design
mag |
51
The projecting upper level is supported on a
steel ring beam with welded shelf angles
and sitting on four steel posts.“We thought
wouldn’t this be great if we could get this
beautiful, heavy material and then have it
seem to defy gravity,” says Maynard.The
overhang (lower level) and recessed hood
(upper level) were carefully calculated to
allow winter sun to penetrate but exclude the
higher summer sun.“From October no sun
hits that glass.”
On the western face a number of bricks were
rotated and projected to form attachment
points for creepers.They also come in handy
as an impromptu climbing wall! Unusual
challenges such as this were taken in their
stride by the bricklayers and other trades.
“There were some really good trades on site,”
Maynard commends.“They just knew what
we were after.”A further quirky touch is a
stencilled artwork on the bottom left of the
rear brickwork.
Andrew Maynard and Mark Austin have
pleasant memories of being in Barcelona in
2011 to receive a commendation in the
World Architecture Festival for the Ilma Grove
project.
But the final word must be from the happy
clients who will harvest a lifetime of memories
from this special house.“We’re really
impressed with how you’ve incorporated the
most important parts of our brief into the
design work to come up with something that
is creative, functional, realistic, unique and
bloody impressive!”
previous opening.
The majority
of bricks for this new extension to
a Californian bungalow were
salvaged from the site. It is
probable that they were originally
made locally from locally
quarried clay.
this opening.
(clockwise from left)
A glass link bridges the old and
new.A spiral staircase leads
through the first floor master suite
to the roof deck. Projecting bricks
on the western face were
intended as connection points
for creepers but have become
impromptu climbing grabs!
The projecting upper level is
supported on a steel ring beam.
Photography:
Kevin Hui
