Toorak Residence by ADDARC

A Refined Natural Curation – Toorak Residence by ADDARC

Addarc architects and Jack Merlo closely collaborate to propose a personally expressive home, one that celebrates the surrounding natural elements.

In its removed positioning at the end of a quiet street, Toorak Residence takes inspiration from its surrounds and internally emerges as its own place of respite. As the home of a landscape architect, it was expected that the garden became an important and integral part of the building’s narrative; formed from similar grounding principles, the relationship to the architecture is complementary, seeing the two work to balance one another. Behind the stark and encasing front fence, the upper level of the structure peeks up as an opaque glass and timber box, private in protecting its residents from the street whilst still allowing natural light into the spaces.

Toorak Residence is inspired by a modernist approach, with long and linear forms coming together across the site. Throughout, clear and uninterrupted vistas and sightlines bind the spaces, both hinting at movement and connecting beyond the built walls out into the landscape. There is a masculine edge felt throughout, through the combining of darker timber, steel and stone, which are then softened with layers of rich textures and textiles. An interesting collection of taxidermy, artwork and lighting is dotted amongst the rooms and the garden, further creating a sense of intrigue as one moves through the spaces.

The open and closed areas are balanced by one another, as a shared flexibility connects them. Although generous and connected living spaces flow generously into the next, more intimate spaces allow for retreat and a more passive stance. A sense of refinement and rigor ensures that the materials come together with purpose and fortitude, lasting well beyond their time. Whilst a sense of grandeur is presented from the initial entrance, dark and richly textural materials seem to welcome and warm the experience. The views beyond then bring a sense that the garden exists within the home while, at the same time, presented as its own artful feature.
Inserted as a moment of drama and boldness, ADDARC architects’s Toorak Residence refreshingly combines the contemporary with the natural and is a statement in and of itself.

TOORAK, VIC, AUSTRALIA

PHOTOGRAPHY
Shannon McGrath & Timothy Kaye

STYLING
Swee Design

ARCHITECTURE
ADDARC

INTERIOR DESIGN
ADDARC Architects

BUILD
Lang Construction

WORDS
Bronwyn Marshall

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Jack Merlo

written by : Bronwyn Marshall
11 Apr 2022
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

A Refined Natural Curation – Toorak Residence by ADDARC

In its removed positioning at the end of a quiet street, Toorak Residence takes inspiration from its surrounds and internally emerges as its own place of respite.

Viminalus House by Not All Architecture

Viminalus House by Not All Architecture

Whilst the tendency to demolish and rebuild can have its appeal, the retention of an existing dwelling and its appropriate alterations can significantly reduce a structure’s carbon footprint and avoid unnecessary waste.

After a thorough and rigorous process between architect and client, Viminalus House emerges as the considered result of such balancing between old and new.

Based on the idea of maintaining the scale and proportion of the original, parts were selectively retained and replaced as needed, opening up the volumes and connecting both outward and upward.

Not All Architecture focuses on the experience of the home and continues its previous warmth into the new whilst retaining the original footprint.

Engaging with the surrounding landscape and optimising orientation and aspect, the home becomes more passively cooled and comfortable.

Together with Simon Taylor Landscape Design, Viminalus House was built by CJ Henderson Builders and combines a thoroughly investigative examination of the constraints of the site. Originally built in the 1980s, the red brick veneer home is opened up with the addition of upper-level clerestory windows inserted in place, allowing airflow and light to flood the newly formed volumes and escape as needed.

The façade was replaced with operable elements that allow a visual connection to the curated garden setting whilst also ensuring natural light fills the interior.

Integral to the brief was the retention of a sense of self and a connection to context. Located near Torquay in Jan Juc, the coastal home needed to embody ideas of shelter from the elements while also feeling open and casual, flowing between inside and out.

As a coastal home, a low level of maintenance was also crucial; materials and systems were embedded to allow for a level of passivity and lower reliance on outside energy throughout the year.

A warm palette connects back to the home’s original brick origins and encases the interiors, seeing timber mixed with polished concrete flooring and painted plaster elements that create a crisp balance.

Through careful investigation, Viminalus House combines differing eras and styles, reducing the overall environmental impact in the process. Not All Architecture firmly anchors the home with purpose for its coming chapters.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Willem-Dirk du Toit

STYLING
Daisy Eckersley

ARCHITECTURE
Not All Architecture

INTERIOR DESIGN
Daisy Eckersley

BUILD
CJ Henderson Builders

WORDS
Bronwyn Marshall

LANDSCAPE
Simon Taylor Landscape Design

written by : Bronwyn Marshall
4 Apr 2022
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Viminalus House Project by Not All Architecture

Terrace House by Austin Maynard Architects

Austin Maynard Architects never viewed this project as a collection of apartments, rather as terrace houses stacked six storeys high. Situated on a long, thin block, there are 20 residences across a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes, the largest sitting at 130 square metres. Instead of generating an endless maze of tightly packed apartments with little outlook and natural light, the architects emulated the layout of traditional terrace homes. Each dwelling is significant but not excessively so, and all residents enjoy great outlooks, a front verandah, a study and a big shared ‘backyard’ on the roof. These highly sustainable dwellings echo the experience of a terrace house, doing away with the maintenance demands and often poor thermal performance of a heritage building.

The design of the exterior borrows from the characterful façades along Sydney Road as well as the solid Mediterranean history of Brunswick and its neighbouring suburbs, yet it is confidently contemporary. The architects have reinterpreted the heavy masonry arches typical to the area in the light metal mesh with coloured outdoor blinds. Not only does this contribute to the project’s slightly playful identity, but it ensures maximum access to natural light from within. It also acts as a framework for vegetation and greenery to grow upon, softening the street’s form and providing lush surroundings for residents.
This fossil-fuel-free building fills a much-needed gap in the housing market for family homes that offer the sense of community and shared resources of apartment-style living. Difficulties in finding and securing cost-effective yet liveable homes in the inner suburbs are forcing many first-time buyers into the outer suburbs. Terrace House aims to provide its residents with access to economically and socially sustainable housing located in a desirable, bustling and connected pocket of Melbourne.

Austin Maynard Architects has considered what living in a terrace house means, extracted many of those highly appealing elements, and wielded them to drive this design. This is a project that invites intrigue and encourages conversation in its mission to contribute to Brunswick with gusto.

BRUNSWICK, VIC, AUSTRALIA
PHOTOGRAPHY
Derek Swalwell

ARCHITECTURE
Austin Maynard Architects

INTERIOR DESIGN
Austin Maynard Architects

DEVELOPMENT
Austin Maynard Architects

BUILD
Kapitol Group

WORDS
Millie Thwaites

LANDSCAPE
Openwork

written by : Millie Thwaites
3 April 2022
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Terrace House by Austin Maynard Architects

Sorrento Beach House by Pandolfini Architects

Sorrento Beach House by Pandolfini Architects

Text description provided by Pandolfini Architects. Nestled amongst holiday homes on the edge of Port Phillip Bay, the Sorrento Beach House has been conceived with a nostalgia for the simple forms and materials of holiday homes of the past. Composed of five separate pavilions arranged around a central outdoor living space, the house eschews the competition for water views and focuses inwards, placing the theatre of holiday life centre stage.

Designed for a young family with historical ties to the area, a series of private and communal spaces have been created which can be adapted as the family grows. The distributed plan and use of external shutters allow for visual solid connections between the spaces or autonomy as the need arises.

The single level pavilions present an instantly recognisable silhouette, with dispersal across the site allowing for extensive landscaping, ensuring the house sits comfortably in its coastal setting. A reductive palette of weathered timber, bagged brickwork and corrugated roofing reinforces the simple gable roof forms. At the same time, finely detailed glass bridges link the pavilions, accentuating the sense of transition and creating a strong connection with the outdoors.

Design of the landscape was instrumental in the project’s conception, and while the primary focus of the house is the central communal garden, the plan creates a series of discreet outdoor spaces, each with their own audience and program.

Each pavilion maintains a compact footprint that is defined by generous pitched ceilings and cropped openings to curate the views. External materials flow inside where muted tones and textured finishes combine to create a relaxed and serene environment. Within each pavilion are smaller spaces of seclusion and retreat, often concealed behind timber panelled doors and with views to their own private garden.

Shallow floorplates provide for excellent cross ventilation and access to natural light, while the careful siting of the pavilions protect the central space from the coastal winds. Extensive onsite rainwater retention, a large array of solar panels and the use of the external shutters and ceiling fans minimise consumption.

Sorrento Beach House Project Details

SORRENTO, AUSTRALIA

Architects: Pandolfini Architects
Area: 530 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: Rory Gardiner
Manufacturers: Porters Paints, Joe Colombo, Joe Tuckey, MCM House, PET lamp
Landscape: Fiona Brockhoff Design
Construction: CP Beckingsale Constructions
Structural Engineers: OPS Engineers

written by :Hana abdel
31 Mar 2022
published in : archdaily.com

Gallery of Sorrento Beach House by Pandolfini Architects

Tactile and Tonal – Biànca by Richards & Spence

Biànca by Richards & Spence - Tactile and Tonal

The work of Richards and Spence is driven by a desire to elevate the life of inner-city Brisbane. The studio’s design of the greater James Street precinct – comprising the awarded Calile Hotel and a collection of hospitality spaces – is a significant step towards this goal. Occupying a quaint corner tenancy on Ada Lane, Biànca is a welcome addition to James Street – a homage to Italian dining traditions, thoughtfully reinterpreted for its context.

Owners and operators Tyron Simon, Ben Williamson, Frank Li and Italian-born Bianca Marchi (the project’s namesake) have instilled the restaurant with an authentic culinary approach. Pasta and bread are made in-house, while ingredients are sourced locally.

Richards & Spence sought to mirror these authentic qualities in the interior, embracing form and materiality to celebrate and enhance Biànca’s charming, community-minded ethos.

With food designed to share, the 70-patron venue emphasises communal dining set against a broad antipasti kitchen. Diners are invited to delight in the bustling theatre of aperitivo and pizza making, while the open-air frontage draws in Brisbane’s balmy breezes.

Ascending to the upper level, a 36-seat private dining space creates a quiet oasis suspended above Ada Lane, crafting a diverse landscape of dining settings that bring people together.

Perhaps Biànca’s true hallmark is the saturated, terracotta-hued interior, playfully inspired by a set of orange Sabre Paris cutlery. Burnished terracotta tiles drench floors, walls, stairs and benchtops, creating a tactile and nuanced backdrop that speaks to the restaurant’s Italian traditions.

A gridded peach-toned ceiling is contrasted by concrete, plywood and brick accents, creating a harmonic contrast of lightly framed and robust elements. The result is a tonal exploration of peach, terracotta and nude shades that unify Biànca’s interior with a glowing warmth and cheeky sense of personality.

Richards and Spence’s reductive approach balances timelessness and long-term serviceability, applying restraint and design rigour down to the restaurant’s finest details – from handrails to cutlery, monogrammed plates and signature curled graphics.

As a concept restaurant predicated on fun, Biànca honours the buzz of much-loved Italian trattorias brimming with wine, warmth and good company – what’s not to love?

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cieran Murphy
ARCHITECTURE: Richards & Spence
INTERIOR DESIGN: Richards & Spence
BUILD: Lamberts

written by :Hayley Curnow
30 Mar 2022
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Biànca Project by Richards and Spence

The work of Richards & Spence is driven by a desire to elevate the life of inner-city Brisbane. The studio’s design of the greater James Street precinct – comprising the awarded Calile Hotel and a collection of hospitality spaces – is a significant step towards this goal. Occupying a quaint corner tenancy on Ada Lane, Biànca is a welcome addition to James Street – a homage to Italian dining traditions, thoughtfully reinterpreted for its context.

Harbord Hotel by Alexander &CO.

A Lasting and Effortless Energy – Harbord Hotel by Alexander and CO.

Alexander &CO. has distilled the laid-back surf culture of Sydney’s northern beaches into the design of the Harbord Hotel. This multi-level venue, in what was a tired art deco building in Freshwater, is as much a nod to the long-term locals and their way of life as it is a contribution to the area’s lasting and effortless energy.

Entering through the restored heritage façade, you’ll find Balsa restaurant to the left and the front bar to your right with event spaces upstairs. Surf shack elegance encapsulates much of this project’s newfound identity. It’s easy and fluid, with an abundance of natural light and the knowing feeling that the ocean isn’t too far away. Exposed spotted gum ceilings, green marble and stone flagged floors under amber lighting give way to a sophisticated yet unstuffy vibe.

Across the way, the front bar is both a space to traverse and pause. It’s lively and connected, with views to the beer garden below and an upbeat energy. With a steady flow of people, the feeling is relaxed, guided by the laid-back aesthetic and lightly layered design.

Each pocket exudes its own charm, creating inviting nooks and open spaces designed for people and conversation. Warm, earthy tones coat the interiors alongside tactile materials such as painted brick, timber and stone, and a mix of contemporary and vintage furniture and lighting adds depth.

Retro-inspired pieces including ceramic wall lights and cork and concrete tables enhance this language. You’ll also spy vintage surfboards and retro surf magazines throughout the space – a personal contribution from the owners that adds familiarity and authenticity.

While a contemporary design approach takes precedence, the character of this magnificent 1950s pre-war pavilion triumphs. Masonry wall detailing and original archways celebrate its history while curved windows and the refurbished original staircase recall the art deco heritage at almost every turn.

Harbord Hotel by Alexander and CO. is an expression of the Freshwater area; a reflection of the community and the easy-going culture that so readily defines it. And the design suggests there’s a spot for everyone – whether you’re still salty from the beach or settling in for an indulgent afternoon against a backdrop of uplifting, coastal textures and tones.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

PHOTOGRAPHY Anson Smart
STYLING Claire Delmar
ARCHITECTURE Alexander &CO.
INTERIOR DESIGN Alexander &CO.
BUILD Constructive Building Projects

written by : Millie Thwaites
16 Mar 2022
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Harbord Hotel Project by Alexander and CO.

Flinders Residence by Abe McCarthy Architects

Flinders Residence by Abe McCarthy Architects

Text description provided by the architects. A study in modern country-style living, manifesting as an enclave of barn-like forms which speak to the land, the earth, and the interplay between texture, light, and space. Gabled roofs and carved openings open out to the landscape from every angle, creating a continuous dialogue of sun and shadow.

The design is premised on creating a romantic evocation of farm-style living, whilst being underpinned by pragmatic and highly resolved episodic space. As the site was at inception open paddock, the design response needed to engage with views in all directions. The building is zoned as three interconnected pavilions to allow light and air, framed views, and discrete spaces that operate as a whole and independently.

The barn forms allow significant opportunity to engage with the landscape in an expansive way at ground-level, then transition to more intimate and cozy experiences on the upper “loft” levels. This allowed the design to employ dramatic double-height spaces whilst maintaining a sense of engaging warmth and homeliness.
In terms of sustainable initiatives, the project employs several key strategies to allow it to perform in an off-grid context:

Biomass boiler fuelling heating and hot water.
Solar array providing base power.
Rainwater storage to fulfill domestic water, irrigation, and fire-fighting reserves.
Substantial thermal mass designed to absorb low summer sun for passive solar heating.
Louvered and operable glazing including operable skylights to allow the building to breathe and cool naturally, or close-off to deal with seasonal extremes.

Our Clients sought a design that captured that feeling of warmth and comfort in Chalet-type projects they have experienced in mountainous regions across the Globe. The interior expression of a timber-lined dwelling imbues the home with this warmth and depth of natural charm.

“The result is incredible as it’s everything we wanted in terms of the way we live in the home, and the warmth and closeness the original brief sought, yet there is a modern architectural edge to the entire home that makes it extraordinary to live in.” JNS – Client.

Our client drew stylistic inspiration from non-contemporary buildings including rural vernacular types of European and American heritage.

Architects: Abe McCarthy Architects
Area: 921 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Shannon McGrath
Manufacturers: AGA, CDK stone, Eco Outdoor, GUBI, Miele, AV-ID & Abe McCarthy Architects, Abelwood, Bruhn Limestone, Colorbond & Lysaght, Leibherr, Sikkens, WOCA Wood Finishing products, Woodsmith
Lead Architect: Abe McCarthy
Landscape Design: Barber
Interior Design: AV-ID, Abe McCarthy Architects
Main Contractor: GStruct Group
Consultants: Don Moore & Associates, KWA Building Permits

written by : Hana abdel
14 Mar 2022
published in : archdaily.com

Gallery of Flinders Residence Project by Abe McCarthy Architects

Riverside Grandeur – Canvas by GRAYA and Bureau Proberts

GRAYA is embarking on a series of luxury residential buildings in some of Brisbane’s most sought after riverside locations. Canvas is the first in the series of residential project in brisbane.

Brothers Rob and Andrew Gray founded GRAYA over a decade ago and have since earnt a reputation for building palatial contemporary houses in some of Brisbane’s most affluent suburbs. GRAYA privileges quality and innovation and centre clients’ needs, with services offered across architecture, development and construction.

Recently, the company has homed in on developments, recognising a gap in Brisbane’s housing market for those in search of the style and comfort of an architecturally designed home with the convenience of a ‘lock up and leave’ lifestyle.

Maison, GRAYA’s first foray into multi-residential housing, was a decisive success with all five residences of the building selling out before its completion.

Maison was designed by Joe Adsett Architects and built in the leafy suburb of New Farm. The building’s exterior makes a proud statement, with striated levels, rounded corners and a tiered display of lush greenery spilling over each floor’s balcony.

Inside, Maison is a very contemporary kind of chic. It is calm and soft, with blonde timber, pale stone and gentle curves. Open space, natural light and stunning views of the Brisbane CBD are all key elements of the apartments too.

Following on from Maison’s success, GRAYA is embarking on a series of luxury residential buildings. Canvas is the first in the series and is in Bulimba, on Turrbal Country. The symmetry of the building’s exterior feels sleek and modern.

Converging curves and dramatic cantilevers divide residences with private, sheltered balconies. Again, each balcony is adorned with dense tropical greenery.

GRAYA displays a knack for location scouting, with another breathtaking view of Brisbane’s CBD from the site – and especially from the vantage point of the crystal blue rooftop pool. Beams of natural light and a cool, grey colour pallete blanket the apartment interiors, with dream-like effects.

Before long, GRAYA will extend the invitation to share in the company’s vision for luxury living, with Canvas’ two, three and four bedroom apartments available on the market soon. Building on a reputation for quality and indulgence, GRAYA is contributing to elevating the Brisbane lifestyle one development at a time.

BULIMBA, QLD, AUSTRALIA
ARCHITECTURE
Bureau Proberts
BUILD
GRAYA
WORDS
Sarah Sivaraman

written by : Sarah Sivaraman
7 Mar 2022
published in : thelocalproject.com.au

Gallery of Residential Project in Brisbane – Canvas by GRAYA and Bureau Proberts

Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre by TERROIR

Text description provided by Terroir architects.The iconic Puffing Billy Railway is a much-loved tourist attraction located within the Dandenong Ranges, 40 kilometres east of Melbourne. Emerald Lake Park is a scenic destination for many, centrally located on the railway.

The importance of this stop on the railway was recognised with the decision to build a new Discovery Centre consisting of a café, commercial kitchen, visitor information services, interpretations, function rooms, staff offices, retail, educational facilities and amenities. The project brings together train enthusiasts and local park goers, creating a unique tourism amenity offering which collects the many users of the site in a single but complex building.

The complex brief resulted in a building larger than would have historically been located on the railway line. The decision was made to design a new spatial experience and a unique geometry that is distinct from the old train stations, but one that depended on the relationship between visitors and the train platform for its organisational logic.

Architects: TERROIR
Year: 2021
Photographs: Peter Bennetts
Manufacturers: Colorbond, Dulux, Laminex, Corian, Mack Bros Roofing Products, Mortlock TImber Group
Contractor : Kane Constructions Pty Ltd
Project Manager: AECOM
Landscape Architects: Tract
Structural Engineer: Stantec
Civil Engineer: Stantec
Mechanical Engineer: Stantec
Electrical Engineer: Stantec
Lighting Consultant: Stantec
Town Planning: Tract

written by : Hana Abdel
7 Mar 2022
published in : archdaily.com

Gallery of Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre Project by TERROIR

The iconic Puffing Billy Railway is a much-loved tourist attraction located within the Dandenong Ranges, 40 kilometres east of Melbourne. Emerald Lake Park is a scenic destination for many, centrally located on the railway.

Flemington House by Lisa Breeze Architect

Text description provided by Lisa Breeze architect. This 1940s semi-detached brick home in Melbourne Australia has been treasured by the same family since it was originally built. The current owner, the great grandnephew of the original owner, was keen to honour its heritage in as many ways as possible. In its long history the house had largely gone untouched, so many of its lovely old features were still intact. However, there comes a time with every home where an old Kitchen, and degrading Bathroom, need an overhaul to bring them up to contemporary living standards and to provide for a long life ahead.

The most challenging design aspect of this project was picking and choosing which heritage aspects to work with for inspiration, and which ones to let go of. It’s a fine line between honoring the past and creating a home that suits current times and into the future.

The overall layout is a good example of this – a combined open Kitchen and Meals is counter to the way houses were built and planned in the 1940s in Australia but now we put a huge importance on sharing these spaces and connecting them to the outdoors.

As with much of the detailing, the materials were largely inspired by the existing home and references to the construction of the era. In addition to the Kitchen colour, we designed a contemporary fluted glass cabinet display and used the same glass for the Bathroom glazing.

Square glazed ceramic tiles and steel framed windows were also cues that were taken from the era. Brick was used for the small extension with a subtle stack bond detail on the wall ends. In addition to terrazzo tiling of the floors and steel framed windows on the northern façade addressing the Backyard.

The existing building directed the design including the re-model and the extension. The Front Entry, Bedrooms and Living room were maintained. At the rear of the home, we completely gutted the interior, made this area slightly larger, relocated, rearranged and replaced the service rooms and opened the new Kitchen and Meals area onto a freshly landscaped Backyard so that the open plan area is more suitable to contemporary standards.

Architects: Lisa Breeze Architect
Area: 95 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Cathy Schusler
Manufacturers: Louis Poulsen, Vectorworks, Brodware, Classic Ceramics, De Fazio Tiles and Stone, Nemo Lighting, Smeg, Sphera, APLO, Bamstone, Bosch, Lampe De Marseille Mini
Lead Architect: Lisa Breeze
Builder: Silverstream Constructions
Planting Design: Greenbits