, allowing the planting to provide climate control naturally. To allow abundant daylight and winter sunlight into the rear rooms on the south elevation, a transverse highlight was built running parallel with the main ridge. New Low E glazing in timber frames built to a high standard reduces the heat transfer in summer but also serves to ensure the house generally remains bright in winter without the need for artificial heating.

HS Hyde & Son Master Builders were approached by Patrick Irwin Architect to tender on the building works for the project.

They were subsequently the successful tenderer for the extensions – accepting responsibility for all building, installation and supervision on the project. HS Hyde & Son acted as the

facilitator working with the architect to ensure the vision was met and the scope delivered. The owner supplied many of the fittings and fixtures which were also installed by HS Hyde & Son. This included the sourcing of seasoned jarrah and fabrication of joinery by the owners. Construction was mainly carried out using traditional materials such as jarrah floorboards, doors and window frames, brick, and iron. However, the work also incorporated contemporary building methods and features such as reinforced concrete suspended slabs, galvanised steelwork (for the stairs, balustrading and pergola) and louvres, and includes an undercroft garage, steel pergola, and strategic windows to allow additional natural lighting and ventilation.

Another important facet of construction facing both the architect and builder related to the site - the need to lower the garage floor to allow the ground floor to extend across above it. This required excavation, but the dense laterite and clay compound foundation was so strong that a rock-breaker and jack hammers were required for excavation and underpinning during construction. This delayed the job in the early stages, but added

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 125

THE BUILDERS CHOICE UHVLGHQWLDO

both feature and facility to the home. Whilst the earthworks on site were challenging for HS Hyde & Son due to the difficult soil conditions and underpinning to the existing home, the problems were was overcome the ‘old-fashioned’ way using skill and experience……and the appropriate machinery and equipment!

Builder, HS Hyde and Son is a family owned and operated business which has been operating since 1925. The company spans four generations, with Scott Hyde being born into the industry (and business) beginning his apprenticeship at the age of 15. Scott has worked in the bu8ilding industry every since that age. HS Hyde & Son undertakes both commercial projects (maintenance, refurbishments and new builds), and residential projects (alterations, additions, extensions, custom built homes, second storey additions, ancillary accommodation). The company is currently completing several commercial and residential projects.

Patrick Irwin studied architecture upon leaving school - inspired by Glenn Murcutt who was designing the new Newcastle Students’ Union Building, at Shortland where Patrick’s

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father was the client. Glenn’s skill and passion was infectious.

Patrick initially studied at Newcastle and New South Wales Universities, dropping out for few years (playing music and undertaking labouring jobs), until later completing his studies in the UK, at Plymouth. Patrick Irwin Architect provided the architect’s full service for the project which included design, documentation, tendering, contract preparation and contract administration on the project. The company carries out work on residential, multi-unit residential, institutional, commercial, and Heritage projects, amongst other types of work. Patrick is currently working on a number of houses and extensions, and a Community Hall/Visitor’s Centre plus a Parish Centre in the Swan Valley.

One insightful reflection that Patrick has made on completion of this project is that good documentation is not only valuable, it is absolutely necessary! “You can’t have too many details”, says Patrick. “I learn this on every project.” Patrick also goes on to mention ‘key contributors to the project’ which includes the structural engineers McDowall Affleck (Duncan Pratt), the interior designer (Annie Hoar), the steel-fabricator Flux Steel Creations (Mark Pringle), and Goran Soldat. Goran was the overall supervisor on the project and was the main point of contact between the client, architect and tradespeople. Through his skill and experience within the industry Goran was able to ensure each trade and subcontractor completed their work to a high standard and quality finish. Via his diligence and supervision, Goran was also able to maintain the integrity of the project and the works were completed within the agreed budget. This serves as a timely reminder that great outcomes on projects are often also about the people involved, and not just about materials and design. BC

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HS Hyde & Son: (08) 9271 3426, www.hshyde.com.au

126 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

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ECOSTRUCT ™ is a new structurally engineered insulated panel building system that can be used in residential, commercial and industrial construction in lieu of brick, timber or steel.

What makes ECOSTRUCT ™ different is the patented panel connection system that allows flexible design for external (150mm thick) and internal walls (86mm thick) with cyclone rated construction to two storeys as a minimum standard in any Australian conditions.

There are many advantages of ECOSTRUCT ™ panels including energy efficiency, white ant resistant, fire proof and recyclable making the panel system sustainable and eco-friendly.

Using the patented connection system with base and top plates tied down to the concrete slab and also to the selected roof system the wall construction method is simple using less trades allowing lock up and practical completion sooner than using traditional materials.

The biggest advantage of ECOSTRUCT ™ is the lesser cost of the panel compared to the traditional alternatives and with significantly reduced build time saving the Owner, Builder, Developer and Designer money.

David Lovell, Managing Director says “we believe the market is ready to embrace the Ecostruct panel system given the proven advantages of time and cost savings that are so important to home buyers in the current climate”.

“All clients have to do is send us their plans and we will provide an estimated comparison price to make the decision easy. Once the order is received the production time is a short duration allowing for quick delivery to site ready for installation once the concrete slab is completed”. Lovell said For further detailed information please visit www.ecostructhomes.com or contact David on Phone 9493 1110 or Email davidlovell@ecostructhomes.com

concrete slab or timber floor.

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 127

ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

New panel building system now available for WA market

ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

New front in bushfire battle A new Draft Standard for Steel-framed Construction in Bushfire Areas has been released. // words national association of steel-framed housing (nash)

Photo (above): Testing steel framed house under full flame zone conditions

128 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

As bushfire risk seasons come and go in Australia, the research effort to develop more effective and economical methods of construction in bushfire areas is ongoing.

The National Association of Steel-framed Housing (NASH) is a leading participant in that effort, working with CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, fire consultants and industry partners to conduct a variety of bushfire resistance tests on steel floor, wall and roof systems constructed from familiar, readily available and easily installed products and materials. Now the results of that effort will soon be available as a Standard for use by all building practitioners.

The Black Saturday Bushfires in Victoria in 2009 caused great personal loss and property damage including the deaths of 173 people and the destruction of over 2000 houses.

Over the last century, tens of thousands of Australians have been seriously affected by bushfire, and many thousands of homes destroyed, causing enormous distress and dislocation in communities and significant economic cost.

Much of the property loss in bushfires is considered an inevitable consequence of living in close proximity to bushland, with bushfires often seen as irresistible forces that cannot be prevented from engulfing and destroying homes. Many people who lose their homes to bushfire are nevertheless determined to rebuild in similar locations, creating pressure for practical, effective and economical solutions to building in these areas.

It is a requirement of the National Construction Code (NCC) that

THE BUILDERS CHOICE DOWHUQDWLYH PHWKRGV RI FRQVWUXFWLRQ

ONE OF THESE IS AN INFERIOR COPY. NASH has always believed that widespread property losses in bushfires can be reduced with the application of good science and engineering to the design of buildings.

most residential buildings of Classes 1, 2 and 3, and any associated 10a buildings, be designed and constructed to reduce the risk of ignition from a bushfire.

With forecasts of another potentially severe fire season ahead, it is timely that the National Association of Steel-framed Housing (NASH) has released a new draft standard for steel-framed construction in bushfire areas. The culmination of nearly four years’ work, the new standard is based, as far as possible, on familiar everyday materials and methods.

NASH has always believed that widespread property losses in bushfires can be reduced with the application of good science and engineering to the design of buildings.

The team firstly reviewed the performance requirements of the Building Code of Australia and concluded that better performing and more economical designs were possible than those conforming to current deemed-to-satisfy standards.

A combination of non–combustible facade and cavity construction would enable the building to be configured so that failure or damage of one element did not lead to an inevitable failure of the structure or a breach of the habitable envelope. This approach also meant that the building’s performance would not be reliant on an unrealistically high level of detailing, workmanship and maintenance of the external facade to prevent ignition of combustible elements within roof, wall and sub-floor cavities.

Conventional steel-framed and steel roof construction is known to perform well under ember attack, providing a straightforward and affordable construction solution based on familiar and readily available materials and construction methods. Its performance under radiant heat and direct flame contact was predicted to be good, but specific research evidence was needed to confirm this performance.

Similarly, steel-framed walls and floors clad with conventional materials offered a totally non-combustible method of construction. The use of non-combustible materials on the building envelope and in the roof cavity provides excellent resistance to ember attack, which is the primary cause of most house loss in Australian bushfires.

Seeking a realistic simulation of “high-end” bushfire attack, NASH engaged the CSIRO to develop a real bushfire exposure curve and to conduct full scale fire testing using the Bushfire Flame Front Simulator at the New South Wales

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 129

THE BUILDERS CHOICE DOWHUQDWLYH PHWKRGV RI FRQVWUXFWLRQ ELEMENT

BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29 and BAL-40

Roof framing

NASH Standard Part 1 or Part 2, with maximum pitch of 45°, with flat or sloping ceiling

Roof battens

NASH Standard Part 1 or Part 2

Roof insulation

Membranes and insulation must conform to Clause 1.4

Roof cladding

Steel roof cladding conforming to AS 1562.1.

Ridge capping

Steel capping conforming to AS 1562.1 (see Fig. 2.3)

Hip flashing

Steel flashing conforming to AS 1562.1 (see Fig. 2.3)

Valley support

Flat or profiled steel sheeting (see Fig. 2.4)

Valley flashing

Steel flashing conforming to AS 1562.1 and AS/NZS 3500.3 (see Fig. 2.4)

Gable panels

Gables must be constructed as walls in accordance with Table 3.1

Ceiling battens

NASH Standard Part 1 or Part 2

Ceiling lining

Plasterboard, fibre-cement or other non-combustible material

Ceiling insulation

Where installed, membranes and insulation must conform to Clause 1.4

Ceiling air ducting

Where installed, must be made from non-combustible materials (AS 4254)

Exhaust fans

Where installed, must include a non-combustible self-closing fireflap with maximum 2 mm aperture when closed

Ceiling downlights

Where installed, any downlight assembly covered or screened to a maximum aperture of 2 mm

Roof penetrations

Metallic coated steel fully sealed with weatherproof fire-resistant sealant

Fascia

Steel fascia of minimum BMT 0.42 mm clipped or fixed at maximum 1200 mm spacing

Barge

Steel barge of minimum BMT 0.42 mm clipped or fixed at maximum 1200 mm spacing

Eaves lining (optional)

Fibre-cement sheet of 4.5 mm minimum thickness or steel sheet

Gutter (optional)

Where installed, steel gutter conforming to AS/NZS 3500.3.

Gutter guard (optional)

Where installed, gutter guards must be non combustible

Roof-mounted equipment and services

Evaporative coolers and solar pool heaters must not be used on roofs unless specifically designed for bushfire service.

Table: Roof system construction requirements, BAL-12.5 to BAL-40

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130 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

Rural Fire Service Eurobodalla Training Centre near Mogo, NSW. First used over 10 years ago, the Mogo facility was originally designed to assess the resistance of bushfire fighting vehicles which may be caught directly in the path of a high-intensity bushfire. It believed to be the only facility in the world that can model the immersion of a full scale vehicle or structure in a high-intensity bushfire flame front in open air conditions.

The results from this research have been used to develop a NASH Standard for Steel Framed Construction in Bushfire Areas.

The Standard is intended as an additional deemed-to-satisfy standard in parallel with AS 3959, referenced in both Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the NCC for application to Class 1, 2, 3 and associated 10a buildings. It does not introduce

THE BUILDERS CHOICE DOWHUQDWLYH PHWKRGV RI FRQVWUXFWLRQ

Typical roof detail for BAL-12.5 to BAL-40

any new methods of Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment but references the assessment methodology of AS 3959.

The Standard provides solutions for all (BALs) and covers the following building systems: t 3PPG TZTUFNT XJUI TUFFM SPPG DMBEEJOH t 8BMM TZTUFNT JODMVEJOH TUFFM CSJDL WFOFFS BOE PUIFS claddings t 'MPPS BOE TVC øPPS TZTUFNT t 7FSBOEBIT BOE EFDLT An example of the requirements for walls up to BAL-40 is given in the table.

The new standard will enable more bushfire resistant homes to be constructed at lower cost in even the most severe bushfire exposure locations, and will reduce the cost of post-bushfire repair. An application has been made to the Australian Building Codes Board for referencing of the new standard as a deemed-to-satisfy solution in Volumes 1 and 2 of the NCC. To review the Draft Standard, just visit the NASH website at www.nash.asn.au BC Nash: www.nash.asb.au

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The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 131

ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

Why timber has other building materials seeing green // words mitek australia ltd

It must be almost impossible for the environmentally, carbon-conscious homebuyer, developer, architect or builder to wade through all the confused messages about what are the right things to use and what aren’t.

There are some companies espousing the virtues of their products under the guise of independent analysis, while others promoting the advantages of their products readily gloss over, or simply don’t address, the disadvantages.

To truly gauge the efficacy of a building material and its environmental attributes it’s only fair to step back and compare the life-cycle of competing products. It’s unreasonable to just drop a product on-site and say ‘‘this is

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132 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE DOWHUQDWLYH PHWKRGV RI FRQVWUXFWLRQ

where the green-rating starts.’’ True green credentials start at the beginning - at ground level…or lower.

For many of us there are two classroom images that might resonate from early school days.

The first might be that large map of the world with pink countries identifying the glory days of British Colonialism; the second: a very simple diagram explaining why trees and, in particular, forests are the ‘‘lungs of the earth.’’

Without going into a tree-hugging fervour let’s check on a couple of simple facts about our leafy friends and why a renewable material like timber is a clear winner in the ‘‘green ratings.’’

Trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into our atmosphere, particularly ‘‘new growth’’. To look at it another way, growing timber sucks in CO2, grabs the carbon for itself…then spits out the O2 for us to breathe.

A lesser-known fact is 50 per cent of timber by weight is carbon stored safely away.

Which of any of the alternate building materials are able to do that? The growing process of trees is replaced in producing other materials with ‘‘less-than-green results.’’

What is the carbon footprint, from the energy use alone, of gathering, refining, baking or smelting raw materials required for the production of timber alternatives?

When timber frames or roof trusses turn up on-site they’ve already helped reduce the carbon footprint of a home –

alternatives have the structure already in the red – forget green!

Plus, if you’re getting your prefabricated, engineered and certified timber wall frames and roof trusses from a licensed MiTek fabricator, you can rest in the knowledge none of the timber has come from anywhere other than renewable plantation sources.

Timber is a renewable resource. Yes, you can recycle other materials but there goes the energy bill again. Production chews up decent chunks of carbon credits in the process, adding to those used up in the manufacture in the first instance. Need more timber? Grow it!

And, in the ‘‘natural’’ process, the world will be healthier for it.

So the next time you find yourself drowning in marketing hype or trying to compare 4 leaf with 5 leaf – 5 star with 6 star…or something similar, remember that diagram on the classroom wall.

The scientists might be fighting over the greenhouse effect but for a green home all agree, growing trees is good for our future.

And prefabricated timber is all part of a more natural, healthier process.

For more information on how responsible, renewable timber and timber prefabrication can benefit all, please visit the following Planet Ark link: http://makeitwood.org/carbon-cycle/ BC Mitek: (08) 9412 3534, www.mitek.com.au

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Tough roof frames. Gentle on the earth.

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 133

WATER EFFICIENCY

Innovation key to sustainability // words government of western australia – department of water

Providing water for public open space remains an important part of Perth’s water supply needs.

But as the city grows and available water is more limited, innovation is required to make sure that new urban developments have enough water to support ovals, parks and gardens.

The Department of Water continues to support local government and industry achieve viable open spaces through innovative use and allocation of water resources.

The Department of Water has this year collaborated with land developers and local authorities to establish a new water strategy that supports urban development in Perth’s growing north west corridor.

The strategy and accompanying licensing schedule is designed to unlock the growth potential of the northern coastal area stretching from Quinns Rocks to Yanchep, by ensuring sufficient water will be available for the irrigation of future public open space and to support the needs of the local water-dependent environment.

Department of Water Director Water and Land Use Don Crawford said innovation and cooperation proved essential to developing the solution to support urbanisation in the area.

“Work by the department identified a need for some rethinking on the amount of groundwater that would be available for allocation to future public open space in this fast growing urban area,” Mr Crawford said.

In looking for a way to find enough water to meet the expected growth of urban areas, the department began consulting with the City of Wanneroo and the Water Corporation.

“The City of Wanneroo worked closely with us from the outset, and have been a key partner in the development of this strategy,” Mr Crawford said. “One of the first things we did was to work collaboratively to align the future water availability with the City’s design criteria to make sure we weren’t going in a direction that would not be able to be implemented.”

Later, the department formed a working group with the City and engaged with developers, other government agencies and relevant stakeholders to find solutions.

“The City assisted us in presentations and discussions with the development industry. Their leadership was essential to bringing the developers to the table. By incorporating feedback and expert knowledge from stakeholders during this phase, and using the best available science, we started to work towards an approach that would distribute limited groundwater supplies more effectively across the north west corridor,” said Mr Crawford.

“It soon became clear we needed to develop a schedule that would set out the volume of water that could be licensed to each new development. The result is a new licensing schedule designed to create effective and equitable access to groundwater among developers, and the City of Wanneroo, to support the irrigation needs of public open spaces in the area. By working closely with the City of Wanneroo we have ensured that the solution works for them, which is essential as they will be ultimately implementing it with the development industry.”

Mr Crawford said acknowledgment must also be made of the role of the neighbouring City of Joondalup.

“Irrigation rates were key to the strategy with the department looking at the experience of neighbouring Joondalup in shaping the groundwater sharing proposal,” he said.

A reduced annual irrigation rate of 6750 kL per hectare – down from a typical allocation of 7500kL – was used in the calculations.

The rate was based on the experience of irrigation practices in Joondalup council, whose high quality open spaces are maintained by these lower irrigation rates.

“Volumes were calculated based on assessment of local structure plans, which set out the water needs of specific public open spaces in a given urban development area,” Mr Crawford explained. “The working group used criteria for water efficient design of open spaces to further assist licensees in getting the most out of their allocations.”

Mr Crawford said the review process was greatly assisted by early and ongoing collaboration which fostered a spirit of expertise sharing and problem solving.

“This is a great result and it demonstrates how the Department of Water works with local governments, developers and other stakeholders to deliver an essential resource to foster the development of new, liveable communities in Perth’s north.”

He said outcomes such as this were assisted by the work done by individual businesses and organisations as well as the result of other partnerships and programs such as the Waterwise Councils program.

“The overall result is confidence for developers and future home buyers and builders, that the new urban areas will not be disadvantaged from other suburban areas and have the amenity required for healthy active communities.” BC Government of Western Australis – Department of Water: www.water.wa.gov.au

134 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

// words marc drexel – arcactive

After 30 years in the industry I’ve never sensed a bigger impending change than the one we are about to experience. To help visualise this I think about the ‘future Perth purchaser’ and their needs and wants. In my experience I find every purchaser has the same fundamental questions; what is the best area to buy in, which is the best property to purchase and what will show the most capital growth – the standard default settings if you will.

Let’s look at the future Perth purchaser profile in year 2023 and what will be the drivers behind their purchasing aspirations.

It is important to understand that how we live (operational) and where we live (embodied) are two different yet inter-related core elements. Ultimately how we live is a personal choice, so focusing on where we live and what we live in will be the key to planning for the future purchaser. Creating houses and properties which make it easier to address a more desirable and livable way of living, by way of their location and built-in proactive intelligence (smart homes) will unlock desirability and capital growth for the future purchaser moving forward.

Let’s start with the ‘best area’ factor. Increasingly buyers will look at the location of their new purchase not only as a block of land but how it relates to the community it is situated within.

Whether that is for social, lifestyle, family or economic reasons there will be a desire for proximity to key community facilities (local shops, daycare, primary and high schools, community centres, parks and medical facilities); clearly a suburb that has a high social matrix will be in demand.

In addition to this; the urban planning of a suburb will also be a key driver. The suburb’s parklands, quality of street and landscaping combined with easy access to public transport hubs including connection to pedestrian and cycle paths are all fundamental cornerstones. The future Perth purchaser will have to factor in massively increased petrol prices and government planning pressure based around farsighted policies like Directions 2031. In essence quality, near city suburbs and suburbs directly linked to transport hubs giving easy access and egress to the city and important social amenity will not only become the preferred option but the default setting.

The market shift toward this preference is already evident by higher sales prices and capital growth rates in these types

of suburbs. This trend will grow exponentially and the days of the great suburban dream on the urban fringe may well be numbered.

Now let’s consider the built form, starting with water and energy usage. Big, energy inefficient houses will fast be seen as undesirable and unaffordable to many. In more discerning markets of Australia, Europe and America energy efficient properties are already achieving significant sale price premiums.

Water efficiency and water harvesting will also become a pricing pressure point and with a greater awareness of limited resources the future Perth purchaser will demand more emphasis to be placed on this area. Landscaping will be an integral part of the property and therefore water recycling and management will need to be best utilised to offset running costs.

Flexible design will become a huge consideration.The days of the MacMansion are numbered, but what about a MacMansion that offered 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 separate living areas designed in a way that could easily be divided into 1 and 3 bedroom apartments. This flexible and adaptable design can allow the owner the space to raise their family and then remain in the property post children and offset their extended retirement through a rental return. These are simple design additions at construction time yet are very rarely considered as an option.

The recently amended granny flat legislation is a wonderful example of this emergent trend and already the market is abuzz with questions and interest in this space.

Our future Perth purchaser will also factor in what the building is constructed from, including health, maintenance and material concerns. Have low allergen materials been used, will there be low ongoing maintenance requirements, where did the materials come from and ultimately how recyclable are the materials?

Tomorrow’s purchaser will be asking the questions: where was it made, how it was made, what was the ethical policy of the manufacturer, how climate responsive is the design and is it safe and accessible for disabled people and an aging population.

Many of these issues have been very quickly integrated into the commercial property market and are now the default settings for this sector. In 10 years time I predict it will be the same in the residential sector.

I put it to you, the industry; times are changing, we’re all looking for the next big thing, the competitive advantage and the edge on our competition. There is a great big pull of purchasers emerging that are aware of many of these points, they watch Kevin McCloud on Grand Designs each week, they read and they travel. I encourage industry to embrace the Future Perth purchaser’s wants, needs and aspirations, show leadership and in by doing so gain a competitive advantage and as a byproduct leave mother earth in a better state than we found it for our future generations BC ARCactive: 0412 928 504 / 0407 427 927, www.arcactive.com.au

The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 135

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Future Perth; a purchaser profile

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136 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 137

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138 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

VALET BUILDERS’ CHOICE SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER LIVING Right now, as a builder, you have the extraordinary opportunity to recommend Valet products to your clients, making their home a much healthier, safer place for them and their family. YOU have the chance of helping them enjoy a more comfortable and easier lifestyle as well as adding value to their home.

VALET DUCTED VACUUM SYSTEMS The quiet, powerful operation of a Valet Ducted Vacuum System makes cleaning a home easier than imaginable. And installation in any new home is simple.

With Valet, suction is up to four times stronger than portable machines, for faster, more thorough cleaning. The Ducted Vacuum System effectively removes abrasive dirt particles lodged deep in the carpet pile. And, because the air from your Valet is vented outside, fine particles of dust are removed providing enormous health benefits.

VALET INTERCOM, MUSIC, VIDEO & SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEMS Valet intercom, music, video and security camera systems keep families safe and secure. Their many functions keep you

in touch, making everyday living easier and more enjoyable.

The Intercom system can be used to talk to family members wherever they are in the home. Music can be played in any room, a watchful eye can be kept on children as they play and sleep or the video security system can confirm a visitor’s identity and protect the exterior of the house. Valet has a system to suit any requirements.

VALET SECURITY ALARM SYSTEMS Valet can design a powerful network of sophisticated sensors, detectors, wireless transmitters, and other devices to protect families from every angle.

Smoke detectors can also be linked to the system.

Reliable, flexible and user-friendly, there’s no better protection than Valet for your clients’ home and family. Make it your choice too!

VALET “Valet” is the generic name associated with ducted vacuum and home radio intercom systems for good reasons, some we list:

1.) No other company in our industry has our long history or experience to draw on to assist us in planning your system.

2.) Many companies have come and gone in our industry. Valet now services and maintain these systems.

3.) We are competitive but not always the cheapest, because we will not compromise standard for price.

4.) Valet uses only genuine Imported American Lambe and Factory supplied motors designed specifically for vacuum in their units and for service.

5.) Valet’s range of factory accessories is extensive and second to none.

6.) Valet use only their own full time staff not contractors, for installation and service.

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The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013 139

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Ph: 9406 6600 *Terms & Conditions Apply

LAMINATED EDGE PROTECTOR

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Small aluminium profile for protecting the top edge of laminate surfaces.

System tool available.

CALL TODAY FOR INFORMATION HEAD OFFICE ( - -%1! * & 0-) !)/- '

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www.adpstore.com.au The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 141

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Scaffold ALUMINIUM FOLDING

Furntech Joinery

“QUIK-­PRO 1” .00*

ITEM 110

P: 9444 9327

645

$

DIMENSIONS 1.95m High 0.75m Wide 1.95m Long Load Capacity 225kg

F: 9444 9321 E: furntech@bigpond.com

1.95m

ITEM 113

“QUIK-­PRO FULL PACK” 1m

custom designs t quality t service t installation heritage work t glazing / colonial / bi-fold doors

1040.00*

$

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Furntech Joinery is a family business with a reputation for providing not only the highest quality timber products and craftsmanship, but exceptional personalised attention to detail too.

1.95m

www.globalscaffold.com.au

email: sales@globalscaffold.com.au PHONE 08 9303 2782 FAX 08 9303 2783

For over 15 years Peter Rundle has been supplying the building industry and his private customers with a wide range of custom built windows and doors to suite individual requirements.

www.furntechjoinery.com.au

ABN 86 120 237 318

Images for illustration purposes only. Conditions apply see in store for details.

Where quality costs no more, at Marsh Outdoor.

SHEDS & STRUCTURES

patios, garages carports, sheds, workshops.

call now!

Commercial, Residential and Industrial.

www.marshoutdoor.com.au

Builder's Choice Magazine Half Page.indd 1

142 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

T: (08) 9524 5448 F: (08) 9524 5754 Freecall: 1800 072 846 Wangara, Port Kennedy, Jandakot, Bunbury, Busselton & Geraldton 1/11/2013 3:10:31 PM

Gorter Hatches introduces our state of the art scissor stairs / attic ladders for industrial, commercial and domestic environments.

Designed as a convenient, durable and cost-effective access system for attics and ceiling spaces, Gorterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retractable attic ladders consist of a casing with a wooden ceiling panel and a hand rail. We also supply vertical scissor stairs to create access through the wall.

The Gorter range of attic ladders are easy to install and operate. Tested up to 450kg, these durable aluminium stairs are the perfect solution to access any attic or ceiling space and requires less than 3kg of force to operate. Electrically operated is an option.

Visit our website for more information

www.gorterhatches.com.au Gorter Hatches Pty Ltd PO Box 2203 Yokine South WA 6060 Head Office: 08 9463 6636 Email: sales@gorterhatches.com.au

2013 Awards for Excellence Category Winner: Historial Restoration

PHONE: 9201 0088 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 143

THE BUILDERS CHOICE EXLOGLQJ SURGXFWV VHUYLFHV

Artisan Blinds & Shutters r *OUFSOBM 5JNCFS 4IVUUFST r &YUFSOBM "MVNJOJVN 4IVUUFST r #JGPME 4MJEJOH 'JYFE PS )JOHFE r 4VOTDSFFO #MPDLPVU 3PMMFST r 7FOFUJBOT m $VSUBJO 5SBDLT r &YUFSOBM "MGSFTDP 3PMMFS #MJOET .BOVBM PS .PUPSJTFE r 3FNPUF $POUSPM )PNF "VUPNBUJPO 4QFDJBMJTU r 0WFS :FBST *OEVTUSZ &YQFSJFODF r 4FSWJDF 3FQBJST

FREE MEASURE & QUOTE ALL AREAS 1MFBTF $BMM Bobby 0401 443 408

E: artisanbs@optusnet.com.au www.artisanblindsshutters.com.au

Builders of individually designed swimming pools

Winners of over 50 Awards of Excellence Office/Showroom 5/15 Halley Road, Balcatta P (08) 9344 2366 E info@exclusivepools.com.au

www.exclusivepools.com.au

We cater for all types of occasions.

If you’re having a work function or a party, call us!

SPECIALISTS IN ARCHITECTURAL FABRICATION

1300 650 075

www.ullrich.com.au 144 The Builders Choice Magazine – December 2013

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THE BUILDERS CHOICE GLUHFWRU\ OLVWLQJ AIRCONDITIONING

ASBESTOS REMOVAL

CEILINGS & PARTITIONS

CONCRETE

Perth Asbestos Removal Co. Pty Ltd Experts in Asbestos Removal

AIR CONDITIONING SPLIT DUCTED SUPPLY INSTALLATION DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL FREE QUOTES

0426 287 092

service@airelement.com.au

7 Reasons to Call Perth Asbestos Removal Company for your Asbestos removal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Asbestos removed 100% guaranteed Fully licensed WA151 Class 3-Demolition Worksafe Approved 20 Years Experience Specialists in Limpet Asbestos Statewide Service All Commercial/Residential/Industrial Asbestos Removal

www.airelement.com.au

9470 6513 0409 460 140

AU27732

CONCRETE

CRANES

Specialists in: Commercial/Industrial Walls and Ceilings (ZQSPDL t $FJMJOHT 8BMM -JOJOHT Suspended Ceilings Extenzo Stretch Ceilings 0GmDF 'JUPVUT t 1BSUJUJPOJOH 1SPKFDU .BOBHFNFOU

PO Box 629, BALCATTA WA 6914 Unit 15/16, 213 Balcatta Rd BALCATTA WA 6021 T. (08) 9240 7887 F. (08) 9240 7890 E. actioninteriors@iinet.net.au www.actioninteriors.net.au

EARTHMOVING

POLISHED FLOORS, WALLS, TOPPINGS AND BENCHTOPS ph. 0448 870 338 www.concretemode.com.au FORMWORK

Terry  Brown Managing  Director Mobile:  0407  733  822 Email:  terryscranes@iinet.net.au

ZENON KURZECKI

Terryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CRANE HIRE PTY LTD For all your crane hire needs

MARK Â CRAIG

24 Hour Services

6/43 Buckingham Drive Wangara WA 6065 P: 08 9309 2653 F: 08 9309 1371 M: 0417 901 271 westmarble@westnet.com.au

PAINTING

M. Â 0414 Â 411 Â 084 F. Â 08 Â 9405 Â 2188

For  all  crane  bookings,  please  contact  Michael  on:

P. 08 9279 7762 F. 08 9279 7742

Buckets & Attachments

PO Box 122, Glen Forrest WA 6071

PAINTS

PLASTERING

R E S I D E N T I A L , Â C O M M E R C I A L Â & Â OW N E R Â B U ILDERS PLASTERING

LANOLIN DECK OIL

PHONE: 9201 0088

RETAIL AND MANUFACTURING SUPERIOR NATURAL TIMBER FINISHES

NAENOW LIN

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43 BARETTA RD WANGARA WA 6065 TEL: 08 9409 9948

www.timberglow.com EST 1980

COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC All aspects of solid wall plastering Interior & Exterior Float & Set Sand Finish Rendering New Builds & Renovations Accredited Dulux Texture Applicator

t 13&4&37&4 1305&$54

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CUPITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PLASTERING SOLID WALL PLASTERER

$1'< /$.$7$1, M: 0410 133 811 E: andy_lakatani@hotmail.com

Mobile: 0415 390 633 Tel: 08 9304 0644 cupitsplastering@hotmail.com

The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013 145

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SCAFFOLDING

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276 Bagot Road, Subiaco WA 6008 Mobile: 0419 941 423 H_Ă&#x203A;\^3 2,/* /.,) ?Zq3 2,/* /.,0 Email: redtag@westnet.com.au

TURF

Ins-­tile  Ceramics  &  Stone Pty  Ltd Wall & Floor Tiling Marble Travertine Granite Polished Porcelain Ceramic Tiles New Houses Renovations Concrete/Stone Grinding & Polishing Award Winning Projects Approved Applicator of Crommelin Waterproofing Systems

Specialising  in  Commercial,  EÄ&#x17E;Ç ZÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ Ĺ&#x161;ŽžÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; ĹŻĹŻ zŽƾĆ&#x152; WůƾžÄ?Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; DÄ&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E; EÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ć?

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TILING

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WATERPROOFING

Martin Klonowski

0422 098 180

mtk8@bigpond.com CABINETMAKER

TOTALWATERPROOFING Services

JMP

SERVING YOU SINCE 1994

QUALITY Â TILING Â SERVICE

More than 30 years experience Commercial waterproofing for all applications Internal waterproofing External waterproofing From basements to rooftops Liquid membranes to sheet membranes Mastic work, silicone work etc

10 Years Experience Residential Tiling

JASON PERRUZZA

Contact Us Today Ivo Peer Mob: 0405 322 426 Fax: 08 9403 5068 totalws@optusnet.com.au Adam Peer Mob: 0412 477 917

0438 980 551 PAINTERS/DECORATORS

T: (08) 9354 9556 E: henkkoers51@gmail.com M: 0409 688 369 F: (08) 9354 9265

PRINTERS

WEB DESIGN

Printing, copying, scanning and design solutions.

You will always get the very best with our high quality, competitive pricing and fast service.

Web Services E-commerce Web Design Website/Email Hosting Domain Registration Graphic Design Website Analysis

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL

CERTIFIED

T (08) 9478 3188

81 Acton Ave, Rivervale WA 6103 www.ateamprinting.com.au

FREE QUOTES ALL AREAS 146 The Builders Choice Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2013

Website Makeovers Search Engine Marketing M: 0408 989 009 info@auswebtech.com.au www.auswebtech.com.au

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL CNC MACHINING Cabinets $ from

83

(excluding doors & drawer fronts)

(08) 9256 2828

M: 04311 70207 U3/24 Baile Rd, Canning Vale e: info@ecossecabinets.com.au

www.ecossecabinets.com.au

WEB DESIGN

FULFILLING CUSTOMER LIFESTYLE CERAMICS THAT INSPIRE Ceramo: A lifestyle concept of vision, beauty and comfort created through spaces characterised by state of the art ceramic products. Sourced from the very best international tile manufacturers and presented in a new concept environment that inspires both creative and innovative design for all interior spaces.

Rectified Wall Tile: 333x1000 Suede Taupe

Latest release from the Porcelanosa Group Suede Taupe offers a stunning sculpted look and soft feel with all the easy clean and no maintenance characteristics of ceramic.

19b King Edward Rd, Osborne Park WA 6017 P: (08) 9445 1777 E: info@ceramo.com.au

www.ceramo.com.au

SOLARGAIN are the demonstrated experts in COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY and can offer a customised solar consultancy solution.

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To scale 3D model for a multi-storey apartment building, designed by Solargain.

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