In the suburb of Auchenflower, in Brisbane, Australia, there is a modern house that reinterprets the special character of the town in a unique and respectful way. This unique building was built in place of an old house from the 1960s. The old concern had a special feature - a brick wall on the street side. The original features of the building were incorporated into the new design and significantly influenced the style of the new family home. The developers commissioned the architects from Kelder Architects for the Auchenflower House project in 2018.
The clients wanted a cozy but exciting family home that made the most of the site and its location. According to the wishes of the customers, the architecture of the house should be based on themodernist architectural styleof mid-century American homes. The main inspiration was the classic houses that were built in Palm Springs, California at that time.
During the renovation, Kelder Architects should also take into account the location of the trees, the topography and, last but not least, Brisbane's subtropical climate. The house should meet an important requirement - it should be open to the outside and focus equally on what is happening inside and outside.
The Auchenflower House is set on a 582 m² plot. The suburb of Auchenflower is known for its characterful hilly, leafy streets. The modern brick walled family home, like any other newly built building in Brisbane, was intended to meet the City Council's requirements. Every new building should reflect the character of the predominant houses in the area before 1946. The aim of this requirement was thatPreservation of traditionthe town. The clash between the city council's guidelines and the modernist ideas of the architects has resulted in a complex and interesting solution.
Auchenflower House is the result of efforts to reconcile the modernist aesthetic of the century with the dominant concept of the region. The architects recognized the old brick wall as a unique and irreplaceable part of the new design, which symbolizes timeless durability. The brick wall is a solid, high-quality attribute of excellent quality to the house.
To maintain the distinctive brick look that was a typical feature both indoors and outdoors, the architects chose brick as a material for some of the exterior walls. Bricks also mark the edges of the steps to the living terrace and create a harmonious overall appearance. The warm color mix of strong red tones and deep orange of the bricks perfectly complements the green landscape and stands out against the entire white and gray facade of the house.
Auchenflower House is built around a north-facing courtyard with pool. All ground floor living spaces wrap around and open out to this central courtyard. The courtyard offers many advantages for the house. Light and fresh breezes penetrate into the house throughout the day, creating a great ambience for everyday family life and activities. The modern house with brick wall has a view that cannot be expanded or blocked.
A house design with interesting angles and different levels was created due to the steep topography. The levels run from the street to the entrance area and then back down to the center of the house, i.e. the central courtyard and the main living areas. With a living space of 400 m², the spacious house is cut into the property in an inconspicuous way and is kept at street level. To passers-by, this large house presents itself as a small, accessible and beautiful residence that fits perfectly into the hilly streets of Auchenflower.
The house is stylishly and comfortably furnished. The color concept that characterizes the facade is also continued in the interior. This further reinforces the impression that the indoor and outdoor areas flow seamlessly into one another. Warm wood, elegant white surfaces as well as floors and furniture in modern gray convey a homely atmosphere and give the entire interior a modern touch.
*other projects fromBasement Architectsdo you think ...? Findhere
