Home Innovations Display Centre

Designers pick their best

July 30th 2012

A HOME that offers an ''Out There'' experience, an ''unapologetically modern'' residential alteration and a design that converted an uninhabitable asbestos-clad shack into a contemporary abode, were among the winners of this year's Building Designers Association of Victoria building design awards.

The ''Out There'' home, by Clever Design, was the big winner, receiving two commendations and three awards, including the coveted building design of the year award, at Friday's presentation night.

Clever Design also won the commercial design - alterations/additions prize for a commercial building alteration described as dynamic and innovative.

The most innovative use of timber. Photo: Gary Mallin

An ''unapologetically modern'' renovation in Balaclava secured four awards. Designed by Brunswick firm Wilson I D, the home won residential design - alterations & additions: $200,000-$500,000 construction cost, heritage conservation project - residential, interior design - residential and most innovative bathroom design.

Collingwood-based Dankor Architecture was the winner of the most innovative use of timber award.

Association president Tim Adams praised the entrants for their creative, innovative and practical designs, while embracing sustainable materials and design techniques.

''Sustainable design principles were at the very core of most of our winning designs. BDAV is particularly pleased with the way our members are incorporating green measures, as well as meeting the growing awareness among consumers of the benefits of smart, environmental designs that are visually appealing,'' he said.

The ''Out There'' home is located on a steeply sloping site, projected towards the view of Tasmania's north-west coastline. The brief was for a contemporary three-bedroom home with sustainability at its core.

Appearing in plan like a ''stealth fighter'', the home's projected central living hub is suspended over a steeply falling former pastoral site overlooking the town of Ulverstone.

For the winning Balaclava home in Nightingale Street, the starting point was a dilapidated, turn-of-the-century weatherboard cottage on 150 square metres of land. The brief was to convert it into a modern family home, while respecting the existing Victorian and Edwardian heritage values of the area.

From the street level, the heritage fabric at ground floor was retained and rejuvenated. The judges said the rear ground and first floor additions and alterations use thoughtful articulated forms and layers to overcome site constraints, while reducing the sense of visual bulk.

The unapologetically modern upper-level addition incorporates a variety of materials derived from the busy surrounding urban environment.

In the commercial category, the judges said Clever Design's Leonardoz restaurant project was a prime example of how to transform from existing to new in a bold and inspiring manner.

''Words like 'dynamic' … describe the design, which encapsulate the ethos of thinking outside the box and taking risks,'' they said.

Article from The Age, by Philip Hopkins, 30th July 2012

Philip Hopkins