Working with a residential client on the Gold Coast's Hope Island, Brisbane-based Joe Adsett Architects was challenged with capturing the home's potentially stunning views from both north and the south, whilst creating a contemporary, single storey dwelling that would not present as cold and clinical.
Firstly the team decided to incorporate a series of courtyards throughout the plan that would allow natural light and breeze to move throughout the core of the home and open it to the vistas.
Next Jack Wright, Project Leader Joe Adsett Architects, noted that the strategy for achieving a warm and inviting home would be executed through the selection of carefully considered building materials.
The Architects specified PGH Bricks & Pavers' Utzon brick from the Lang Mursten range to create a beautiful, modern home that celebrates its surroundings.
The slim proportions of the Utzon brick amplify the exaggerated linear geometry of the house. These long-format Danish bricks are soft-moulded and elegantly proportioned, creating the perfect blend of innovative design and practical functionality.
Featured internally and externally, the PGH bricks were used to create a flowing space, blurring the lines between the internal and external environments. The team at Joe Adsett Architects specified Utzon from the Lang Mursten range to employ the rustic and handmade features of a luxury build. Working with the Utzon brick also enabled the architects to maintain the warm, homely feel that their clients sought.
Project Leader Jack Wright noted that finding the right brick manufacturer with the right brick range was critical for delivering the vision for the client.
"The bricks were specified predominantly for their bespoke, aesthetic qualities and the natural, unrefined appearance they exhibit," Wright says.
"Despite being a manufactured product, the bricks have a very rustic and handmade essence about them, contributing to the aesthetic of a timeless and enduring piece of architecture. They introduce a gritty, rugged component to the project, which is primarily composed of refined, polished materials."
The bricks were in fact such a huge design element, the home was given the name 'Stratum' because of the extensive use of stacked bricks throughout the home's internal and external walls. This design decision pays homage to the idea of a house that has been built in layers.
The robustness of the Lang Mursten bricks was another reason for specification by the team at Joe Adsett Architects. Their physical properties and proven ability to support the structural integrity of a home. The home has incredibly large spans across the project, which are assisted by the fundamental properties of the bricks.
"The bricks create a strategic datum throughout the house that is critical to the overall architectural composition. In essence, the bricklayer has created a solid foundation to the bottom layer of the house, with primarily lightweight construction used above the established datum," says White. "The bricks also serve as a structural support to the stretched concrete awning along the rear facade of the building."
Joe Adsett Architects worked with experienced builder Allwood Contractors and bricklayer BGM Bricklaying on the project. Together they have achieved an exceptional Queensland home that sits beautifully alongside Links Hope Island golf course. The Utzon bricks from PGH Bricks & Pavers contrast beautifully with the greens of the fairway and the adjacent flora.
Explore the unique possibilities with PGH Bricks & Pavers
Are you working with a homeowner or a homebuyer who has tasked you with designing something truly special? Achieving a unique and timeless custom home often requires a unique and timeless brick. The Lang Mursten range from PGH Bricks & Pavers delivers a unique and elevated aesthetic, while maintaining the raw and authentic properties of a clay brick. View the PGH bricks used in this project. You can also view the full Lang Mursten range in more detail by downloading the Lang Mursten brochure. If you would like to speak directly with PGH Bricks & Pavers' brick experts, contact your nearest PGH Selections Centre and distributor.
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