Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3 i Grand Designs Australia Building Guide

It’s time to talk cork. We’re not talking “kitchen of the ‘70s” look, we’re talking a fresh, sleek offering from Cork Imports Australia while still embracing all the benefits of traditional cork. Featured inset, is the Calais Alloy tile soon to be seen in some pretty big commercial offerings around Australia. The tile is a slightly translucent smoky grey, which allows the beauty of the underlying grain to shine through and will suit any space. The Calais Cream is a translucent cream finish over a natural tile, which allows hints of the natural colour to peek through. As with the other recent offerings from Cork Imports, the tiles are pre-glued and pre-finished, so it’s easy to install and with minimal mess. Importing only the best Portuguese cork, Cork Imports Australia…

Enduring state-wide pandemic lockdowns may feel like a lifetime ago, but the feelings we all experienced during this period can still be remembered. Anxiety. Confusion. And most of all, boredom. Commencing in October 2020 and taking one year to complete, this stunning project by Aurelien Berson Construction was partly inspired by its environment, where lockdowns, social distancing and limited interactions were becoming a new norm. This property has literally everything the homeowners or guests could ever need in a house, and we’re not being hyperbolic in saying that. Five storeys high, it includes five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a rock-climbing wall, indoor FIFA football field, and a 20m-long pool floating on the fourth floor where children can enjoy spectacular suburban views. “It’s even party friendly for parents, with a dedicated wine…

Rylock Windows & Doors designs, specifies and manufactures quality, custom-made windows and doors from locally sourced materials with a solutions-based approach. The company’s products are designed to meet thermal comfort, BAL (bushfire attack level), acoustic, privacy, security and solar requirements. As architectural trends have seen the sizes of products increase, the performance of glazing has become even more important in shielding the interior of the home from radiant heat to deliver ultimate comfort. In 2020, Rylock chose to roll out Low-e Toughened Double Glazing with Argon Fill as a new standard specification. In cooler climates, the insulating properties of low-e glass work to reduce the amount of heat loss in a room. This will naturally regulate the home’s temperature to keep the living environment more comfortable year-round. Rylock’s custom windows…

Blue skies, fresh air and surrounded by Mother Nature in all her natural beauty. That was the environment this Castlecrag-based bungalow was steeped in. There were just two problems with the property. First, the home’s original design no longer met the needs of the homeowners and their growing family. Second, its utilitarian style looked jarringly at odds with its environment, especially in contrast to its Burley-Griffin-designed neighbouring property. So James McNally from McNally Architects set forth to create a new design that was timeless, modern and functional. The homeowners were a family of five which included two children in secondary school and another in primary school. Because of the family’s size, expansion and the ability to seamlessly move between spaces were key priorities for the redesign. Ample room was required…

Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Karndean Designflooring’s designers take pride in perfecting and curating collections so each one is unique. Combined with innovative technology and quality materials, Karndean floors last a lifetime, in both form and function, from a first home to a multi-generational family household to the house ruled by the family dog (or cat). Every space is different and every life is different. Suiting every lifestyle, Karndean floors are durable, easy to maintain, and withstand everything life throws at them — and the latest additions are no different. Sitting alongside its on-trend timber- and stone-inspired designs, game-changing enhancements to its technical specifications now provide even more versatility for consumers and designers alike with the company’s new dual-format offering allowing you to choose the design you want, in…

In Clunes, a small town in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, the volcanic soil, thanks to nearby Mount Warning, is ideal for growing macadamias and coffee beans. Liz and Warren Reece own a 100-acre macadamia plantation and together with their beloved border collie, Mac, wanted to build an entirely off-the-grid villa in the middle of the land. Nutting Hill Villa is a Tuscan-style retreat whose rendered ochre colours sit beautifully next to the macadamia trees and surrounding Australian bushland. “We wanted to build a place in a Tuscan style that was entirely off-grid and featured air flow design and insulative qualities to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter,” say Liz and Warren. Nutting Hill Villa is a 640sqm home with five formal bedrooms, large gourmet kitchen…

Using inappropriate timber species for building applications is a major cause of reduced life for timber products. WoodSolutions’ new app SpeciesSolutions is set to change this by suggesting a range of appropriate timber species for applications, and also by providing details of local suppliers. “The new SpeciesSolutions app will match your next DIY project with the correct timber species for the job,” says Sarah Downey, senior marketing and communications manager at Forest and Wood Products Australia. Using an easily navigable interface, SpeciesSolutions is a much-needed upgrade to WoodSolutions’ original Species app, which helped users match timber species to their best-suited application, such as Victorian ash for interior flooring and cupboards, but didn’t show details of timber suppliers. Now featuring a database of more than 450 timber suppliers, SpeciesSolutions has become…

Nothing says luxury like walking into a room and opening your blinds with the touch of a button. Featuring in-built motors, automated blind window treatments can be remotely raised, lowered or tilted based on schedule, sensors or on-demand. Rather than allowing the sun to heat up your home all day, by conveniently setting your automated exterior blinds to open and close during specific times of the day, you can reduce the heat inside your home and help lower your utility bills. “Automated blind control systems maximise daylight coming in and minimise glare and heat gain,” says Peter Skinner, director for Shade Factor. “Overall, it gives homeowners a comfortable, pleasant environment to live in.” Not only do automated blinds increase the convenience and comfort in your home, they’re perfect for hard-to-access…

In Wilton, Queensland, an old home once stood on a steep, elevated block of land, overlooking an undisrupted, picturesque view of Brisbane’s cityscape. The homeowners, a family with two teenage children and a furry sibling, desired a modern family home with luxury fixtures and finishes and, most importantly, a glimpse of the city at every opportunity. “This build was a very challenging one for us,” says Nick O’Shea, director of O’Shea & Sons Builders. “Due to the severity of the drop in land and the elevated nature and steepness, we had to build in reverse — starting from the ground and pool level, up to the entertaining level, alfresco terrace which is the ground level at the entry, then up a further level to the master retreat.” The Dalrymple Project…

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…

With the warmth of carpet, the elegance of hardwood timber and the colour range of floating floors, the latest cork flooring is sure to entice your imagination for your next build or renovation. Full of warmth and versatility, this delightful and eco-friendly flooring solution is making a comeback, and it’s easy to see why. For people who care about their environmental footprint, you’ll be pleased to know cork is the most environmentally friendly and naturally renewable product around. It’s harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree without harming it, and because the trees tend to live for more than two centuries, it’s a long-term naturally renewable product. With fast regeneration of the bark, cork harvesting is conducted every nine to 14 years, which actually supports the longevity of…

Old homes can stand the test of time, but sometimes, a modern update is required. For this charming Sandy Bay home originally built in the 1960s, the owners required a bigger space to meet the needs of their growing family. One of the major updates is an added extension for a new outdoor family area, carport, main bedroom, ensuite and a stair link from the carport and the garden. “We developed the design over a period of three years to enable exploration of future uses. Flexibility was important to them as the children grow and the needs of the family change,” says Rosa Douramanis, architect of Biotope Architecture and Interiors. Previously, the form of the home was simple and straightforward. Large windows, stone and timber cladding created the structure, while…

Going solar once meant installing bulky arrays and ugly racking mounted on your roof. But new, sleek, solar technology has arrived to make these cumbersome eyesores a thing of the past. Featuring an aesthetically pleasing rooftop finish, the Sunshine BIPV from GoodWe lies flush with normal roof tile panels for a subtle look, perfect for a new build or extensive renovation. Not only is it sleek, this complete solar roof tile system also maximises the available space on your rooftop to generate more solar power for your home. “The Sunshine Tile Series is compatible with traditional roofing tiles and has a toughened double-glazed structure to ensure the structural integrity of your roof,” says John Wright from GoodWe. “Equipped with roof ventilation, heat dissipation structure and dense drainage technology, the Sunshine…

From the director of Edition Office, Aaron Roberts: “Our primary design response for this project was to first recalibrate the entire project site into a large and singular terrace — one grand outdoor theatre for living which peels upwards at each title boundary to form a lush garden backdrop that would appear at every viewpoint from the living areas of the home. Within this garden platform, the house is defined by a pair of heavily textured concrete shrouds, each with its own proportion and personality, linked together by a walkway and courtyard garden. The ground-floor living and lounge spaces in each pavilion are distinct from one another, yet they connect across the central north-facing garden and courtyard. “We began the design process by reading the site and coming to terms…

The pain and long lead times of creating custom joinery are a thing of the past with the Frame collection by Kett. Kett is an Australian design studio headed up by celebrated Melbourne designer Justin Hutchinson. In 2019, Kett developed the Frame Living System, a collection of beautiful wall mounted storage. Frame was designed to enhance our everyday experience by integrating storage and technology into a seamless furniture solution, managing all the cables and screens used daily and offering the opportunity for less cluttered living. This Spring, Kett have expanded the Frame range into the bedroom and home office. Frame Office extends beauty and function into our working from home spaces, with a minimal and contemporary approach. Featuring a dedicated solid American oak desk with leather inlay, Frame Office creates…

Avid sailors Lynne and Paul first laid their eyes on this picturesque piece of Tasmania as they were sailing up the coast. Delayed due to rough weather, the couple took a drive and discovered the raw, natural beauty of the Chain of Lagoons and from that moment on they were hooked. With their hearts set on creating a retirement oasis away from the bustle of Melbourne, Paul and Lynne began the journey for their dream home. “I saw a house many years ago on the Mornington Peninsula that I really liked. That became part of our home’s design,” says Lynne. “I wanted the sun to shine through and warm the house, and it was important that every room had a view.” With no power, no roads and no running water,…

An industry leader in high-performance glazing, Miglas first designed its innovative composite timber and aluminium window system AliClad in 1994. At the time it was the first purpose-designed, all-Australian, residential glazing solution to offer homeowners maximum benefits in double glazing and energy efficiency. Now a product of choice for people who care about design, aesthetics and sustainability, it’s a stunning solution that doesn’t compromise efficiency for looks. Miglas AliClad windows and doors are genuine timber frames with durable aluminium exterior cladding — meaning you get a beautiful solid hardwood frame to add warmth to your interiors, combined with robust aluminium cladding to achieve a durable exterior. Going beyond just double glazing, AliClad adds another layer of energy efficiency, because where one material is weak, the other is strong. When combined,…

When creating your dream home, the building options can seem endless. But not every option is suitable for your unique project. Here’s a detailed breakdown to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. WALLING & CLADDING How good is your skin? Cladding is the material that makes up the external layer — or skin — of a home. Indoors, walling is the vertical material layer that segregates individual rooms into living spaces. The cladding you choose will directly affect your home’s overall aesthetic and in turn largely influences its architectural style and subsequent perceived value. But cladding does far more than that; just like roofing, it protects a home and everything in it from sun, wind and rain, as well as toxins and pollutants. It also helps to insulate your…

the prospect of building a dream home can often be fraught with many emotions — among them excitement, trepidation, and that strange feeling in your chest when you’re on the precipice of a life-changing adventure. Being empowered and informed can go a long way to helping you feel reassured throughout the building process. There are so many different factors you’re going to have to deal with when building your dream home, and this guide will help you through it all with confidence. Consider the location One of the most important things to consider when it comes to the location of your site is orientation. Most architects and builders will tell you that a north-facing orientation is best, as it allows for passive solar design. Put simply, the way your home…

a mid the excitement of designing your dream home and choosing all the bells and whistles to create the dwelling of your dreams, there are some less exciting — but no less important — factors to consider as well. One of the more important things to keep in mind is your budget! Managing your budget (and expectations) The first step in budgeting for your build is to consider all your current expenses, and seeking out independent financial advice from your bank, mortgage broker or financial planner to gain a realistic outlook on how you can make your finances work for your build. “Tracking your income, alongside your regular living expenses such as food, travel, entertainment, education, rent, utilities and other costs will help you calculate what you can afford to…

When you’re hosting intimate get-togethers or large parties, a common concern that pops up is ensuring your guests stay entertained. Everyone has different tastes, so catering to the needs of your guests can prove to be a difficult challenge at times. But in the case of this stunning project from Paul Uhlmann Architects, this concern ceases to exist. The homeowners — a young Brisbane-based family with four children — wanted a great entertaining space to enjoy with their guests. With the residence having picturesque riverfront views, it made sense to show it off in all its glory with a unique space that entertained any kind of guests, whether it be lovers of wine or sportier types who enjoy a game of tennis. That said, it was important for the new…

Developer, Elyte Focus, had a substantial block in the leafy suburb of Alphington, Victoria, with ideas for the planning and development of a set of townhouses. In a collaborative effort between developer, structural engineer and builders Green Sheep Collective, four innovative townhouses now line the tree-lined street and prove that smart, sustainable design can create bright, comfortable and high-quality, medium-density housing. “The client — a developer, builder and architect all in one — wanted to provide an exceptional product that stood out in the townhouse market. Value was placed on sustainable design as well as quality construction and architectural detailing,” says Shae Parker McCashen from Green Sheep Collective. A typical challenge with townhouses is creating bright interiors with good ventilation. Green Sheep Collective suggested a “courtyard model” to the developer,…

Kalora is an Australian-owned designer and manufacturer of wood-and gas-fire heaters. The company’s service and products are undeniably a cut above the rest, with outstanding craftsmanship in build quality. There’s also a vast product range that offers the flexibility to suit your unique heating requirements. Sixty years of design and build experience goes into creating every Kalora heating product. In a competitive marketplace, it takes diligence, quality and time-honoured craftsmanship to forge ahead with new product innovations. The company has diversified and embraced new technology to deliver state-of-the-art heating solutions. Staying toasty warm this winter has never looked so good. The product range is sleek by design, with multiple fascia options. The team crafts stunning fireplaces that warm the home and create a beautiful ambience. Kalora products are crafted and…

It doesn’t always take a knockdown-rebuild job to create one’s dream family home. This Brighton home simply needed a refresh and a little more space to accommodate the growing family — a single mother with two teenage children and a furry friend. Inspiration for the remodel was drawn from the home’s original brick facade that the homeowner wanted to retain. The home’s location — just a hop, skip and a jump from The Bay, in Victoria’s waterside town of Brighton — would also inspire the bright coastal interior. As space was another aspect of the brief, architect Rob Harris from Elements of Home, together with builders from JTDODD, would incorporate an existing carport to create more internal living space. “There were multiple variations of the design presented to the owner,”…

Featured high among the headlands on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, this uber-functional luxury dwelling artfully fuses a bold, monochromatic colour palette with rich textural finishes to generate a brilliantly powerful street presence sure to captivate all those passing by. Stepping through the oversize pivot front door, you are immediately greeted with a modern contemporary layout that complements the steep sloping site. There are numerous nods to the importance of solar passive design, allowing the home to be flooded in refreshing natural light while simultaneously encouraging natural airflow. Double-glazed commercial windows and vast, cantilevered balconies provide a seamless connection between the home’s indoor and outdoor living spaces. The heart of the open-plan upper level of the home is the contemporary kitchen, complete with honed marble benchtops and chic matt black joinery. Ensuring…

Enjoy the unparalleled experience of clean, green energy stored safely in GoodWe solar batteries. GoodWe is a trusted, world-leading PV inverter and energy storage systems manufacturer offering the largest product portfolio of solar solutions for homes and businesses, no matter how big or small. Regarded as the number-one storage inverter globally, GoodWe offers an extensive portfolio of products and solutions, ensuring that quality and performance go hand-in-hand. The company’s comprehensive range of inverters converts solar energy to usable electricity and manages the energy efficiently to power your home, store it in solar batteries or feed it back to the power grid, reducing your bills and providing you with reliable power. With unmatched flexibility and superior safety features, GoodWe solar solutions can accommodate any type of location, including partial shading on…

In Thornton, Victoria, the jagged ridges of the Cathedral Ranges are a focal point for locals and visitors. With the opportunity to build on private land with undisturbed views of this spectacular natural artform, the homeowners of Cathedral Nest wanted to make the land proud. The brief was to create a modern farmhouse using recycled materials and earthy tones while offering entertaining space both indoors and out to ensure the landscape can be enjoyed, irrespective of the season. Cathedral Nest consists of 793sqm of living and garage space, as well as 323sqm of pool and decking. It is certainly an impressive home that was built on an effective relationship between client and builder. Many aspects of this home included key communication between both parties in order to be successful. A…

01/WARM THE SOUL The S120 by Castworks is an architectural masterpiece and perfect for those who want their fire to be the centrepiece of a room. Clever convection cladding means the heat trapped in the cavity can be circulated either back into the same room or other rooms. Like all Austroflamm fires, the large firebox uses the patented Keramott firebrick that is a special product developed exclusively by Austroflamm. This material excels by creating an exceptional ratio between thermal insulation and heat conduction, so the combustion chamber reaches higher temperatures sooner. It’s a clean, low-emission combustion keeping the glass exceptionally clean and the firebricks white. castworks.com.au 02/SECURE AND SAFE Thermal comfort, sound protection and security are on the wish list of most homeowners. Paarhammer Windows & Doors meets all of…