Eringa Farm House by The Black Rabbit

Taking cues from its casual and laidback surrounds, Eringa Farm House combines a contemporary crispness with familiar rural references. As a combined effort between Genworth Group, Swee Design and The Black Rabbit architects, the resulting home openly drinks in the natural landscape while layering richness and a refined balance internally.

Set amongst the climatically cool Adelaide Hills region, Eringa Farm House draws on its removed remoteness in combining the casual with the refined.

Opening generously to the expansive and natural surrounds of the home, large glazed apertures and openings invite a visual connection to place, while reinforcing a non-urban understanding with a fitting design approach and underlying philosophies.

The the rigour and contemporary nature of the proposal sit in contrast to the locale, yet a natural and texturally diverse materiality and palette ensure an anchoring to context and the site.

Designed and delivered in collaboration, Genworth Group, Swee Design and The Black Rabbit bring the vision to fruition as a collective through a thoughtful and enduring lens.

While the area sits not far from the city of Adelaide, its lofted elevation and immersion within such a natural and untampered landscape allows for a true sense of disconnect and calm.

Extending from this and in celebration of the separation, a modern farm house form is proposed to sit in harmony with the surrounds. The combination of rugged and honest stone walls and the extensive use of timber encourage a natural ageing process and an interaction with the elements.

Clean lines and a linear methodology then offer a welcomed counterbalance, elevating the traditional rural home and infusing a familiar urban convenience. The proposal seeks to be an interplay of contrasts, while responding with sensitivity and appropriateness of form.

Eringa Farm House combines contrast and openness to aptly navigate its setting. Genworth Group, Swee Design and The Black Rabbit all draw on the existing to compose a home of lasting relevance.

Home to a growing family, an embedded robustness ensures an ease of crossover from country to family life, while confirming the comfort of shelter and familiarity of home.

Expressed throughout are the personalities of its owners through the selection of layered elements. Furniture, lighting, sculptural objects, accessories and artwork all tell the collective story of those who live here, through their collected and newly acquired treasures.

Spread over five-bedrooms, the home is further broken down into more intimate zones for retreat and then open gathering zones for the family to convene and entertain. A defining element throughout is the consistent reminder of place, reinforced through openings that connect to the surrounds.
Eringa Farm House combines contrast and openness to aptly navigate its setting. Genworth Group, Swee Design and The Black Rabbit all draw on the existing to compose a home of lasting relevance.

ADELAIDE HILLS, SA, AUSTRALIA

PHOTOGRAPHY: Shannon McGrath
STYLING: Swee Design
ARCHITECTURE: Genworth Group
BUILD: Genworth Group
WORDS: Bronwyn Marshall
ARCHITECT: The Black Rabbit
FURNITURE: Swee Design

20 Nov 2021
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Farm House by The Black Rabbit Architects

Diagrid House by Jack Mckinney Architects

Diagrid House by Jack Mckinney Architects

Diagrid House project explores a range of materials in their raw state, deliberately contrasting areas of brightness with darkness. Jack McKinney Architects expresses the beauty in the raw and imperfect.

This house is a strongly sculptural exploration of in-situ concrete. A basement garage forms a podium upon which a 56 tonne diagrid concrete roof is propped up to create a living, kitchen and dining area. The main living space is open to the East and the North.

In places daylight is brought through the gridded roof form. The roof extends out to create a verandah facing the street.

The project explores a range of materials in their raw state, deliberately contrasting areas of brightness with darkness. The house is perfectly imperfect, celebrating the marks and incidents of its construction.

Home magazine Home of the Year 2019 — Winner 2019
HOME magazine Home of the Year 2019 — Best City House 2019

17 Nov 2021
published in : jackmckinney.co.nz

Gallery of Diagrid House by Jack Mckinney Architects

This house is a strongly sculptural exploration of in-situ concrete. A basement garage forms a podium upon which a 56 tonne diagrid concrete roof is propped up to create a living, kitchen and dining area. The main living space is open to the East and the North.

The lido apartments by Open Creative Studio

The lido apartments by Open Creative Studio

Open Creative Studio implemented a small external restoration project of the much loved Lido Apartments in Launceston, Tasmania.

“The exterior of this beautiful example of art deco housing was in a state of disrepair. We were brought in to upgrade all of the surface treatments on the outside of the building to revitalise the building for the next phase of its life.

It was a lovely experience being part of this elegant lady’s life.”

Painting Consultant – Haymes Paints

Photographer – Anjie Blair

14 Nov 2021
published in : opencreativestudio.com

Gallery of The lido apartments Project

Blue Balmoral by Esoteriko Interiors

Born from a simple brief to improve functionality, Balmoral Blue evolved into a process of increasing connection, natural light and spaciousness. Esoteriko Interior Architecture brings a highly detailed and refreshingly contemporary approach to the design through bold, timeless and enduring gestures.

Esoteriko Interior' Approach in Blue Balmoral

Balmoral Blue had seen many iterations over its years, and Esoteriko Interior Architecture’s approach was to combine all of these through a contemporary and relevant lens.

Initially commencing from a simple brief to improve the functionality of the home for the clients, after rigorous consultation, the approach evolved to address the home’s internal connection, increase access to natural light and create a greater sense of spaciousness.

Opening up the internal rooms and volumes, Esoteriko Interiors imbues the home with both a greater sense of connection and ease of movement throughout. And, through the employment of bold gestures and a monolithic approach, a timeless and enduring series of gestures unfolds, further elevated through highly detailed and a fresh contemporary approach.

Blue Balmoral Project Features

With the home subject to many amendments over the years, the original 1920s detailing had been removed and replaced with an anachronistic Tuscan-style in the 1990s. Grounded on its original sandstone footings, the home was in desperate need of a clear and concise aesthetic and functional direction for its future.

Esoteriko Interiors comprised a palette responding to the Australian landscape, through local New South Wales sandstone and South Australian blackbutt timber, while also taking in references from Japanese design principles of simplicity and minimalism.

Built by Fairweather Constructions, the overall aesthetic draws inspiration from its client, expressed through a series of refined and minimal sensibilities. The elements of blue dotted throughout add a coolness and allow for a sense of relief from the warm timber and natural stone used throughout. These colours reference the deep and moody adjacent ocean and the warm and rich colours found in the land.

As an extension of this, the insertion of Australian-made pieces of furniture, artwork and objects not only connect the home to its context, but also reinforce the importance and relevance of place as the client’s first Australian home.

The overall approach, in creating a cohesive and responsive home, was to propose Balmoral Blue as a home that also acts as a retreat. Through applying an understanding of space, natural light and materiality, Esoteriko Interior Architecture challenges the trending formal and volumetric proposals currently circulating.

The result is a home that speaks to its client and expresses a refreshing and enduring contemporaneity.

BALMORAL, NSW, AUSTRALIA
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dave Wheeler

STYLING
Jade Yarbrough

INTERIOR DESIGN
Esoteriko Interiors

DEVELOPMENT
Fairweather Constructions

WORDS
Bronwyn Marshall

12 Nov 2021
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Blue Balmoral Project by Esoteriko Interior Architecture

Born from a simple brief to improve functionality, Balmoral Blue evolved into a process of increasing connection, natural light and spaciousness. Esoteriko Interiors brings a highly detailed and refreshingly contemporary approach to the design through bold, timeless and enduring gestures.

House in Newtown by Architect George

House in Newtown by Architect George

House in Newtown by Architect George is an exploration of how to dwell in smaller spaces, in dense environments connected to sunlight, greenery and the outdoors.

House in Newtown explores how a small footprint and floor area can create a high level of amenity, and how we can live more sustainably. Wanting an architecturally designed home that represented their own personality on a very tight budget, the clients willingly accepted a smaller house in order to live in a space that was ‘uniquely home’.

The new addition is deliberately singular in colour and simple in form so as to not further overwhelm the surroundings. The lightweight addition sits quietly in its busy/grungy surrounds. Openings to the courtyard and rear community park were designed as finely framed apertures and the green roof provides an outlook not only for the subject dwellers but the surrounding dwellers alike, providing a nice contrast to the harder built structures.

Project Details

Architects: Architect George
Photography: Clinton Weaver
Builder: Pacific Projects
Country: Gadigal Land

Awards

2021 Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards – Residential Alterations and Additions – Shortlist
2021 Inner West Council Built Environment Awards – Marrickville Medal – Commendation

7 Nov 2021
published in: architect-george.com

Gallery of Small House in Newtown by Architect George

Mr Frankie by MIC projects

Mr Frankie by MIC projects and Harrison Interiors

Text description provided by MIC Projects Architects. Introducing Mr Frankie cafe! He is flamboyant, quirky, well put together and has a cheeky sense of humour. His raison d’être is to breathe some much needed life into the Frankston food scene and it looks like he’s already created quite the buzz.

Harrison Interiors is the genius behind the persona of this café. The playful combination of colours, shapes and products brings an inner city quality to the interiors whilst the retro prints and pastel backdrop tie it back to the beachy location.

The custom made murals and communal table certainly kept us busy but we had a blast with this fitout. With so many different elements in the design, it was extremely rewarding seeing it all come together.

MR Frankie Cafe Project Details

ADDRESS 48 Norman Ave, Frankston South
TYPE Cafe
ARCHITECTS: MIC Projects
DESIGNER Harrison Interiors
PHOTOGRAPHER Caitlin Mills Photography

4 Nov 2021
published in : micprojects.com.au

Tetto Rooftop Bar by The Retail Designers

Tetto Rooftop Bar by The Retail Designers

Text description provided by The Retail Designers Architects. The design intents for tetto rooftop bar was to bring a taste of the Italian Amalfi Coast summer wipe to Brisbane.
the orange umbrellas and and bar arches are features for the design creating is space full of character and personality
Isn’t this contrast between the Blue sky and the orange umbrellas just stunning?

2 Nov 2021
published in : theretaildesigners.com.au

Gallery of Tetto Rooftop Bar by The Retail Designers

Heralding Craft – Prahran House by Dita Studio

Reinstating the grandeur of the original building, the restoration of Prahran House elevates the experience of the home. Dita Studio ’s mature and refined approach creates a timeless yet contemporary home that emphasises craft.

In its heritage-rich surrounds, Prahran House is an important contributor to the area’s layered past. Preserving and reinstating its original sense of place and presence was imperative.

As a combination restoration and renovation effort, the new insertions give respect to the original detailing and sit in complementary unison with one another.

Through a restrained approach, Dita Studio’s founder and director Rita D’Souza sought to create a home of measured purpose, inserting elements that naturally illuminate the home and introducing a considered palette with an emphasis on natural materials.

The combining of old and new requires an appreciation for both and the respectful proposal of elements that also complement the original crafted details.

With the home having remained unrenovated in any form for over 40 years, the team had a blank canvas with which to work once all of the outdated and ornate fittings and surfaced coverings were removed.

In speaking to how she conceived of the spaces during the design process, Rita says, “we wanted them to feel embellished by principles and ideas of lightness and inspired by a quest for harmony and silence.”

This was driven by a vision to “embrace shapes, materials and textures within well designed spaces and to have a positive influence on a person’s well-being by living with less,” she says.

“Everything about the home, from layout to materiality, was driven by the client’s desire to create a place to connect with family and nature,” Rita adds. “The courtyard, though small given the suburban location, acts as part of the house, with low-maintenance gardening enjoyed by the busy family daily.”

As such, key alterations were the introduction of natural light deep into the home and the breaking up of the closed-in formality of its time. Through the generous opening into courtyards and curated garden spaces, designed by Eckersley Garden Architecture and Normark Landscapes, deliberate connections between the home and its site have been created, expanding the original perceived boundary of the home and making better use of its assets.

“The finishes and colour scheme throughout the house had a natural warmth to it, which the cool silver greys of Ocean (from the Touch Collection) complemented nicely,” says Damir.

“Natural light has been the main focus, so that the occupier of the house is able to appreciate the quality of light, as well as the shadow and pattern that this light creates,” Rita says. “Expansive ceiling heights, full height openings and the extensive use of glass with sharp considered metal detailing have delivered light, airy spaces where light can be its own feature and where light is the hero.”

Natural light further emphasises these expansive high ceilings, and light enlivens the materiality of the walls, engaging with the plaster as the sun shifts over the course of the day.

Restraint and a controlled palette of materials were inherent to many of the design decisions. As an extension of the home’s origins, establishing a connection to craft was key.

To achieve this, Rita worked closely with Damir Dzuzdanovic of Made by Storey to select the timber flooring, laid in a chevron pattern that responds to the home’s heritage. “To achieve the colour, it takes 13 processes to achieve the end result of such a unique colour.

It’s a smoky grey that through its processing, enhances the grain and texture of the time and allows it to add depth and a hint of warmth, while still working within a contemporary palette.” Rita elaborates that “to increase the presence of horizontal scale, the Made by Storey floorboards were used and placed in parallel to the new courtyard extension.

The floorboards chevron in pattern were paying a homage to the traditional era of the house, furthermore the wire brushed texture creates a soft feeling underfoot and showcased the woods natural lines. Reducing the textures and positioning the floorboards with intent creates a visual harmony – constantly drawing attention outward.”

Through the limiting and concentrating of palette throughout, the restoration and extension of Prahran House is an extension of its original stately beginnings as a highly detailed and crafted home. Dita Studio, working in close connection with the contributing makers like Made By Storey, has ensured the intended refinement has carried through.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Timothy Kaye
INTERIOR DESIGN: Dita Studio
WORDS: Bronwyn Marshall
LANDSCAPING: Eckersley Garden Architecture & Normark Landscapes
FLOORING: Made by Storey

1 Nov 2021
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Prahran House by Dita Studio

Adam Street, Burnley – DX architects

Adam Street, Burnley - DX architects

Text description provided by DX Architects. The Burnley Residential Renovation created an open plan living area which connected with the back yard on a typical inner city single fronted site.

This renovation included the installation of a custom manufactured, industrial styled glass window facing onto the back yard. The design for Burnley residential project also features a pitched roof structure with high-level windows and a sloping ceiling. The aim of this design feature was to maximise light within the boundary to boundary construction.

The interior was completed with custom painted black accents in the door hardware and tap fittings, and was complimented with oak timber engineered flooring. The kitchen was finished with matt black and white 2 pac door panels, and entertaining style island bench was finished with waterfall edge stone benchtops. A feature mirror splashback in the kitchen reflects light within the centre of the room.

Feature pendant and wall lights were carefully positioned to define the various functions of the flexible open plan living room.

The construction phase of the Burnley residential architecture project was completed in July, 2015.

30 Oct 2021
published in : dxarchitects.com.au

Gallery of Burnley Residential Project by DX architects

King Residential by Cast Studio Architecture

King Residential by Cast Studio Architecture

Text description provided by Cast Studio Architects. This residential project transforms a gutted two-storey penthouse in Perth’s inner city, inserting a luxurious three-bedroom apartment into an ageing brick building. Our client came to Cast Studio with a series of images of his favourite houses and an open mind about where the design process would lead us. Over a period of months, we collaborated to create a restrained apartment that will house art, sculpture, and eventually a family.

The apartment is designed around a central gallery, with a steel and timber staircase rising through it to connect the sleeping areas on the lower level with the living spaces on the upper floor. A large brass lined skylight floats on the black ceiling, bringing a rich golden hued daylight into the internalised space. Walls and floors are lined with spotted gum timber panelling, their delicacy juxtaposed by the large original concrete beams that cut through the space.

An extravagant master bedroom suite occupies the entire front of the 11-metre wide apartment, containing a sleeping space, en suite bathroom, dressing room, and lounge. Accessed through a darkened portal, the bedroom suite is flooded with daylight by full-height steel-framed windows. A large joinery piece divides the sleeping area and lounge, its curved form containing a fireplace and concealed television.

As with the rest of the apartment, bathrooms are restrained spaces that use a limited palette of natural materials. Stone tile walls and floors are accented by aged brass fittings and timber details, with concealed lighting washing down the walls.

On the upper floor, in a rooftop extension built outside the original envelope of the building, the apartment’s tone changes to one of lightness. Built for a keen chef, a long kitchen sits on one side of a large living and dining space, with framed openings providing views into the city and access to two balconies, one on each side of the room.