Design Project

For me it is time for celebration.  Last week I presented my final pieces of assessment for my Master of Architecture.  Here are some images of my final design project.  The proposition was for a trade centre in my home town of Brisbane comprising various function spaces, cafes, restaurants and a commercial office tower.

June Project

This is the latest concept that I finished off while we were in Bilinga.  The project is mixed use including conferencing and exhibition facilities on the lower levels with tenancy space for cafes and retail, office space is located the mid levels with residential apartments on the upper levels.  On another note, Helen just arrived back from Whyalla!

Sketch Design

Here are some early sketches of one of my current projects.  The steeply pitched roof over the entry verandah helps identify the entry while the relative informality in the form aims to render the building more comfortable for it's occupants.  For this building we are working with iconic Australian lightweight materials such as corrugated steel, variegated timber batten screens, plywood panelling and glass louvres.

Weekend Project

We've been contemplating putting up a coat rack for a while and the rainy weather has given us the perfect excuse to stay indoors and put one together. We took inspiration from the reclaimed timber frame Stuart gave us for Christmas and salvaged some T&G board from a demolition yard and picked up a few metal hooks from the hardware shop. After a Sunday afternoon of sawing and drilling we finally put the rack up in our little entry way.  I really like how it has brightened up the space but most of all I like that we had some fun putting it all together. Our apartment became an impromptu workshop for an afternoon!

Sharing with:
http://www.abeachcottage.com/

Mirror Balls

Anton pointed me to these Tom Dixon mirror ball lights the other day.  They are fantastic!  They look good individually, in a row or even better, in clusters.  This installation is pretty cool.  We like the contrast of the super crisp mirror balls against an industrial backdrop.  The backrop is almost too busy for me, it almost overpowers the installation.  Still cool though.  They would look great suspended over an expansive staircase.


Image source:
www.dedece.com

Korban/Flaubert Drum Tables

We've been searching for these stainless steel drum tables for days trying to remember who makes them.  A little more searching through magazines and now we have it.  Helen wants to purchase one of the larger ones for our office reception.  Now I've got my heart set on them there's no going back... fingers crossed.


Image source:
www.korbanflaubert.com.au

Tropical Courtyard

While out and about last weekend we stopped in at Bowen Hills to look at the site for one of Helen's design projects.  We also took at peek at the courtyard garden of this architectural practice nearby.  The tropical garden makes the space, cushioning the occupants from a bitumen wasteland that surrounds the building.  I'm loving courtyard gardens at the moment and especially ones with plenty of bamboo.

Day One

A hectic day one at Hames Sharley.  After a few glitches setting up my computer it was full steam ahead on project work.  This was a five minute sketch I prepared for one of our newly commissioned projects.  No doubt I will tweak it over and over again in the coming days.

e1027

A couple years ago I sat in on a lecture discussing the life and work of Eileen Gray, an Irish architect (and famous furniture designer) who for many years was forgotten by the design community.  e1027 was a house built by Gray on the French Riviera in 1929.  Inspired by Le Corbusier and the Modernist Movement, Gray's work is beautifully simple and contemporary.  For decades this house has been slowly decaying by the sea but thankfully the French Government stepped in and made it a French National Cultural Monument.  Restoration is expected to be complete in December.


Image sources:
http://e1027.org/
http://blog.ounodesign.com/2008/12/24/eileen-gray-e1027-house/

Modern Delftware

I came across Marcel Wanders Delft Blue vases for moooi at Space and being a lover of all things blue & white I was immediately intrigued by this modern interpretation of classic Dutch Delftware.  Of course with all things Marcel Wanders there is always a wittiness in the interpretation with new shapes and forms.  I also loved the moooi marketing for the collection in the style of still life paintings by 17th century Dutch masters.

Aalto Vases

I love this vase designed by Alvar Aalto for it's beautiful fluid shape and I especially covet it in the turquoise and blue colourways.  It's a Scandinavian design classic and fits in well with almost any interior and a piece of art in itself.  They were clustered together on display at the Space showroom for Saturday in Design.  I am contemplating starting a collection.  Now if I can just get to the first one...

Designer Turntables

An architect at work has a serious obsession with audio equipment of all kinds, including record players.  This piqued my interest and he enthusiastically recommended I check out the above pieces.  Even though I'm not exactly a connoisseur of record players I must say these two by Rega and Marantz are very appealing indeed with apparently amazing sound quality.

Simple Shelving

It would appear that the very simplest modern shelves are just not accessible enough.  We've been searching for some sleek freestanding modular shelves in gloss white and chrome.  No fuss, strong and functional with a punchy finish.  Helen has set her mind on high shine chrome finish after being inspired by a David Hicks version.  With no local sources we have decided to venture into the realm of custom design.  This is a low res render of the first cut...

Moreton Bay and Islands Discovery Centre

This week I visited the site for a proposed environmental learning centre.  While discussing the brief with colleagues I was reminded of a design concept which I worked on this time last year; a Moreton Bay and Islands Ecological Discovery and Information Centre combined with a refurbished public swimming pool.  The site was the existing Manly Baths beside the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club at the Manly Marina.  The above design was developed in collaboration with Lucy Jeffries, Matteo Dalla Valle and Oliver Barker.

Perspective Drawing

Perspective drawing for a house I have been designing.  Elevations were posted earlier this month.

A House in Design

This week I reworked the facades of a house that I had designed for some good friends of ours.  The latest changes are a vast improvement.  This house will sit on a long, thin site.  The entry is approached via a boardwalk which has a pergola overhead.  The open space living, dining and kitchen areas spill out onto a deck to the rear and along the side of the lower level.  These spaces are set down from the entry level so as to achieve higher ceilings internally and to ensure the deck floats at a comfortable height above the ground to the rear of the site.  The upper level contains generous private spaces including four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a library.