D is for Design icon
bliving Home
D is for Design icon This home is recognised as an Australian icon in a new book. Story by Margaret de Silva
Built-in furniture is practical and versatile
be a very different type of project than working on a site where there’s no view, it faces north-west and it’s pretty small,” he explains. The challenge saw him turn to traditions from other cultures for inspiration. Much like Australia itself, these influences are a mix from different corners of the globe, with Middle Eastern and Japanese traditions particularly well-suited to Brisbane’s hot climate and the need to maximise space within the building. Some of the methods used include creating an elongated entry sequence between a garden wall and the façade of the house, through a small grove of trees; light-reflecting courtyards; mixing large and small elements throughout the home to help spaces seem more generous than they actually are; and creating a versatile series of rooms rather than one open-plan living area which is favoured by many modern designers. The mix of small and large is evident throughout the home. Some of the doors, for example, are smaller and the building itself appears small from
*Retail customers only. Applies to Dulux 250ml Sample Pot (white base only). Valid 31/1/12
SEE IN STORE FOR DETAILS
Call us for your FREE MEAUSURE & QUOTE 40 bmag.com.au I Read Brisbane’s Best
1800 016 016
Inspirations Bribie Island Cnr Coolgarra Ave & Goodwin Drv Ph: 3408 3733 Inspirations Caboolture 9 Henzell Rd - Ph: 5432 3805 Inspirations Capalaba 133 Redland Bay Rd - Ph: 3245 5211
Inspirations Kedron 271 Gympie Rd - Ph: 3350 4666 Inspirations Kippa-Ring 186 Anzac Ave - Ph: 3283 1233 Inspirations Newmarket Cnr Enoggera Rd & Newmarket Rd Ph: 3352 5466
www.inspirationsPaint.com.au
Inspirations Waterford 954 Kingston Rd Ph: 3805 6526
7 GREAT LOCATIONS
SDP0089_225
L
ight and space are vital to any home but these elements became crucial to the design of an iconic home hidden away on a small block in New Farm. Known as the “D House”, the property designed by Donovan Hill director Timothy Hill is tucked away on a modest 310 square metre subdivision and is the only Brisbane home selected in a new book celebrating innovative Australian design, 70/80/90 Iconic Australian Homes: Three decades of domestic architecture by Karen McCartney. In the book Hill says that it is only now, 12 years after completion, that the house has evolved to a point where its maturity meets their original intention through the weathering of materials and the changing nature of the landscaping. By Hill’s own admission, the New Farm block was a “dud site” compared to the other projects showcased in the book. “Most of the other sites have got latent spectacle and making a building that relies on the spectacle of the site or the fantastic characteristics of the site does turn out to
courtyard walls, allowing for gentle light and less glare in the interior. The book’s author Karen McCartney praises the D The pond separates the private bedrooms from the more public living area House for being “exceptional because to the use of built-in furniture. For example, the it overtly engages with its urban context in a way that no other house represented in the bench-style seat in the living area can double book does.” Hill likes the description and as a bed, play bench, project spot or any other is flattered that even though the building is use required. “You can build it into all sorts of residential, it is occasionally mistaken for other formations that you could never do with something else thanks to its design and urban sofas,” he says. location. “People offer to buy the furniture The garden is the principle space of the because they mistake it for a shop, which is home – a very different idea to the classic very sweet and I take as a great compliment,” Queenslander where the focus is on the he says. building’s beauty. “This building has two enclosed gardens with a bit of occupation 70/80/90 Iconic Australian Homes: Three decades between them and the focus is really on those of domestic architecture by Karen McCartney, is published by Murdoch Books, RRP$79.99. gardens,” Hill explains. Light reflects off the
Photography by Michael Wee
the street, but one very large window helps the space seem larger. There are very few cupboards in the The influence of Japan is evident in the serenity of the fish pond home but there is a large storeroom accessed through sliding wooden doors that and what Hill describes as a “massively lead to a serene fish pond. “It’s got a miniature oversized laundry” to compensate. This means hill and a miniature lake, it’s straight out of the house does not rely on cupboards for Japan,” he says. “They are very well practised at decoration which gives it a timeless style. making houses in tight spaces.” The home is divided into three areas – the Separating the bedrooms allows for living area; the kitchen, positioned behind a versatility, as these rooms could be used for masonry wall; and the private area consisting consulting rooms or offices. The separation of of two bedrooms, a large bathroom and the the kitchen from the living and dining area also spacious laundry/storage room. allows for a “sense of occasion” and the main The Middle Eastern tradition is evident in the blurring of outdoor and indoor living space, room becomes more flexible. Although it seems like a contradiction of while Japanese influence can be seen with terms, Hill says the house is also versatile due the two bedrooms that can be independently
Read Brisbane’s Best I bmag.com.au 41
D is for Design icon This home is recognised as an Australian icon in a new book. Story by Margaret de Silva
Built-in furniture is practical and versatile
be a very different type of project than working on a site where there’s no view, it faces north-west and it’s pretty small,” he explains. The challenge saw him turn to traditions from other cultures for inspiration. Much like Australia itself, these influences are a mix from different corners of the globe, with Middle Eastern and Japanese traditions particularly well-suited to Brisbane’s hot climate and the need to maximise space within the building. Some of the methods used include creating an elongated entry sequence between a garden wall and the façade of the house, through a small grove of trees; light-reflecting courtyards; mixing large and small elements throughout the home to help spaces seem more generous than they actually are; and creating a versatile series of rooms rather than one open-plan living area which is favoured by many modern designers. The mix of small and large is evident throughout the home. Some of the doors, for example, are smaller and the building itself appears small from
*Retail customers only. Applies to Dulux 250ml Sample Pot (white base only). Valid 31/1/12
SEE IN STORE FOR DETAILS
Call us for your FREE MEAUSURE & QUOTE 40 bmag.com.au I Read Brisbane’s Best
1800 016 016
Inspirations Bribie Island Cnr Coolgarra Ave & Goodwin Drv Ph: 3408 3733 Inspirations Caboolture 9 Henzell Rd - Ph: 5432 3805 Inspirations Capalaba 133 Redland Bay Rd - Ph: 3245 5211
Inspirations Kedron 271 Gympie Rd - Ph: 3350 4666 Inspirations Kippa-Ring 186 Anzac Ave - Ph: 3283 1233 Inspirations Newmarket Cnr Enoggera Rd & Newmarket Rd Ph: 3352 5466
www.inspirationsPaint.com.au
Inspirations Waterford 954 Kingston Rd Ph: 3805 6526
7 GREAT LOCATIONS
SDP0089_225
L
ight and space are vital to any home but these elements became crucial to the design of an iconic home hidden away on a small block in New Farm. Known as the “D House”, the property designed by Donovan Hill director Timothy Hill is tucked away on a modest 310 square metre subdivision and is the only Brisbane home selected in a new book celebrating innovative Australian design, 70/80/90 Iconic Australian Homes: Three decades of domestic architecture by Karen McCartney. In the book Hill says that it is only now, 12 years after completion, that the house has evolved to a point where its maturity meets their original intention through the weathering of materials and the changing nature of the landscaping. By Hill’s own admission, the New Farm block was a “dud site” compared to the other projects showcased in the book. “Most of the other sites have got latent spectacle and making a building that relies on the spectacle of the site or the fantastic characteristics of the site does turn out to
courtyard walls, allowing for gentle light and less glare in the interior. The book’s author Karen McCartney praises the D The pond separates the private bedrooms from the more public living area House for being “exceptional because to the use of built-in furniture. For example, the it overtly engages with its urban context in a way that no other house represented in the bench-style seat in the living area can double book does.” Hill likes the description and as a bed, play bench, project spot or any other is flattered that even though the building is use required. “You can build it into all sorts of residential, it is occasionally mistaken for other formations that you could never do with something else thanks to its design and urban sofas,” he says. location. “People offer to buy the furniture The garden is the principle space of the because they mistake it for a shop, which is home – a very different idea to the classic very sweet and I take as a great compliment,” Queenslander where the focus is on the he says. building’s beauty. “This building has two enclosed gardens with a bit of occupation 70/80/90 Iconic Australian Homes: Three decades between them and the focus is really on those of domestic architecture by Karen McCartney, is published by Murdoch Books, RRP$79.99. gardens,” Hill explains. Light reflects off the
Photography by Michael Wee
the street, but one very large window helps the space seem larger. There are very few cupboards in the The influence of Japan is evident in the serenity of the fish pond home but there is a large storeroom accessed through sliding wooden doors that and what Hill describes as a “massively lead to a serene fish pond. “It’s got a miniature oversized laundry” to compensate. This means hill and a miniature lake, it’s straight out of the house does not rely on cupboards for Japan,” he says. “They are very well practised at decoration which gives it a timeless style. making houses in tight spaces.” The home is divided into three areas – the Separating the bedrooms allows for living area; the kitchen, positioned behind a versatility, as these rooms could be used for masonry wall; and the private area consisting consulting rooms or offices. The separation of of two bedrooms, a large bathroom and the the kitchen from the living and dining area also spacious laundry/storage room. allows for a “sense of occasion” and the main The Middle Eastern tradition is evident in the blurring of outdoor and indoor living space, room becomes more flexible. Although it seems like a contradiction of while Japanese influence can be seen with terms, Hill says the house is also versatile due the two bedrooms that can be independently
Read Brisbane’s Best I bmag.com.au 41
