IN AN INNER-BRISBANE RIVER SUBURB, KP ARCHITECTS INGENIOUSLY USE PGH BRICKS & PAVERS’ ‘GREY ALL THE WAY’ TO CRAFT A BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOME THAT BLENDS SEAMLESSLY WITH ITS RICH NATURAL SETTING.
Nestled in Teneriffe, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane bordering Fortitude Valley to the north east and the Brisbane River to the north, Walker House by KP Architects is a beautiful response to the rich landscape that engulfs the area.
Walker House sits on a site that is rich with history, with the area once being a busy hub for the local wool trade. A simple composition and restrained palette of beautiful Flannel Grey bricks combine with timber and concrete to act as a natural backdrop. This feature enhances the quality of the spaces and honours the industrial heritage of the Teneriffe area, which was converted to high density residential living only a few decades ago.
Blending brick with the natural landscape
From the street level of the home, gorgeous grey brick columns blend with the traditional Australian landscape. Combined with the subtle timber-clad garage, it allows the large jacaranda tree to command its star position at the centre of the frontage.
The scale of the home then sits comfortably within its surrounds, with the Flannel Grey bricks consistently supporting the structure of the home, from the street level to the exceptional backyard entertaining space.
The site presented some challenges to the teams at KP Architects and builder Crowndale Properties due to its narrow and steep formation. To overcome these challenges, Kon Panagopoulos, Director at KP Architects, carefully structured the site to allow a seamless connection and flow from the street level, right through to the open living backyard.
“On a narrow and steep site, the house terraces down to the north. A series of schemes were presented to best address the site constraints and to carefully manage the terrain,” explained Panagopoulos. “After considerable consideration, it was agreed to locate the living spaces at the lower-level grounding the house, allowing seamless connection to the backyard.”
Creating an intricate and timeless façade
The sophisticated neutral shade of Flannel Grey from the Pure Linens range creates wonderful depth variation in the home’s interior and exterior walls, evoking a feeling of soft country elegance and style in an otherwise dense urban environment. As the light hits the Flannel Grey bricks internally and externally, the soft textures exude warmth and simplicity, providing the home with an effortlessly peaceful and calming tone.
Pairing this brick with the timber and concrete has rounded out a wonderfully intricate and timeless façade, which achieves the simplicity and restrained palette that thrives in Teneriffe’s natural environment.
“A simple composition and restrained palette of materials consisting of brick, timber, and concrete were selected to act as a natural backdrop and to enhance the quality of the spaces,” said Panagopoulos.
Consistent with the design philosophy of using Flannel Grey bricks to complement the different textures of the home, the rear outdoor living space includes a beautiful brick fireplace. The grand yet reserved brick fireplace typifies the peace and serenity of the oasis-like setting while also bringing the whole home together around this central design feature.
“The living spaces spill out to the rear outdoor areas that are anchored by an external brick fireplace that frames the view of the surrounding trees and buildings, creating a peaceful and calm setting in a highly populated urban environment,” Panagopoulos added.
For another example of PGH Bricks & Pavers’ Pure Linens brick range used in unique ways, see our Upper Cairns case study.
Choose PGH Bricks & Pavers for your next project
PGH Bricks & Pavers is an Australian brick leader and a preferred brick supplier for architects, interior designers, and builders. To discuss using PGH Bricks & Pavers' products on your next project, contact your nearest PGH distributor, or request some samples from our team.
Images by Brock Beazley Photography.
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