Tabla de contenidos para November issue #25.4 en BuildHome

With land scarce in so many prime locations, small and narrow lots have become commonplace. While these sites can pose certain design and construction challenges, with some clever thinking and the help of an experienced builder, you can have a home on a small lot that will meet your every need. We talked to some leading home builders and asked them to share their expert advice on how to maximise a limited site’s potential and design a home that will feel light, airy and spacious. We also called on the experts to take us through some of the latest, most exciting trends in home building. These are the must-haves that modern families are demanding and the common thread is making homes more comfortable, more sustainable, more flexible, easier to run…

Today, houses are bigger, blocks smaller so the amount of outdoor space many of us are left with is limited. Living in townhouses and duplexes, where pocket-sized gardens are the norm, is also on the rise. While having a small outdoor area doesn’t prevent you from partaking in all the joys of an alfresco lifestyle, there is an art to making the most of petite spaces as well as a few tried-and-tested design tricks you can employ. SIMPLE IS BEST “Balance, proportion and simplicity are my main rules when designing a small space or courtyard. Keeping the material and planting palette simple doesn’t mean boring, and selecting planting layers with a similar tone, but offering strong textural contrast will make your space feel calm but still full of character —…

When a couple in their 30s with a one-year-old daughter purchased a small 1970s brick veneer home on stumps, they felt there was only one choice: knock it down and rebuild something amazing. The duo wanted a home with the luxury and feel of a resort-style five-star Dubai hotel, which they achieved through such fine details as lighting, large windows and architectural open space. They also wanted the home to have a lot of natural light and to use the entire block while remaining on just one level. The owners’ new four-bedroom home was designed to suit their lifestyle and to serve as their “forever” home. Project managers Perpetual Projects faced the challenges of the brief — to make use of the whole 800sqm oddly shaped block and keep it…

Known for its historic bathing boxes and white-sand beach, Edithvale has long attracted people eager to live the leisurely coastal lifestyle. Finding a beachfront spot to build on isn’t easy and when one comes up, making the most of it is a priority. In this instance, a decision was made to build two townhouses. Designed by Jason and Jorja Gec of Jarchitecture, the townhouses face the beach at one end and a quiet cul-de-sac at the other. “Given the site’s contextual tension between urbanism and landscape, the design is squeezed and defensive looking at one end and at the other end, it expands to embrace the beachfront,” says Jason. “As a response to the harsh coastal environment and the sea’s destructive power, the materials palette works on the premise of…

For an increasing number of families, building a duplex is both a lifestyle choice and a canny investment. This modern duplex, designed by Damour Design and built by Oscar George Projects, is located in Northmead, a suburb in Sydney's west, and is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when you place yourself in the hands of a skilled custom builder. “Our clients appreciate the good use of space. Typically, this means ample storage throughout the home, rooms full of natural light and, of course, multifunctional, family-friendly living spaces,” says Charlie Abdul Ahad, director of Oscar George Projects. “This duplex project is a perfect example of how best to let natural light flow through a dwelling. Here we achieved that through the creation of a gorgeous void in each…

The charming coastal town of Flinders on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula holds many treasures — one is this architect-designed pavilion–style holiday home. From the drawing board of Alishia Minett-Johnson, founder of Minett Studio Architecture & Design, the home responds to the owners’ desire for an abode that would feel comfortable in scale when they were home alone yet easily “open up” to accommodate guests with no loss of privacy. “Although the site itself didn’t capture any views, we decided to prioritise the courtyard and provide key landscape connections with a breezeway and a private garden sanctuary to the master ensuite,” explains Alishia. “Connections were important, linking the exterior to interior spaces and each pavilion with the next. This home echoes the poetic notion of a courtyard house surrounded by living pavilions.”…

A true visionary is how one could describe Melissa Leenman, the proud owner of Belle Heath, a guest house located an hour’s drive north-west of Sydney in the magnificent Hawkesbury region. An adults-only retreat, Belle Heath has proven a great success, as a guest house and an events venue. “We knew we could run a guest house,” explains Melissa, “but we are very happy that it has become busier and that it is expanding into different areas. It fulfils the creative in me.” And creative she is. Belle Heath, known for Melissa’s signature style — namely, lots of white, pretty backdrops and an over-arching sense of simplicity — is now a popular photo shoot location for fashion, furniture and homeware companies. Also on offer are small day-only events such as…

Established in 1995, Gabrael House Demolition Sydney is one of the fastest growing demolition companies in Sydney with a team dedicated to achieving one very important objective: to provide customers with the best possible service at a competitive market price. “We specialise in house demolition, but our projects can range from something as minor as removing a shed, garage or carport to a major undertaking such as removing the entire house,” says Janette Daoud, manager of Gabrael House Demolition Sydney. “We offer a comprehensive range of demolition services and are equipped to completely clear a site and prime the plot of land for new development. We also specialise in asbestos removal, site remediation and site preparation.” A trusted company with 20-plus years of experience, Gabrael House Demolition Sydney stands out…

While buying shoes that are the height of fashion might well be a worthwhile indulgence, making decisions about the look and function of your home on transitory fads is not. That doesn’t mean, however, that trends in home building are to be ignored because they often reveal some very important innovations and leaps in thinking about how spaces can be best used and homes made more comfortable and easy to live in. We asked some of Australia’s leading experts to talk us through a few of the most important design trends. GOING FOR GREEN “The use of solar power is a trend that is significantly up and coming,” says Janelle Miles, Porter Davis’ World of Style Queensland lead interior designer. “Consumers are becoming increasingly educated and mindful of their impact…

Windows can be a way to allow in cooling summer breezes and warm winter sunshine, and invite in natural light. The right style of window can highlight a picturesque view and be a built architectural component that is a unique feature of a home. Of course, windows also enhance energy efficiency and act as a buffer to street noise. Beautiful and distinctive windows can also increase the value and look of your home. So let’s go window shopping … Window styles are available in a multitude of designs, from sliding, hinged, louvred, double-hung, casement, bifold, bay and more. Skylights also are a type of window; instead of views to a garden, they’re a window to the sky. Windows may create a dramatic and memorable entry to a home while windows…

Poolscapes have come a long way in recent years, now serving as key features of the architecture of a home and a rallying point for social gatherings. The demand for pools and great outdoor living spaces is certainly increasing. The more that technology surrounds us, the more we value getting outdoors, exercising and having fun. Downtime is important and we want to make it count — having a pool makes it easy to connect with friends and family. Pools themselves have developed, too, with features like negative edges, acrylic windows and in-floor cleaning, but it is the design of the entire outdoor space that really makes the project, setting the right ambience and wrapping everything together. Pool areas are no longer just a place to swim; they are well-planned relaxation…

Where once stood an old weatherboard house, now proudly stands Samurai Duplex — a testament to the owners’ passion for Japanese culture and architecture, and a compelling example of how an architect-designed duplex can add character to a neighbourhood. The architect, Sebastiano Ghezzi of SG2 Design, was given a clear goal: to deliver twin duplex townhouses that would offer a point of difference, have a design aesthetic that would appeal to the owners and respect the context of the immediate surrounds, a quiet street in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell. There were practical considerations, too, such as maximising the floor area of each unit, welcoming in as much light as possible and ensuring the dwellings would be low maintenance and energy-efficient. The latter Sebastiano addressed through solar orientation and sensitive…

Q. WHAT DREW YOU TO THE BUILDING INDUSTRY? A. I was attracted to building when I was a teenager and studied carpentry straight out of high school. I love being in a job where I can be hands on and am able to create something from the ground up. I like building strong relationships with my clients and the gratification of seeing out a job from start to finish. Q. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS? A. We are new home builders, specialising in architecturally designed, custom-built homes and luxury duplexes across Western Sydney and the Hills District. Our mission is ‘quality, on time’, which means we are committed to building high-quality properties in a timely manner. We are only as good as our last build, so we continually push…

The impact of this home’s elongated and dissected form induces an immediate sense of awe. Like a cake with a slice cut off the end, the home, dubbed Iron Maiden, celebrates the local context and history of the site on Sydney’s Lower North Shore in a considered and contemporary manner. The home is made up of dual structures connected via a central pond and accessed using connecting walkways. The clients were returning to Australia from Hong Kong, where they’d spent years living in apartments. Looking to capitalise on the pleasant Sydney climate and to welcome sun into every corner of the home, they requested a design that opened to the north and engaged with passive design principles to regulate the comfort of its spaces and encourage a strong outdoor connection.…

It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home and for very good reason — it is. It’s where family meals are prepared and everyone congregates to discuss their day and catch up. And it’s always the social hub when entertaining. Getting the design of your kitchen right is essential, whether it’s a custom or kit home, and it’s something that steel kit home specialists Paal Kit Homes prioritises. THE MAGIC TRIANGLE Kitchen designers often talk about the importance of the “kitchen triangle” in ensuring the most efficient layout possible. Major tasks are generally carried out between the cooktop, sink and refrigerator — join these three points together and it creates a triangle. “The trick is to position these three points so that they’re not too far…

DESIGN DOES MATTER The Building Designers Association of Victoria, the not-for-profit organisation behind the state’s annual Building Design Awards, has launched a new name, Design Matters, and a complete rebrand. The organisation’s new vision is to broaden, build and embed the appreciation of good design into Australian culture. Design Matters President, Dominique Hunter, said the rebrand reflects the organisation’s change in membership and service offering. “Our organisation has grown to become one of the largest building design associations in Australia,” said Ms Hunter. “We have expanded our member base to represent building designers, draftspersons, interior designers, architects, service designers, energy raters and a range of other disciplines from the building supply chain.” The roll-out of the new brand includes a new website, building designer tools aimed at improving client knowledge…

Small lots are now commonplace but when it comes to the house you build on them, well, small can be beautiful. Lots of limited size, which includes narrow building sites, can be found in and around many city areas as well as in suburban subdivisions. The demand is so high that the leading volume home builders have developed designs specifically to make the most of these smaller, more challenging spaces. HOW SMALL IS SMALL? Everyone will have a slightly different idea about what constitutes small but, says Dylan Athaide, marketing manager for NSW-based McDonald Jones Homes, “We would consider a small site to be a block around the 250sqm range, while a narrow site would be anything between 12.5m and 10m wide. Both are becoming more common. In particular, narrow…

An energy-efficient home is a comfortable home. It’s easier to heat and cool, it saves you in energy costs, and it can be any style you like. What’s more, an energy-efficient home is a lot more affordable to build than you might think, especially when you’re guided by the experts. DPE House Design Studio specialises in designing energy-efficient houses that are individually tailored to meet each site’s specific requirements, the climatic conditions, and the style preferences of the client. Energy-efficient features can be incorporated into houses of all design styles, meaning there is no need to make aesthetic compromises. The main focus is to ensure your new home achieves the highest energy rating possible to suit your site, budget and favoured style. Each individual home design begins with a thorough…

There’s nothing like a bit of good old-fashioned teamwork to get a job done right. Mont Albert B&W House is the brainchild of three expert teams: Ben Callery Architects, homeowners and landscape designers Sam and Kirsten Egan, and kitchen manufacturers/cabinetmakers Cantilever Interiors. Together they have fashioned a home and an L-shaped extension conducive to family-friendly entertaining and outdoor living. Having three kids under eight meant landscape designers Sam and Kirsten were in need of a house that provided more space than the site’s original brick home could afford. To maximise living space, an extension was added to the rear and comprises an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area, plus a bathroom. The extension facilitates the owners’ desire for a strong connection to the backyard and the northern sun. The remainder…

One of the benefits of working with a custom builder is that you get the exact house you want, inside and out. Having bought land in Bella Vista, in Sydney’s north-west, the owners set about finding a company they could trust to design and build a home that would meet their very particular needs. One of the first steps they took was to visit Young Homes’ display home, The Platinum. They were impressed by the design, which is decidedly modern, the attention to detail and the high level of finish. Although they loved the home’s contemporary interior, they envisaged a classic exterior for their own home, which for Young Homes was not a problem. In fact, it was an opportunity to help the family get their dream design and experience…

A universally designed home aims to create inclusive living spaces that make daily life simpler and safer for the occupants, young or old, able-bodied or mobility-challenged. These homes are easy to enter, navigate and adapt to changing circumstances. In essence, universally designed digs are the ultimate example of future-proofing as they can accommodate a family’s changing needs — both the anticipated and unexpected. Pavilion Lutzow Project is a case study in universal housing and homes that are designed to take you into the future. Looking to downsize but unimpressed with the idea of traditional aged care, John and Maree O’Shea envisaged an accessible but stylish home where their nine grandkids could visit and John could get around unimpeded. An accident that left John with lifelong mobility challenges and limitations was…

No longer is a media room the purview of the wealthy. With the advent of more affordable technology, enjoying the full at-home cinema experience is within the reach of many. Most newly-built homes will include a media room where movies, your favourite TV shows, sporting events and gaming can be enjoyed, in privacy, on a big screen and with a top-quality sound system. A crucial element is acoustic insulation. Sound transmitting through internal walls can be a problem anywhere in the house, but in a media room, keeping unwanted or distracting sounds in their place is even more critical to ensure the comfort of occupants outside that room. Standard internal walls are usually constructed with a timber frame and a thin layer of plasterboard on each side. If left empty,…