Habitusliving.com |
- Skye is the limit as Pikos puts V-ZUG Excellence into action
- Sandcastle rises from the sloping shores of Sydney Harbour
- The Zig Zag House: A New Design Story Unfolds
- This arty apartment is anything but cookie-cutter
| Skye is the limit as Pikos puts V-ZUG Excellence into action Posted: 23 Jan 2022 09:30 PM PST  "I’m a believer that everything we put in an apartment should just work seamlessly and not stand out as the feature", says Pedro Pikos, managing director of Pikos. "It needs to work with all the other elements you have in your design of an apartment." The group's latest development in Kangaroo Point is no exception, with ample evidence of that goal of effortless integration having been front of mind throughout the project, which smoothly marries Conrad Gargett architecture with interiors by SentioCo. When it came to selecting an appliance partner, V-ZUG was the clear choice for several reasons. "We know, as a developer, that you actually spend 70 per cent of your time in the kitchen, we realise the significance of togetherness, for a family, for a couple, and it all stems from how we interact within the kitchen," says Pikos.
"It's a process of not excluding anyone, including the person that’s cooking; if you are entertaining, they need to be in the centre of it not locked away. So the kitchen needs to be a showpiece as well as being functional and the V-ZUG appliances – not only with their colour range – but just how functional they were with the vacuum drawers, the flexibility with the Combi-steam ovens, it all just works seamlessly. Another key consideration was the development's target demographic. Based on 30 years' experience observing and responding to trends in multi-res, Pikos made a conscious decision to sculpt Skye by Pikos around a single buyer – the downsizer. Pikos says this cohort is increasingly health focused and informed, including being aware of the benefits of cooking with steam or sous-vide. "We’re starting to become more conscious of what is more healthy and what is not as healthy," says Pikos. "So those health and wellness options in cooking were something that I thought were quite unique to V-ZUG." The brand's sector-leading green credentials are a further appeal for the target resident. "We’re dealing with a demographic where all of those issues, both environmental issues as well as health issues are top of mind. And we found V-ZUG catered more to that type of buyer who was conscious of it than any other product." These various factors have seen the apartments feature a range of products from the Swiss manufacturer, including Adora washing machines, Refresh Butlers and Supreme Cooler fridges as well as the aforementioned vacuum drawers and the Combi-steam ovens.
The environmental approach at Skye by Pikos deserves mention too, starting a three-tower form which allows breezes and natural light to penetrate on three sides of each apartment. Given that another developer's earlier DA for the site included 128 units and Pikos have reduced that to 68, this was no small decision. A significant green wall then moderates the western sun in lieu of solid solutions which would block the breeze – and the views. It’s a generosity that is evident at the macro level – with a rooftop restaurant and pool so that the public can enjoy the spectacular views of Brisbane as well – and at the micro with timeless, future-proofed interiors. Pikos says the target buyer is not interested in renovating anymore, and V-ZUG's understated design helped achieve the aesthetic longevity the developers we're aiming for.
"Everything is finished to a very high end, because that buyer is quite discerning," says Pikos. "You need to be able to look at it in five years' time and it still has to have a place in modern architecture and design – yet it needs to be comfortable. It has to be elegant." Skye by Pikos's focus on meeting the needs and expectations of its market with quality details and purposeful technology solutions reflects the passion and commitment of all involved. It's a masterclass in lifestyle excellence.
V-ZUG Pikos
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| Sandcastle rises from the sloping shores of Sydney Harbour Posted: 23 Jan 2022 04:56 PM PST  Tucked away in the leafy and sought-after Sydney suburb of Point Piper, Sandcastle is a luxury home that makes the most of its sloping site and stellar harbour views. Built on a bed of sand on a block that slopes forty-five degrees, it took considerable engineering to overcome the fluidity of the foundation.
Rather than using retaining walls, Luigi Rosselli Architects opted instead to use horizontal layers of geofabric to wrap the ground layer by layer – a method generally used to stabilise sand dunes. The sand that was excavated from the site was then used to landscape the terrain and was covered with native grasses and plants once construction was completed.
Named for the sand it was built on, its towering stature above the street below and its sandy-coloured, slim handmade masonry, Sandcastle is a truly coastal home. The bricks also make up perforated sections of the wall, providing screening from the sun without minimising the building's structural integrity. The interior of the three-storey home, designed by Alwill Interiors, prioritises open plan, light breezy spaces and is completed with meticulously chosen furniture. The communal areas see a kitchen, living and dining room open through large sliding glass doors onto a balcony overlooking the harbour.
Aarhus Chairs are paired with a yellow-upholstered tubular metal Cappellini armchair and a black marbled Tama coffee table by Walter Knoll, which is privy to the harbour breeze. The living and dining areas are delineated by a central fireplace – providing simultaneous connection and separation between the spaces. In another corner of a living area, an Eames chair considers the view of boats bobbing on the harbour outside. Bespoke cabinetry and finishes provide the ultimate luxury. An in-built desk upstairs protrudes from pale wooden shelving and is accompanied by a Night owl table lamp by Fritz Hansen and another tubular chrome chair.
Throughout the house, statement art brings energy and colour. Above a charcoal lounge hangs a monochromatic bright blue work by Stephen Normandy and near the dining table is a work by Paul Davies. Sandcastle is a home that prioritises perfect detailing, flawless design and above all, its world-class views. Project team Architecture – Luigi Rosselli Architects Interiors – Alwill Interiors Photography – Prue Ruscoe
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| The Zig Zag House: A New Design Story Unfolds Posted: 23 Jan 2022 04:35 PM PST  Designed by Nathanael Preston and Daniel Lane of Preston Lane Architects in close partnership with James Hardie, this distinctive concept transforms the established frame of a single fronted Edwardian terrace into a thoughtfully-designed dwelling that fuses a sense of place, shelter and connection to its surroundings. The metamorphous two-storey extension elevates the original structure, filling the long yet narrow site with harmonious volumes. Gently raised out of its rectangular configuration, the house capitalises on northern light and establishes a welcoming connection with the laneway that runs along its northern edge, while offering privacy and an enveloping ambience of respite.
To bring this visually arresting project to life, the architectural duo behind the concept utilised Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding, James Hardie's new generation building material. The hypothetical nature of the endeavour and the material's innovative properties inspired them to boldly push the boundaries of the product’s potential applications. "What we discovered is that the lightweight, user-friendly panels can be used to create some new and really interesting concepts," Preston explains. The monolithic, accordion-like northern facade of the building is undoubtedly one of them. Generously hovering over the glazing of the ground-floor kitchen and living area that maintains a visual connection with the laneway, the opaque materiality of the fibre cement facade thoughtfully shields the second-story bedroom from its surroundings. Remarkable in its simplicity, the seemingly complex contour of the facade has been achieved by arranging the 600mm fibre cement panels at 90 degrees and using the new Hardie™ 9mm Aluminium External Slimline Corner, one of James Hardie's new architecturally-designed accessories.
It's the combination of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding's folding form and its fine, luminous finish that enables the surface to capture the shadows as the sun moves across the multi-dimensional exterior, generating a sense of dynamism that so pertinently defines the concept. Around the corner, across the eastern wall of the extension, the accordion-like facade transitions into a much more gentle expression of the architectural rhythm. Here, the flat wall facing the garden boasts a subtle v-groove generated by the interconnecting shiplaps of each panel. By replacing one of the panels with a full-height window, Preston Lane Architects open the bedroom to the views of the neighbourhood, while fostering a sense of seclusion that encloses the dwelling's private quarters. While the external wall overlooking the yard is defined by a sense of subtlety, the cascading rhythm of the northern facade is carried through the exterior wall on the ground floor. Here, a contemporary blend of high-quality glass and Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding panels – smaller in size and painted darker grey – gracefully translates the folds of the upper storey on a smaller scale.
Gently protruding into the garden area, the glazed section of the ground-floor envelope reveals a home office – a conscious nod to the fact the way we work has changed. "Given the recent experience of lockdown, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales, we wanted to integrate a study that would have a view out and be a space that everyone would want to work from," Lane says. Housing the laneway-facing work area and providing the backdrop to the garden's greenery, the materiality of the ground-floor cladding relates back to the amalgamation of the urban textures that surround the Zig Zag House – like the laneway's charming cobble stones or the red brick walls. In that, the innovative design reinforces the hypothetical dwelling's sense of cohesion and connection with its Melbourne locale.
In harnessing the seemingly limitless design possibilities of James Hardie's innovative fibre cement cladding, the architectural practice has conceived a residential oasis that's amicably integrated within its local community. Through a fusion of clever spatial solutions that blend openness, privacy and sense of play, Zig Zag House invites incidental interactions from passers-by, while ensuring a desired level of separation. "For us, good design means being comfortable inside but also being aware of the sky and the landscape around you while feeling that you are part of a community," Preston says. He adds that for the passers-by, interacting with the architecture of the house provides an evolving and curious sense of connection. The resulting concept is a testament to the simplicity of form that underpins Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding's astounding versatility, and the striking visual impact the fibre cement panels can help generate. And as the product comes pre-sealed, ready to paint and easy to install, this aspirational design makes it easy to believe that adapting any innovative concept in real life would be just as simple. Architects and designers who would like to experience this innovative product first hand, can order a free sample kit. Alongside a selection of cladding pieces, the kit comes with the samples of some of the architect-designed accessories – including the Hardie™ 9mm Aluminium External Slimline Corner used by Preston Lane Architects in the Zig Zag House design. James Hardie
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| This arty apartment is anything but cookie-cutter Posted: 23 Jan 2022 03:40 PM PST  With a penchant for music and art, the homeowners of this five-room HDB flat wanted a home that would intrigue and inspire. With that, they engaged the help of MONOCOT to create a home that would capture their personalities in a refined and well-thought-out manner. The initial brief was to go beyond the cookie-cutter. The homeowners asked for "moments of surprise and playfulness" throughout the interiors.
The living room exemplifies this design language, with its bare walls (to accommodate the homeowners' growing art collection), and a curated furniture collection. Here, the designers made do without bulky built-ins, and instead, relied on a restrained material and colour palette to bring out the character of the place. The homeowners have "whimsical taste" and this is evident in their choice of furniture pieces. The coffee table, for example, is an upcycled crate that's been restored to good condition. Another highlight is the customised television console. The MONOCOT team explained that it was inspired by a piece that wasn't available in Singapore. As such, they decided to build something similar, keeping in mind that it was to be used to house the audio system and record collection.
This design language continues in the kitchen. A half-height wall separates it from the dining area and also acts as a large serving counter. The designers clad its sides in terracotta tiles, giving the space an earthy and grounded look that complements both the kitchen and dining area. Inside the kitchen itself, a combination of plywood on the cabinets, and stainless steel on the countertops and backsplash creates a beautiful dichotomy of matte and polished surfaces.
Both the homeowners often need to work from home so it was important that they have a dedicated home office. To meet this requirement, one of the bedrooms has been converted into a study, complete with a glass wall divider to enhance the flat's bright and open feel. The flat's original parquet flooring (which runs throughout the living room and bedrooms) has been retained.
The door leading to the master bedroom opens to reveal a short walkway. But instead of just a standard corridor, the walls are actually formed by the wardrobe. This unique layout gives an added layer of privacy, and separates the sleeping space from the dressing area and the ensuite bathroom. It's also interesting to note that the upper portion of the corridor "wall" has been left open for ventilation and potted plants.
Turning a corner leads to the bedroom proper. This is a simple space dedicated to sleep, with no unwanted distractions. Warm wood textures and the greenery above set the mood for ultimate rest and relaxation.
Equally important are the bathrooms in this home. Both rooms have been overhauled, but the ensuite bathroom is definitely a highlight. Here, the designers built a divider to cordon off the shower stall, but cut out a circular window for a playful touch. Kit kat mosaic tiles run across the walls, bringing texture and personality to this space.
The use of unexpected materials throughout this home lends to its charm. Together with the carefully considered design elements, this is a home that evokes a sense of playfulness with whimsical and pleasant surprises. MONOCOT Photography by Studio Periphery The post This arty apartment is anything but cookie-cutter appeared first on Habitusliving.com. |
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