The rippling effect of Brasshouse’s new exteriors, integrated beautifully with its interior finishes, brings a grand industrial sheen to blue-chip Hawthorn East.
Sun-stroked metal ribbons designed by award-winning architecture and interiors firm Rothelowman form the outer shell of the new $12 million development. “There’s something timeless about brass, which is ideal for these homes because we’re designing contemporary living spaces in a very well established location,” said interior design associate Alicia Lynch.
The aesthetic of the brass ribbons that wrap around the entire building is continued throughout each apartment, with the kitchen splashbacks featuring fine brass trim and geometric bathrooms finished with warm brass tapware.
A unique feature of the development is the inclusion of furniture (desk, bench and television table) created by Rothelowman, which showcase the same brass trim and ceramic stone top to match the rest of the building design.
“Throughout the entire building there is a sense of seamless connection and a lustre which will create an address of distinction,” said Rothelowman senior designer Joshua Amsellem.
The project, at 771 Toorak Road Hawthorn East, is being sold through CBRE real estate agents and is a product of K7 Developments.
Last year's Grand Prix winner: Lexus Pavilion by Mim Design. Photo by Sean Fennessy.
Entries are now open for the 2016 Dulux Colour Awards, which marks the renowned program’s 30th year of fostering and showcasing the use of colour in built environments.
An esteemed judging panel has once again been handpicked to deliberate on the winning projects, combining leading names from Australia and New Zealand’s design and creative industries. Chosen for their differing areas of expertise, the panel consists of: Meryl Hare, principal at Hare + Klein Interior Design; Clare Cousins, director at Clare Cousins Architects; James Harper, principal at BrookingHarper and director at Design Institute of Australia; Matt Gibson, director at Matt Gibson Architecture + Design; and Alex Fulton, director at Alex Fulton Design (NZ).
Last year’s Grand Prix winner: Lexus Pavilion by Mim Design. Photo by Sean Fennessy.
The 2016 Dulux Colour Awards is accepting entries across nine categories between now and February, giving architects, designers and interior designers the opportunity to submit work across residential and commercial environments.
Last year’s Single Residential Interior winner: The Courtyard House by Aileen Sage Architects. Photo by Tom Ferguson.
Each category winner will receive prize money and a certificate. All entries, except for the student category, will also stand the chance of taking out the Grand Prix title. The Grand Prix winner will receive $5000 cash prize and certificate. Entries for all nine categories are open until Monday 8 February 2016, with winners announced and celebrated at a gala function in Melbourne on 10 March 2016.
In an Australian first, Metricon Homes is set to transform the way that people experience and interact with display homes, with the use of virtual reality technology.
Metricon Homes Denver display home – master bedroom
The virtual display experience will be offered in select regional areas where people face the geographical challenges of visiting a display home. Not only will this save them time but also the inconvenience of travelling huge distances as many people travel interstate to view their future home.
Virtual reality headset
Consumers can view everything from the colours and materials used on cabinetry through to soft furnishings and light fittings through a virtual reality headset.
“The technology enables our customers to virtually walk through the home and really experience the actual interior. Virtual reality allows you to gaze inside the latest trends and home styles allowing you to select your dream space and colour palette,” says Jacinta Evans, Metricon senior interior designer.
It also allows home designs that are located in other states to be viewed around the country without the need for building a display.
Metricon Homes Vogue display home
“We know consumers love the next-gen 3D virtual tours on our website, so being able to take these to another dimension, using virtual reality technology is fantastic,” says Jacinta.
The first area to experience this technology is Wonthaggi in Victoria’s south-east.
How your home is designed can radically impact how it feels, and how you feel in it. Families grow and change, and a home that is designed well can accommodate years of love and growth, whilst loving you back.
So how do you design a family home that really works — now and always? Here’s seven tips to help you.
Tip 1: Become a sun worshipper
Taking note of how the sun moves across your site and home is the single biggest thing you can do to create a home that works and feels great. Why?
Research shows that our health and wellbeing improves with access to natural daylight on a regular basis. Not only that, using what is available for free (natural sunlight and breezes) to heat and cool our space means lower energy bills long-term. Often we forget about the ongoing costs in running our home when spending on a new build or renovation.
With young and growing families, our busy lives often mean being able to get daily tasks done whilst kids can be supervised or entertained. As kids get older, creating the opportunity for casual connection can help with regular communication. Some of the ways to do this are:
Great views of the inside and outside from your kitchen.
Create a study nook near the kitchen to supervise computer use casually.
Design casual areas where people can congregate easily whilst everyday activities keep happening. A big island bench is a great example.
Don’t forget (in a bid to get audio privacy between zones of the home), that being able to hear as well as see can be handy.
Tip 4: Useful is beautiful
You may not have all the space in the world, but you can make the space you have do lots of jobs so it’s always functional:
Simply shaped rooms will mean they’re easy to furnish.
Draw furniture on your design plans to be sure it fits, and locate doors and windows to accommodate.
Use the edges and corners of your rooms to create more intimate spaces within larger ones.
Design your movement through and between rooms so furniture doesn’t get in your way.
Tip 5: Get it right with space and flow
It is easy to get seduced with gorgeous images of magazine-worthy homes. However, what really impacts how you live in your home, is the space and flow of your home.
Bigger is not better when it comes to your home. Design makes the difference. Quality over quantity will change your everyday life every time.
Include a butler’s pantry in your kitchen design to hide away those messy activities and appliances.
If you don’t have room for a butler’s pantry, consider putting some bench space inside a cupboard. Doors can open to reveal it when required, and be shut when a quick tidy up is needed.
This works for other storage too. Review the regular activities of your lifestyle – particularly leaving and arriving at home. Create storage solutions that help hide this from view. Put power points inside cupboards for charging all those devices out of view.
Tip 7: Sweet dreams for everyone
Remember your kids are little for less time than they’re big! They may need to sleep near your room only for a short time and then you’ll want some separation between their bedroom and yours.
A good size for kids bedrooms is 3.2×3.2m (plus their wardrobe) to fit a single bed and desk whilst they’re younger, and a double bed when they’re older (some parents like this option).
And remember … Your forever home may not be forever
A newly built or renovated home is an amazing opportunity to shape it exactly how you want it to be. However, you can also create a home that has general appeal whilst making it uniquely yours. Designing a functional, durable family home that will be loved by many families will help you sell well and quickly, if and when the time comes.
Tastes and trends change over time – even yours – so go for neutrals in the items that are more fixed and permanent, or are very expensive to change. Add your personal touches in your finishes and soft furnishings.
So much of the success in designing a home comes with the order you make your choices in. Prioritise your choices with this framework, and you’ll be creating a home that not only helps you survive, but helps you (and your family) thrive. And isn’t that what we really want from our homes?
— Amelia Lee is an architect, a serial renovator and the founder of Undercover Architect, a business helping homeowners create a home that makes their life better; whatever their dreams, location or budget.
For most of us, the thought of designing or renovating a new home can be extremely daunting. But relax. The good news is there are lots more good stories than bad and it doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience.
Billabong Houses by Julian Rutt Lumen Studio
Archicentre, the building design, inspection and advice service of The Australian Institute of Architects is a great place to start and offers useful advice and design packages for anyone building, renovating or restoring their home.
Whether you’re planning to renovate, build your dream home, buy an investment property, or undertake a dual occupancy development or townhouse, Archicentre’s fixed price, introductory Design Services are a great online tool.
Billabong Houses by Julian Rutt Lumen Studio
No matter how big or small the project, the site will help you balance what’s possible against what’s desired, establish the project budget, offer advice to secure development approvals, help with your selection of builders, look at any issues with quality control and construction, assist with the design and more.
McSteen Tan Architects. Photo credit: Yvonne Qumi
Archicentre literally offers a direct line to a qualified architect, so you know you are getting independent and professional advice before you sign on the dotted line. In many cases you can also arrange to meet the architect onsite who can offer on the spot design potential and advise with quick turn around solutions.
This amazingly cost-effective service can help you to better understand your options, add value to your existing or new home and help you avoid over capitalising your project. A qualified architect will consider your lifestyle, budgetary concerns, sustainable design options, whether to renovate up, out or both and development alternatives including setting realistic project time lines.
Billabong Houses by Julian Rutt Lumen Studio
As part of this package you will also receive a report that summarises the discussion and includes floor plans, sketches and cost indications so that you can assess the feasibility of your ideas before committing time, energy and money.
Melburnians listen up! Archicentre are offering an informative and casual renovation workshop where you can gain valuable knowledge about the renovation process including financial advice. The workshop includes one-on-one time with experienced architects, so bring your renovation plans or photos of your house and receive free advice on your renovation project.
Dr Naomi Stead and Justine Clark of Parlour, a not-for-profit organisation with gender equity in architecture at the centre of its cause.
The University of Sydney in collaboration with Parlour Inc will host a panel of four powerhouse women architects for a robust debate on changes needed in architecture to create a more equitable and sustainable profession in the future.
Top to bottom, L-R: Stephanie Smith, Rachel Neeson, Camilla Block and Imogen Howe
The panel will be facilitated by Parlour editor and co-founder Justine Clark at University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, on Wednesday 5 August, and features Sydney architects Stephanie Smith (Lend Lease), Rachel Neeson (Neeson Murcutt Architects), Camilla Block (Durbach Block Jaggers) and Imogen Howe (Allen Jack+Cottier).
Dr Naomi Stead and Justine Clark of Parlour, a not-for-profit organisation with gender equity in architecture at the centre of its cause.
“The architecture industry finds itself beleaguered in the current market – disempowered, marginalised and subject to pressures that make it difficult for architects to stay afloat,” explains Dr Naomi Stead, Parlour co-founder. “In this context, gender equity might seem like a minor concern. But we would argue the opposite. Making sure you have the best and brightest people in your workforce, fulfilling their full potential, is absolutely central to the sustainability and viability of the profession.”
All architecture graduates of the University of Sydney, the panel of speakers collectively have extensive experience working for large Australian and international architects, infrastructure companies and running their own practices over the last three decades. The panel will speculate on different roles women might play moving towards a more equitable and robust profession.
Regardless of how big or small your outdoor space is, maximising what you have is essential in adding value to your property and creating your own private retreat.
Whilst the front yard of your home is perfect for showcasing your landscape innovations, the backyard space is where you can really let those creative juices flow. With entertaining, relaxation, play and safety in mind, you can turn your outdoor space into a stunning oasis that meets the needs of you, your family and your budget. Here’s a few tips to get started on your outdoor design.
1. Make your outdoor space an extension of your home
With outdoor living becoming more of a priority, making your space an extension of your home is absolutely essential. To do this seamlessly, you’ll want to carefully match the colour scheme of the outdoor space with your home’s current facade. If the existing colour scheme is neutral, you can use pops of bright colours in accessories and feature points to brighten up the space. Never underestimate the value of a fresh coat of paint on the outside of your home too.
Pay as much attention to the outdoor styling as you have indoors, so the same style flows throughout. By implementing certain colours from your interior design plan to the landscape architecture, the two spaces will join together flawlessly. So the outdoor area is a true extension of your home you’ll want to create a space for entertaining and living in too. Outdoor kitchens or a designated bar and seating area by the deck can provide an ideal spot for outdoor summer dinning. Make sure you incorporate a covered area so you can use the space all year round.
2. Create kerb appeal
Kerb appeal is vital in boosting the value of your home so use this space to let your home shine. If it’s got architectural character, utilise it by enhancing certain features to spark visual attention. Keep the colour scheme as neutral as possible, as this will make it easier to sell come resale time. Add colour to the landscape design, or consider painting your front door or letterbox with something bright and bold to draw attention.
3. Invest in driveway gates and fencing
An important part of kerb appeal is to invest in driveway gates and stylish fencing. This will enhance the overall look and feel of your home’s design, whilst maintaining a high level of security and privacy. Driveways gates and fencing can create another level of charm to your home’s exterior or a modern appeal to dress up a tired looking house.
To determine what fencing and gate solution will work with your home; consider the current style of your home’s architecture, how you and your guests enter the property and whether you want to complement or contrast. You’ll also want to consider the level of security and privacy your home will need and what plants to use along the fence.
Great landscape design combines creativity with nature to give you results that not only push the limits of aesthetics but dazzle your mind. From flexible low-maintenance gardens, to a well-set up irrigation system and custom lighting, the right landscape architecture can turn your outdoor space from a backyard to your personal tropical retreat.
Use lush greens and brightly coloured shrubs and plants at various heights with different perfumes for an exquisite design and incorporate a water feature for relaxing sounds; this will boost the look and feel of your outdoor space significantly. If space is lacking, opt for vertical gardens which can help with privacy issues or make use of hanging baskets filled with lush greenery. A timber deck with warm tones and a pool or spa will encourage entertaining and relaxation all day everyday.
5. The finishing touches
Deck your new space out with the right outdoor furniture that reflects your taste, a fire pit table to keep you warm in the cooler months and smartly placed LED lighting to accent the area. If you have a pool, you can incorporate LED lighting in and around the pool for safety considerations and add to the landscape architecture with semi-frameless glass pool fencing,
— Jayde Ferguson writes for Fencemakers, Western Australia’s leading provider of quality fencing and gates installed by skilled fencing contractors.
For the past 15 years, the annual WORKSHOPPED exhibitions have provided a platform for over 350 Australian designers to reach national and international audiences, including manufacturers, retailers, fellow designers and consumers.
2015 marks WORKSHOPPED’s 15th exhibition, and this year designers have been asked to respond to the broader topic of: the role of design in architecture.
The work of Viktor Legin, discovered at WORKSHOPPED ‘13
Approximately 50 designers will make up this year’s exhibition, which will take place on the upper levels of the Supa Centa Moore Park, Sydney. It will open to the public on Thursday August 6 and extend through to Sunday 23 August, with over 75,000 people expected to attend.
Since its inception, WORKSHOPPED has had a significant impact on the greater design industry at large, and particularly the lives and careers of several notable designers. Kate Stokes first exhibited her Coco Pendant in WORKSHOPPED ‘10 and the stunning light piece, manufactured in Melbourne, has gone on to receive enormous media attention, regularly featuring in prestigious design titles both here in Australia and overseas.
To celebrate season 12 of Grand Designs coming to DVD next month, we have a fantastic prize up for grabs for fellow Kevin McCloud fans worth more than $300! Would you like to binge watch seasons 1 to 12? Well, here’s your chance!
The UK’s most popular property show returns with its 12th series, following intrepid home builders as they pursue their architectural dreams. Kevin guides us through the trials and tribulations of those obsessively trying to create a unique place to live, often over many months, even years. This series features a dramatic modernist villa perched atop a crumbling cliff in Snowdonia, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired bachelor pad made out of four shipping containers in the Northern Irish countryside and the UK’s first amphibious house on a floodplain of the Thames in Buckinghamshire.
In addition, Kevin revisits some of the series’ previous builds to see what changes have been made and discover whether the reality has lived up to the dream.
You could win series 12 and every other previous series on DVD. To be in with a chance, complete the form below by 5pm Sydney time on Thursday 16 July 2015.
Delivering endless possibilities of an additional room for your home or business, Australia is at the forefront of their design, with Melbourne company Harwyn winning the prestigious 2015 Good Design Award for commercial and residential architecture.
Beautifully created and intelligently designed by renowned Melbourne architect, Selwyn Blackstone, Harwyn pods were conceived to meet increasing demand for more flexible and creative types of spaces as Australians continue to evolve the way they live, work and play.
Manufactured in Australia using PIR panels and Alucobond cladding, the self-contained, customisable ‘Harwyns’ are setting a new benchmark for innovative building models.
Dating back to 1958, the Good Design Awards are one of the longest standing and most esteemed design awards in the world. Harwyn pods now sit alongside some of Australia’s most iconic designs that have found national recognition following their Good Design Award, including the Hills Hoist, the Caroma Dual Flush toilet and the RØDE microphone.
The world’s first carbon positive prefabricated house has been installed in Melbourne’s City Square as part of the Sustainable Living Festival and The New Joneses Project.
Developed by ArchiBlox, the Archi+ Carbon Positive House addresses the increasing levels of carbon emissions and the high levels of embodied energy that come with the construction of a standard home. Moving beyond carbon zero, the house makes additional positive contributions by producing more energy on site than the building requires.
External shading devices are used to filter the harsh solar radiation in summer and then can be retracted in winter to keep the house warmer. Cross flow ventilation is enhanced with in-ground cool tubes that will pull air in from the floor in the south side of the house and purge through the clerestory (high) windows to the north.
Floor to ceiling glass sliding doors are installed to create not only a clean visual interaction between internal and external but also allowing full sun penetration in wintertime. During the summer months these openings will be blocked off by sliding edible garden walls. This green feature will wrap up over the roof of the house to create a green roof, which will add to the R6 wool insulation within the roof’s cavities.
Also a feature is the buffer zone, or conservatory, which separates the external environment from the internal, giving its occupants more control. This space, designed to face north, blocks the harsh summer sun and captures the winter sun. ArchiBlox describes this zone both as the “lungs of the house” and the house “food basket”, where garden beds are established to grow an assortment of vegetables within this conservatory.
The home becomes healthier by sourcing only high-grade sustainably sourced building materials and formaldehyde and VOC-free finishes. Further to this the windows are double glazed, the appliances’ fixtures and fittings are of high sustainable and green energy ratings, there are drying cupboards for laundry use, solar power for energy minimisation and water recycling.
The overall size of the house is kept to a minimum, guaranteeing the usage of less electricity and power. This does not mean the functionality of the space has been compromised, with clever uses of joinery and the use of full height openings allowing a free-flowing space and generous area.
Most people give their cars and themselves regular check-ups, but tend to leave maintenance of their property until a problem becomes so obvious that is simply has to be attended to. This approach is not only bad for the property but also more expensive on the pocket! So what does Cameron Frazer of Ask an Architect recommend you do to keep the more susceptible areas of your home — like balconies and decks — safe?
We all enjoy the summertime, but it’s actually the time to be smart about home safety. Anyone planning to hold a function that will see a crowd of people occupying their balcony or deck should check that it is safe and not at risk of injuring someone or collapse.
Balconies are usually used by a small family group of three to four people, however, when 15 to 20 adults or more gather on a balcony, the stress on the structure often reaches breaking point and the balcony collapses causing serious injury.
Added to this weight factor is often the large BBQ plus tables, chairs and heavy planter boxes filled with flowering plants to brighten the alfresco dining area. Large stone tables have also become a trend for outdoor living along with steel and cast iron outdoor furniture, which increases the load factor on the deck or balcony.
Anyone with a balcony or raised deck should check it out carefully for safety, including an inspection for rotting timbers, shaky hand rails and balustrades, corroded bolts and brackets, rust stains and cracking in concrete balconies. People renting properties should also check decks or balconies and notify their real estate agents if any concerning conditions are discovered.
If people find faults they should take immediate action to repair them and if they are not sure, seek professional advice. I would recommend people get an architect to inspect their property every five years and provide maintenance advice to keep it in tip-top condition.
— Cameron Frazer is the general manager of Ask an Architect, a new online portal (launched by the Australian Institute of Architects) ready to offer you sound and unbiased advice, help you through your home renovation and provide recommendations at an affordable cost.
Home renovations can be hugely daunting. However, you only need to watch an episode of The Block, read one of our amazing real renos or talk to a friend, to realise that there’s really more good renovation stories than bad!
But where do you start if you’ve decided to renovate your home? One of the best places is Ask An Architect, a website developed by the Australian Institute of Architects. Designed to demystify the renovation process and make architecture something everybody can easily access, they offer sound and affordable advice.
An unbiased voice of reason, an expert architect can work with you to take the mystery out of what might seem an incredibly complex process. No matter how big or small the renovation, the site will help you balance what’s possible against what’s desired, establish the project budget, offer advice to secure development approvals, help with your selection of builders, look at any issues with quality control and construction, assist with the design and more.
Some of the most useful features include the detailed Cost Guide to help you budget, the ArchiAdvice and ArchiDesign Pre-Purchase Packages – which offer you a direct line to a qualified architect at competitive prices, a handy online question and answer service, relevant upcoming events, the Find an Architect directory of professional architects, a gallery for inspiration and Pinterest tools to help you start scrapbooking ideas.
Ask many Australians to describe prefabricated homes and they’d come up with just two ideas: kit homes and log cabins. Back in the 1970s, both of these concepts seemed like fine ideas, particularly for a weekender, but not the type of abode most would choose to build as their primary residence.
A Prebuilt home
Thankfully, there have been major improvements, and prefabricated housing is the building industry’s next generation. At the moment, about $4.6 billion per annum is spent on the prefab housing sector, with this figure expected to rise by about five percent each year for the next decade.
The reason why this is occurring is clear! “Whether you’re building a one-bedroom shack or a large, high-end primary residence, the process is very simple,” says architect Ramon Pleysier, of architecture and interior design firm Pleysier Perkins. For the past eight years, his firm has worked alongside us at Prebuilt. As a Melbourne-based company, we have built and installed more than 300 homes. “Since working with Prebuilt we’ve been able to formulate the most efficient working model possible,” explains Ramon. “We now have a very logical way of working with projects of any size.”
A Prebuilt home
For a client, the steps are simple. First, they collaborate with the architect on design. Prebuilt has four pre-designed styles that can be individualised or used as a starting point; alternatively, there’s the option of a customised solution. Once a design is agreed upon, the house is modelled, right down to the cladding types and paint colours.
For the average person looking to build a home, this is where the benefits of prefabrication become obvious. It’s a really precise approach to delivering a product. Full approval at the modelling stage means an accurate budget can be presented and, with all homes built in the Melbourne factory, there are no delays due to bad weather or overextended tradesmen.
A Prebuilt home
A lot of the houses we’re delivering across Australia are constructed in the factory in 12 weeks, but would take roughly a year to build on site. That also helps with budget because you’re not having to finance the project for extended lengths of time when you can’t live in it.
As far as cost goes, the worst-case scenario is the budget would be the same as that for a house built completely on site. Though normally the higher quality or more complex the project, the more cost savings can be obtained.
– Rob Colquhoun is the managing director of Prebuilt, a Melbourne-based company responsible for building and installing more than 300 homes – with budgets ranging from $200,000 to $3 million – since 2002.
Everyone wants to make sure their home looks the best on the street. To ensure you give your home kerb appeal, there are some considerations to take into account before picking up a paintbrush.
When painting your exterior, you need to determine what the hero feature of your home is. This could be its architectural style, any unique structural features or even the materials your home is made from. You can then create a colour scheme which highlights or compliments your home’s best feature.
If your house has a modern architectural design with angular rooflines, choose a colour scheme that highlights these eye-catching features. Accentuate this detail by choosing a palette of light and shade. Use a mid-grey charcoal such as Taubmans Hi Ho Silver on the eaves and fascia of the roofline, and a lighter colour like Taubmans Metal Low on the exterior walls.
Similarly, this technique can be used for a period home such as a Victorian. Highlight the decorative latticework by painting it in Taubmans Snow Ballet contrasted with cream walls in Taubmans Torte.
The location of your home can have a significant impact on the style of your home and therefore your exterior colour scheme. For example, Queenslander type houses will have a very different exterior look than a sandstone home you might find in New South Wales.
The Queenslander is one of Australia’s most iconic architectural designs. Their wide expansive balconies are perfect for lounging during the warm summer days. The cool colour scheme in this image works as visual relief from the extreme heat and enhances the home’s natural surrounds. Contrasting the dark roof with lighter walls in Taubmans Sea Command, and even lighter trims in Taubmans Blue Strike, gives the exterior an airy feel.
If your home has no distinct architectural feature, use colour to add some personality. A bold colour on your front door creates an inviting entrance and is an easy way to change the look of your home with on trend colours. A deep purple such as Taubmans Magic Magenta or a bright red like Taubmans Poinciana Red on your door creates a focal point and will give your home a strong street presence.
Once you’ve decided on a colour scheme that best suits your home’s exterior it’s important to choose an exterior paint which will not only look good, but also gives your home UV protection like Taubmans Sunproof Exterior. This paint has been specially formulated to withstand the sun’s punishing UV rays.
—Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.
With a dramatic sandstone cliff as their backdrop, the new Maxwell Place apartments designed by Smart Design Studio in collaboration with Mirvac are white, angular and dramatic.
Sitting low and long, the 49 apartments feature deep triangular balconies, a nod to the saw tooth roofs of the Federation-era Tramsheds that sit close by. Situated in the inner Sydney suburb of Glebe, Maxwell Place is the second last precinct in Harold Park by Mirvac and the only one located on the eastern edge of the future park. Designed to create a connection between Harold Park and the distinctive Victorian terrace homes above, vehicle entry to the apartments will come via a new shared laneway off Maxwell Road.
Smart Design Studio’s inspiration for Maxwell Place owes much to the beauty of the sandstone cliff that forms its eastern boundary, providing a sense of privacy and seclusion for residents. Extensive ground-level landscaping, combined with the building’s unique setting between cliff and park, will add to the sensation that these residences are an exclusive oasis.
“We thought the cliff was beautiful and we took that as our inspiration to create a building that was like an abstracted cliff face,” says William Smart, founder of Smart Design Studio. “But the building also had to talk to the other side of Harold Park and the Glebe terraces above, so we have a quiet, private side facing the cliff and a side with expansive park views.”
Harold Park is located 2.5km from the Sydney CBD and on completion will include approximately 1,250 apartments and terraces. More than 35 per cent of the site has been dedicated to the City of Sydney for future parkland.
Residents are now living the in the first Harold Park precinct, Locarno, and Precinct 2, Eden, is nearing completion. The third precinct, Maestro, is under construction and Chevalier, which was launched in September, has also recently commenced construction. An exact start date for Maxwell Place is yet to be released.
With a week to go until I head to Dubai with 20 other bloggers, I’m getting pretty damn excited but I’m also as woefully unprepared as ever. You’d think, after spending six months traveling earlier in the year, I’d be a whizz at packing but no, I have something approaching a phobia when it comes to deciding what to take and fitting it all in the suitcase. I think it stems from the fear of making the wrong choices and arriving only to find I am under/over/impractically dressed for every occasion. This is, of course, a little easier in Dubai, where I believe it is important to be sensitive to the ways and customs of a largely Muslim country and dress respectfully and accordingly. No, not everyone does, but I really think you should. So for me, this means many a maxi dress to keep cool with a light shawl to cover my shoulders. And of course, plenty of statement jewels. Done! And while I know flat sandals would be sensible, I prefer a wedge heel…
Enough of my wardrobe choices! Here’s what I’m looking forward to most. While Dubai is known, more recently, for its amazing, super modern, super tall, super expensive architecture, I’m much more intrigued by The Old Town, the gold souks and the traditional food and crafts. I love spicy food so bring on the Emirati cuisine! I’m dreaming of dishes packed with saffron, turmeric and cardamon and sweets drizzled with date syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds! On our itinerary is a meal at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Of course, my first love being interiors, checking out local examples of these will be top of my list, from the impressive accommodation at the five-star JW Marriott Marquis where I’m very excited to be staying, to the more traditional Arabian and Persian-inspired homes. There’s nothing like getting a little off the tourist track and seeing how locals really live. This fascinates me most about travel so it is always nice to meet and talk with residents, not just fellow tourists. I’ll be meeting up with an old school friend from England who has now lived in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for many years.
Much of this year’s travels with my husband were spent in Europe and the USA and although I loved every minute, I’m ready for a culture shock in Dubai! It’s a place where you really can experience so many different things. We just got our itinerary and it is so varied and exciting, including a Sundown Desert Safari (squeal!), shopping at The Dubai Mall, penguin encounters at Ski Dubai and the Underwater Zoo & Aquarium!
I’m really looking forward to spending so much time with some of Australia’s finest bloggers too. What a unique opportunity to swap ideas, learn from each other and even just discuss the weird and wonderful world (for many of us) of blogging as an actual job! I’m sure to come home full of inspiration from Dubai and my new travel buddies!
If you’ve been to Dubai, I’d love to hear your tips and recommendations. Please share them in the comments below. Thanks!
Designed by The Block architects, Sydney’s latest coffee shop, Bay Ten Espresso, is industrial, honest and completely unique.
Situated in a heritage warehouse in Lavender Bay, the inspired fit-out designed by Brenchley Architects, features 10-metre century-old concrete walls and a dramatic expanse of windows. Playing true to the industrial heritage of the space, the interiors are raw and recycled, with palette seating along the wall topped with leather pads and stacks of cushions to create comfy private nooks and two long, stainless steel tables offering shared space and room to spread.
“Working in heritage spaces is a privilege,” says Brenchley Architects director, Julian Brenchley. “Essentially we are custodians of environmental heritage which is no less important and is often overlooked, lost or damaged by poor decisions. Bay Ten Espresso is such a unique space; there is nothing like it anywhere. All the historic infrastructure in and around the Harbour Bridge is remarkable in scale and has an industrial-engineered character.”
Taking centre stage is a recycled shipping container, remodelled to serve as the working hub of the espresso bar. It comes with a bit of latter-day notoriety as well, having been one of the vessels used to smuggle 600kg of pseudoephedrine into Australia. “The new fit-out was inspired by what might have been,” says Julian. “We’ve referenced transport-related objects such as the repurposed shipping container and given it a workshop look and feel, allowing the past uses of the space to honestly inform the design outcome.”
Bay Ten Espresso also shares the warehouse with The Body Mechanic, a specialist bike maintenance outfit run by elite athletes. It’s open Monday to Friday, 7am – 3pm, at at Bay 10, Middlemiss Street, Lavender Bay, Sydney.
