Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 2 i Grand Designs Australia Building Guide

You’ve determined your brief, worked out your budget and cleared your site. You can see its unlimited potential and now you’re ready for your dream home to become a reality. So where to next? Now is the time to find the right builder. Some architects may work regularly with chosen builders, which can make this process a little easier, but if you don’t have an architect or they don’t work regularly with anyone, it is time to do your research. Richard Gremmo from Gremmo Homes recommends finding a builder you’re comfortable with and who understands your lifestyle requirements. “Your builder should be able to create a design that understands these requirements while also respecting your budget and site conditions,” he suggests. If this is your first build, don’t feel you…

Do you feel guilty every time you switch on the air conditioning? Worry about ballooning bills? Ever experience that niggling sense of culpability when thinking about your personal impact on the environment? Ease your concerns and enjoy greater comfort, control and energy efficiency with AirTouch Smart Air Conditioning Controllers. Boosting the effectiveness of your home’s ducted air conditioner, user-friendly AirTouch controllers merge aesthetically pleasing touchscreen consoles with the latest in smart technology. Giving you smart app control over your home climate, AirTouch can also be activated using voice control with Smart Assistant integration. All you have to do is speak to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa through your smartphone or speaker. Enhancing air conditioning with superior control, the system helps provide the ultimate in convenience and comfort for homes with…

The Goldilocks effect underpins the success of this Ivanhoe East home in that the scale, materiality and design details sit just right on the sloping site and provide just enough for the family of four who own the property. “It was important the home achieve a fine balance between the very large houses in the area, and the idea of more humble, liveable and engaging spaces,” says Shae Parker McCashen, director of Green Sheep Collective. “This building could not be big for big’s sake. Every space had to work hard within its purpose and within its context.” Thick, rammed earth walls ground the house and reveal the framework’s numerous lines and plugs. Boasting unique natural beauty and texture, the appearance of the 400mm walls changes as the sun makes its…

Did you know that each one of us spends more than 90 per cent of our time immersed in man-made environments? Whether we are at the office, school, the supermarket, in the car or even at home, all these places have little connection with the natural world. The urbanisation of our world has created this disconnection and research suggests it is having a profound effect on our physical and mental health. But how? We each have this ingrained programming called the Sympathetic Nervous System, or better known as Fight, Flight or Freeze. This system is triggered by stress. Long exposure to man-made environments with little access to natural light, fresh air and even natural colours, patterns and textures can trigger a physiological response within us, increasing our stress levels and…

Our great southern land is changing. Extreme weather events are rapidly increasing in both duration and frequency and our communities are taking the hit. Australian homes are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to the effects of climate change, and with each wild event devastating towns and cities, it is also impacting the health and wellbeing of its residents. Nowhere is this more evident than in Queensland, where there have been 80 extreme weather events in the past 10 years. “Every season, every local will tell you that you’re one season closer to the next cyclone,” says Michael Cacciola, whose family was impacted by Cyclone Yasi in 2011. “When that next one is, who knows?” SES Queensland has seen this devastation first-hand. “When you turn up, [the residents] look shell-shocked,” says Daryl…

Transforming a house takes expertise and a whole new set of skills when compared with building from scratch. Sure, there’s something to work with already, but this can also create limitations and hold the new design back. But if you use what you’ve got and go with it, the result can be spectacular. Such was the case with this new home in Sydney’s Baulkham Hills, an outdated, poorly lit home with low ceilings and restricted use of space. The challenge was to “add height to the living area, open it up and let in more natural light”, says Casey Scott, director and head designer of Kinwolf, the architectural firm behind this design. “The team had to consider functionality as well as style for a family that enjoys entertaining and cooking…

When arriving at this tropical oasis, the first thought that comes to mind is ‘wow’ (cue starry eyes emoji). From the sleek white façade to the stunning alfresco and pool area, each element of the home has been meticulously chosen to create the ultimate family paradise. Designed by the uber-talented women at Three Birds Renovations, this unique Hamptons-esque abode was built by the expert team at Rawson Homes. “We would consistently receive requests in our design studio of designs and features similar to Three Birds’ homes,” says Rawson Homes CEO, Nick Chandler. “The Three Birds’ aesthetic was easily the number-one influence with our customers, with our team seeing design references from the Three Birds way more often than any others on their customers’ mood boards.” This special partnership was brought…

For homeowners Dr Samuel and Jennifer Battaglia, their dream of building a retirement family holiday home was met with some significant challenges, but the result is far beyond what they ever imagined. The couple, who have five adult children and are expecting their fourth grandchild, wanted to create a resort-style family hub that could not only accommodate the two of them, but also entertain 20+ adults and children. With extended family members located all across the globe and in Australia, this home was to be the destination for family and friends to meet and unwind and enjoy the tranquillity of the neighboring rainforest. They enlisted the help of Ron Easterbrook and the team at Eastbuild Designer Homes to turn their dream into reality. The initial concept saw a double-storey home…

01/ COOKING WITH WOOD There is no substitute for cooking outdoors on a wood-fired oven. The smells, the aroma of the food and the shared experience of cooking the way nature intended is why the Morso Forno is such a wonderful product. Morso has a large array of accessories to complement the Forno, including different-size tables, matching gas barbecue, utensils and covers. The only thing not provided is the wine! castworks.com.au 02/ BUILT TO LAST Victoria’s multi-award-winning custom home builder, Hedger Constructions, has expanded to now service much of the state, with teams based throughout North East Victoria, Yarra Valley, High Country, Melbourne CBD, Greater Melbourne and the Surf Coast. Specialising in luxury custom homes, the team are redefining modern living with properties that transcend the traditional. Offering a total…

does reading the words “dream home” make your heart beat a mile a minute? Are your fingertips tingling a little at the prospect of starting a big build? Turning the grand home you’ve envisioned into reality can make you feel both excited and worried. You will feel like you’re riding one of the longest emotional rollercoasters, but with some planning and budgeting, you can successfully turn the key in the door of your very own dream property. Choosing a site If you haven’t yet found the ideal location for your home, make sure you look for something that will suit you and your family long term and fits in with your lifestyle requirements, according to Richard Gremmo from Gremmo Homes. “You need to be aware of your lifestyle requirements. If…

building your dream home is a lengthy and expensive process. There’s the cost of an architect, builder, trades, stamp duty, insurances, potential tree removal — the list goes on. And if you need a knock-down-rebuild, it can seriously blow the budget. But it is not all doom and gloom, says Victoria Devine, modern money maven, host of Australia’s number-one finance podcast and author of She’s on the Money. “Too many people underestimate just how much their build will cost, which often leads to unnecessary and preventable stress,” she says. “We need to fully educate ourselves about what we’re committing to before we commit to it to ensure we’re not locking ourselves into a build we cannot afford. A chat to your builder (or preferably a few different builders) will give…

A home that requires not only exceptional design and building prowess, but exquisitely well-considered positioning and landscaping, too, is a special build. This is one such home. Situated in Tasmania, the plot of this home was privy to some exceptional views over Mount Wellington, views that would ultimately mean the home needed to shuffle to a slightly newer spot than originally planned to capitalise on said views. But when you’re building a home that co-exists so perfectly with nature, it’s worth getting it right from the outset. This is a plot that already sang with an abundance of nature — the type of nature that is particularly unique to Tasmania. However these homeowners added a new layer with the addition of their own man-made lake. “This project is special because…

Sustainable design is a creative approach to design, aiming to reduce negative impacts on the environment and build a healthier, more comfortable environment for people in their homes. The term ‘sustainable design’ is thrown around though and it is often seen as an expensive endeavour, one in which many shy away from thinking they’re saving money by going the conventional route. “One of the biggest myths is that sustainable design is more expensive,” says Chris Freeburn from Ironbark Architecture. While it can be more expensive to build a higher spec home with elements such as high-performance insulation or double glazing, sustainable design can be as simple as orienting the building correctly. Chris says that “the running costs of a building with the right orientation, as well as insulation or double…

You can’t help but smile when you see this picturesque English-style farmhouse, filled with Hamptons charm and French provincial detailing. The large Queensland residence, built on two hectares of lush rural beauty, immediately exudes warmth, love and homemade goodness — perfect for Leanne, Rob and their four children. When looking to build a new family home, Leanne wanted to incorporate the charming styles of English farmhouses, stone cottages and French provincial dwellings, but needed to give it a fresh Aussie touch to suit the northern state’s tropical climate. “Leanne came to us with many ideas and clippings of homes she had seen,” says architect Angela Jamison from Jamison Architects. “We discussed how some of the characteristics of the particular styles she liked were not suited to our climate, such as…

Sitting pretty with a view over Brisbane, this home really has all the elements for a city-dwelling abode that keeps its inhabitants happy. In order to get those incredible views that can create a king of a home, sometimes risks have to be taken, and that is exactly what Monster Ideas Architects, along with Aurelien Berson Construction, championed with this abode. As their name suggests, these architects don’t shy away from a challenge. In fact, championing challenges is the bread and butter to their business, and this home was no exception. The plot was not an easy one. It was a vacant 400sqm slot with steep, sloping land rising up from a one-way street. The 10m incline from the road meant clever thinking was required to create a comfortable living…

When you go to the cinema, there are various factors that make the experience worth it. From the comfortable seating, ambient lighting and appropriate snacks to the large visuals and surround sound, it is this audio-visual duo that enables you to completely immerse yourself in the experience, making you feel as if you are part of the story. New technology is allowing us to recreate this experience in our own homes. As the paint colour on a wall can make you feel happy, and the soft texture of the sofa can comfort you, the sounds that you hear also strongly influence the overall mood of a room. What if we thought of sound in our homes the way we think of flooring or decorative accents — something that connects each…

Tucked away in one of the Snowy Mountains’ best-kept secrets, the Yaouk Valley, this prefab home holds some incredible memories. A 30-year labour of love and personal form of therapy for a returned Vietnam veteran came to a sudden halt due to ill health. With just an already excavated wine cellar, the Snowgums property was passed to a fellow war veteran, who took the challenge to finish what had been started. However, with new bushfire planning protocols, relentless weather conditions and treacherous terrain, the original desire for a traditional log house had to be rethought. “Bushfire planning changes precluded the original design for the site, so she (the current homeowner) worked with the Prefabulous team to design something that would be as equally at home among the gum trees, while…

The considerations for designing and building a display home are many. To evoke a sense of aspirational living is no easy feat, but The Kooyong executes a cutting-edge display for home buyers seeking the ultimate in contemporary luxury. Just as its namesake implies, Kooyong, meaning “resting place”, showcases a dream family forever home in which comfort and rest are foremost. “The 556sqm double-storey home captures the essence and intelligence of exceptional contemporary design, expressed through the simplicity of strong clean lines executed with exquisite precision,” explains managing director of Englehart Homes, Ron Englehart. “The Kooyong’s design showcases style and substance, combining eye-catching geometry and articulation in its facade with an impressive upper-level cantilever and an artful arrangement of renders, timbers and glazing.” Of notable design is the double garage door,…

While Tetris is a game that can leave a player feeling frustrated when all the pieces don’t fall perfectly into place, this Tetris-like home slots together effortlessly, leaving one with a sense of satisfaction and awe. In fact, rising from what was once the site of an overgrown, dilapidated bungalow, this family abode is a spectacular collection of pods placed, piled, and perched in an intriguing formation. This dwelling has a truly unique aesthetic, drawing on the style of one of Europe’s arguably most influential architects of the 20th century, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, aka Le Corbusier. “Responding to the owner’s meticulous attention to detail and love of technology and industrial design, this urban beach house is very much the Corbusian ‘machine for living’,” explains Justin Quinlan, architect and designer of The…

THEY WANTED THE COSY COUNTRY VIBE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE PERFECT RURAL ESCAPE WHERE THEY COULD HOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR WINTER GETAWAYSA A single-storey, 1980s house sat on a beautiful plot of raised, flat land surrounded by wild vegetation, established trees, a creek and horse paddocks. The existing home did not make the most of its tranquil surroundings, so the city-dwelling homeowners called on Paul Uhlmann Architects to create a rural weekend retreat for their family and friends where they could relax, entertain and enjoy their horses. Having spent time in the United States, the homeowners fell in love with the “large, red, American barns that dotted the countryside”. They wanted the cosy country vibe that would provide the perfect rural escape where they could host friends and family…

This home is a sustainability aficionado’s dream. Every corner and crevice of the space is used efficiently and effectively to create a smooth-functioning, effortless abode that balances all the elements beautifully beneath its pitched perfection. This plot of land — relatively flat — runs on an east-west axis. Prior to the build, there was just a dilapidated weatherboard residence that — while perhaps a little uninspiring — was useful in providing some materials that could be salvaged and reused for the shed and landscaping. It was just the first of many incredibly well-thought-out sustainability-driven elements to this build. Its energy-efficient prowess can be found integrated into every element of this home. Of utmost importance was the desire for a passive solar system that would enable the space to maintain optimal…

Combining iconic design, signature sound and unparalleled craftsmanship, Bang & Olufsen products represent the epitome of high-performance entertainment. Bringing Bang & Olufsen’s wide range of audio and video products to the Aussie market is Premium Sound, where a showcase of the brands’ home theatre offerings are available at the St Kilda showroom. Taking centrestage at Premium Sound are the Bang & Olufsen Beovision Harmony television and the newly launched Beolab 28 speakers – an unbeatable duo that will transform movie nights into red carpet worthy experiences. The Beovision Harmony is now available in 65”, 75” and 88”, and is designed for the ultimate cinematic and immersive audio visual experience. With a new and exciting take on the TV cabinet concept, Beovision Harmony transforms itself from an elegant piece of furniture…

No matter which way you look at this dwelling, it offers up some sort of thrilling new perspective. This is no cookie-cutter design, but a cleverly composed series of masterfully curated angles, textures and tones. With each advancing step, a new perspective reveals itself. Of course, this was intentional. Great design always starts with an intimate understanding of the site and the existing build on the site, which, in this case, was a Federation-style home. The house was not tossed out, but celebrated and used as an inspiration — and perhaps even a cornerstone — for the new space. “The home is unique due to the obvious juxtaposed building types,” explains James McNally of McNally Architects, the curators of this abode. “What I mean here is that there is an…

As you walk through the custom blackbutt entry door of this Northern Beaches home, you smell the salty-sweet scent before you see the glistening blue of the ocean ahead. Sitting on Turimetta Headland, this residence has the luxury of private, peaceful ocean views where, on a clear day, you can hear, smell and sea the ocean as you sit drinking your morning coffee. The essence of this lifestyle was the inspiration for the home and is encapsulated in the natural material palette and seamless indoor/outdoor living. “The location of this home is incredible,” says Andrew Gremmo of Gremmo Homes. “After our original meeting with the owners, we knew that they had a very clear vision of what they wanted to achieve. As the design of the home came together, we…

Founded in 2019, Ruum is revolutionising the way we build with an innovative model that rethinks the traditional pathway to architect-designed living. The traditional option of a one-off, bespoke architectural build can bring about a beautiful result but can often be a complex, arduous and sometimes overwhelming process. Ruum offers a carefully defined model, with distinct steps and cost transparency, in addition to all the benefits of architectural design. For Ruum’s founder Elliot McLaren, it was at the seven-year mark of his 15-year career journey when he noticed a chasm in the market. “I witnessed people coming into the volume building market trying to use the price transparency and upfront nature of that market to try to facilitate better outcomes,” he says. “These customers were spending more and more money,…

CLIMBING THE WALLS Interior walling is the hidden gem of your new home. Not only does it offer possibilities for a varied layout, it also provides a plethora of options when it comes to privacy, noise reduction and aesthetic appeal Interior walling may not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about your new abode, but it can be an integral tool to create insulation, privacy, sound protection, and even can offer additional fire resistance. The most common forms of interior walling are plaster and drywall, both of which have been used for many years. Plaster in particular has been used for centuries, going back as far as Egyptian or Roman times where the earliest forms of plaster were made using lime, sand, animal hair and water.…