Innehållsförteckning för Issue 142 October 2021 från Houses

There’s no denying that small spaces have big appeal. The limitations of modest scales and budgets often give rise to inventive design outcomes, and, in residential architecture, this smallness evokes an intimacy and humbleness that is particularly well-suited to the everyday patterns of domestic life. The homes in this issue recast the constraints of small scales and budgets, confidently striking a balance between economy and exuberance. At Riley’s Terrace (page 62), Adele McNab Architects finds spatial richness in small dimensions in the redesign of a Sydney terrace; in Arthur Circus (page 98), Circa Morris-Nunn Chua crafts a quietly composed addition to a diminutive cottage in a heritage precinct of Hobart; and in Northcote Terrace (cover and page 90), Lovell Burton Architecture responds to a narrow site with a precisely detailed…

Alexa Kempton What were you looking for when you first started to research architects? Justin We began by contacting a few different practices, based initially on the work we saw on their websites. As we knew that we were going to work with an architect over a long period of time, it was important to us that we would be able to develop trust and rapport with the people we worked with. Some of the architects we contacted weren’t that friendly, and others didn't get back to us at all. Our initial interactions were an important part of helping us make this decision. Kimberley We had a strong preference to use materials that had a minimal environmental impact, as well as low toxicity, and felt that this might not be…

There’s a sense of deliberate eclecticism to Nikolai Kotlarczyk’s portfolio, undoubtedly bred from a strong graphic expression that incorporates bold curves and rationalized forms, as well as the odd decorative flourish. The Mullumbimby-born, Copenhagen-based furniture and lighting designer takes visual cues from all around and works hard to manifest them as purposeful designs relevant to interior environments. “My inspiration comes from outside the world of design and I combine this with my knowledge of design history and the contemporary design industry,” he explains. “Then I ‘cook down’ or re-contextualize these inspirations into refined, beautiful products.” Nikolai’s approach is highly considered and, while simplicity drives the aesthetic, his penchant for narrative-laden concepts imbues each piece with personality, evoking curiosity and a sense of playfulness. In the Royce armchair for SP01, for…

Roofing: Custom Orb by Lysaght in ‘Matt Monument’; Fielders Heritage Barrel Rolled galvanized roofing External walls: Dincel formwork; Blackbutt timber in Maddison oil ‘Black Tint’ Internal walls: Tasmanian oak from Woodley and Co in Osmo Polyx-Oil in ‘White’ Windows: Blackbutt frames in Maddison oil ‘Black Tint’ (external); Tasmanian oak from Woodley and Co in Osmo Polyx-Oil in ‘White’ Doors: Blackbutt frames in Maddison oil ‘Black Tint’ (external); Tasmanian oak veneer in matt polyurethane; Tasmanian oak sliding doors in Osmo Polyx-Oil in ‘White’ Flooring: Tasmanian oak in Osmo Polyx-Oil in ‘White’ and ‘Matt’ Lighting: Spotlights and downlights from Unios; dining room pendant from Touching Space; Bernard Schottlander Mantis wall lamp Kitchen: Tasmanian oak veneer joinery in ‘Black Japan’; Neff oven, rangehood, induction cooktop and integrated dishwasher; Liebherr integrated refrigerator, freezer and…

Dr Silvia Micheli Writer Dr Silvia Micheli is a designer and senior lecturer at The University of Queensland, where she teaches architectural and urban design. Casey Bryant Writer Casey Bryant is a director of Trias, a young architecture studio based in Sydney with a focus on thoughtful and thorough residential projects that celebrate less but better. Matt Sansom Photographer Matt Sansom is an architectural photographer based in Hobart. His experience in photographing remote Tasmanian landscapes coupled with working as a registered architect give him an insightful and patient approach to the nuances of architectural photography. Genevieve Lilley Writer Genevieve Lilley is an architect practising in Tasmania and New South Wales. She also designs modern jewellery, and sits on the Tasmanian Heritage Council.…

Roofing: Ripple Iron Corten steel with custom profile; ZC Technical 1.5 mm Corten steel with custom profile; Kingspan insulation External walls: Ripple Iron Corten steel with custom profile Internal walls: Austral Masonry concrete blocks; Eco Outdoor honed limestone; Mutina Azulej tiles in ‘Nero Flores’ and Mate tiles in ‘Terra Oliva,’ both from Ace Stone and Tiles; Sharp Plywood spotted gum veneer; smooth Venetian plaster in custom grey Windows: Breezway louvres; Aneeta sashless double-hung windows; Viridian clear grey and Lumina Cloud glass in grey with additional acid etching Doors: Internal doors in Dulux ‘Heritage Green’ and Osmo oil; custom steel entry door with Lumina Cloud glass; Brio sliding louvre door tracks Flooring: Mutina Azulej tiles in ‘Nero Flores’ and Mate tiles in ‘Terra Oliva’ from Ace Stone and Tiles; Bremworth Galet…

Roofing: Galvanized Enseam from Lysaght External walls: Galvanized Enseam from Lysaght; recycled bricks Internal walls: Murobond Murowash in ‘Raw Earth’ and ‘Sand 30 percent’ (on recycled bricks); Dulux Wash and Wear in ‘Natural White’ Windows: Viridian Lightbridge in ‘Clear’; AWS aluminium windows in ‘Natural Anodized’ Doors: AWS aluminium doors in ‘Natural Anodized’; Designer Doorware hardware in ‘Brushed Stainless Steel’; Frits Jurgens pivot hinges Flooring: Tongue n Groove oak floorboards in ‘Otta’; burnished concrete with clear sealer; Halcyon Lake carpet in ‘Kore 193 Haze’ and rug in ‘Chromatic Seafoam’ Lighting: Masson for LightTullyspot spotlight in ‘White’; Nelson Ball Bubble Pendant from Herman Miller; Banks Lantern from The Society Inc; Flos Mini Glo-Ball wall lights Kitchen: Fisher and Paykel appliances; Signorino terrazzo benchtop in ‘Bianco Neve’; European oak veneer joinery with custom…

The call to nature is in us all. That yearning to be out of doors, reconnecting with our wilder selves, grows ever stronger the more we modernize and urbanize. It’s a paradox, then, that architects – makers of the built environment – should preoccupy themselves with retreats in nature. And yet they do, with a cultish obsession. In Australia, bush sites, rural fields and coastal dunes are all favourite places for architects to test their ideas about utility of purpose and poetics of form on a somewhat miniature scale. Located in Berry on New South Wales’s south coast, Permanent Camping II (2020) by Sydney architect Rob Brown of Casey Brown Architecture looks out to the ocean from a hillside on Dharawal Country. It’s a long-awaited sequel to his Permanent Camping…

When you learn that Sydney practice Architect George was founded by an architect named Dean Williams, your first thought might justifiably be, “Then who is George?” As Dean explains it, George is no one in particular. George is a hypothetical person who represents whomever wants to be involved in the practice now and in the future. With cautious optimism, Dean hopes that Architect George will expand quite quickly, morphing from sole practitioner into a collective of collaborators who are all “in it” together. This philosophy suggests trust and generosity, qualities that Dean explains stem from a strong desire not to work on his own but to be surrounded by other people and different ideas. Architect George’s first commission, House in Newtown, was the perfect project on which Dean could test…

It is easy to be beguiled by the charm of the rows of nineteenth-century terrace houses when walking the streets of Sydney. Each home, near-identical to its neighbours and yet often very slightly different, marks the passing of time and the stories of the people who have lived there. However, as anyone who has ever lived in a terrace house can attest, this housing typology has its downsides. Terrace houses are typically dark and lack communication to the exterior environment, and the infamous midnight downstairs “dunny run” is enough to test the mettle of even the hardiest. Transforming a Victorian terrace into a home that is suited to contemporary living is a challenge, with many projects struggling to truly innovate and therefore delivering a compromise. For her own family home…

01 V Collection Crafted in an array of natural colours and finishes, Havwoods V Collection features European oak engineered timber suitable for floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, bespoke joinery and more. Pictured is the Ryde Rustic finish, a versatile colour to suit most spaces. havwoods.com 02 Living Pigments Laminex has added a number of new finishes to its range, including the seven solid colour decors that make up the Living Pigments collection. The forest green of Hushed Pine contrasts with the dusty red of Moroccan Clay and the dramatic blackened hues of Kalamata. laminex.com.au 03 First Masterpieces London designer Ilse Crawford has developed a new colour palette for a limited release of the first chairs that Hans J. Wegner created for Danish furniture manufacturer Carl Hansen and Son. Crawford uses five…

Roofing: Lysaght Custom Orb in Zincalume External walls: Off-form concrete in CCS Streetscape sealer; blackbutt batten screen in Feast Watson oil; Paraline glass blocks; James Hardie Zero Lot wall system in Dulux ‘Domino’ Internal walls: Blackbutt veneer in Feast Watson Fine Buffing oil; plasterboard in Dulux ‘Domino’; VJ boards in Dulux ‘Whisper White’; blackbutt timber ceiling in Feast Watson oil Windows and doors: New Guinea rosewood frames with oil finish; Aneeta sashless windows with black powdercoated frames Flooring: Concrete slab, light grind and polish; Godfrey Hirst Elegant Reflections carpet in ‘Dark Shadow’and ‘Cold Mountain’ Lighting: Artemide Tolomeo Decentrata suspension lamp and Dioscuri wall lamps; Caribou Rocket and Sneaky Black lights Kitchen: Ace Stone and Tiles Machiavelli granite benchtop and Synonyms and Antonyms Wigwag black tiles; blackbutt veneer joinery in Feast…

As a site of early colonial settlement that has survived intact over more than 200 years, Hobart’s Battery Point is one of the most closely monitored heritage sites in Tasmania. At the heart of the suburb is Arthur Circus, an arrangement of 16 cottages around a circular park, which is a rare Australian example of a planned “circus.” One of the first subdivisions in Australia, the streetscape of modest cottages has remained in place since the 1850s, as grander mansions were built on the streets of Battery Point beyond. While the tiny yet highly coveted cottages of Arthur Circus offer an optimum inner-city location, they also present an incredible challenge to rework for contemporary living in a high-profile heritage context. With a broad portfolio of excellent adaptive reuse and heritage…

Many of us are familiar with the striking simplicity and sculptural off-form concrete of Balmoral House in Sydney, a collaboration between Clinton Murray and Polly Harbison. The house was lauded in the 2015 Australian Institute of Architects and Houses Awards for its robust forms, which were notably dissimilar to much of Clinton’s earlier coastal residential work, predominantly in timber. Since then, Polly’s work has appeared with increasing regularity in the press and annual awards, with her Macmasters Beach House awarded in 2017, and Castlecrag and Lindfield houses recognized in 2020. Pearl Beach House was lauded with the Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture in New South Wales in 2021. Her quiet work is singular, sculptural and absolutely devoid of trickery. To understand how someone so young could have come so far…