Habitusliving.com

Nature and luxury unite in the modern Australian bathroom
Rudimentary forms
Finding inspiration in our lifelong passions
A series of crafted sheds make for a down to earth family home

Nature and luxury unite in the modern Australian bathroom

Posted: 28 Mar 2022 10:20 AM PDT

The bathroom has shifted from a purely functional environment, to being a space of personal retreat, relaxation and recuperation. In recent decades, the concept of living has changed, along with it the criteria for the design and aesthetic of the home environment. The modern bathroom leads the way in this design evolution, with an emphasis on local materials, skilled craftsmanship and environmentally-sustainable solutions that reflect the identity and lifestyle of the owner.

Representing the pinnacle of over 80 years of master craftsmanship in bathroom design, the Caroma Elvire Collection is a complete suite of premium bathroom products that combines unique and innovative materials, processes and finishes with a minimalist design language to deliver a luxurious, sustainable and distinctively Australian bathroom experience.

Elvire's signature design pairing of beautiful, sustainable Tasmanian timbers with sophisticated gunmetal finishes and enamelled steel basins creates a positive connection to nature that is intrinsic to the Australian lifestyle.

Masterminded by Caroma Industrial Designer Luke Di Michiel, the Collection delivers cohesion across the entire bathroom with each product designed to integrate seamlessly with each other to form the optimal bathroom experience. Contemporary basin and shower designs are reimagined with durable enamelled steel, while sustainably-sourced Tasmanian Oak and Blackwood are incorporated into contact surfaces, both elements contributing to a luxurious tactile experience. Matching vanities, basins, baths, toilet suites, showers, tapware and other bathroom accessories are available to complete beautiful yet functional bathroom spaces.

Caroma's close collaboration with engineering and Australian manufacturing partners has helped them achieve refined contemporary forms with traditional bathroom materials. The company partnered with Port Stephens Joinery for the design of the vanities and timber shelves, which are all locally manufactured and made from locally-sourced materials. In addition, Caroma developed the timber tapware handles and flush buttons in partnership with EvoStyle, an Australian design and manufacturing company specialising in solid wood, at their Windsor factory in New South Wales.

Elvire embodies the pioneering spirit of Caroma, meeting the needs of Australian consumers through progressive Australian design and engineering. New manufacturing processes had to be developed to integrate timber and metal components, and subtle hard-wearing timber treatments applied to ensure unique, tactile and durable bathroom touch points. The sustainable Tasmanian timber surfaces are sealed with a premium two-pack polyurethane finish for durability and water resistance. Innovative metal forming and finishing processes deliver enamelled steel basins with ultra-thin edge capability and timeless circular forms. The solid surface finish on the Elvire freestanding bath provides a high gloss, seamless finish that is warm to the touch.

Considering Elvire's skilful blend of natural materials and contemporary finishes, it may be easy to overlook that Caroma also leads the market in the development of water-efficient bathroom technology. All Elvire toilet suites incorporate Caroma's patented CleanFlush technology –- a completely rimless toilet design that provides a more hygienic solution without compromising on water performance.

Awarded the 2020 Good Design Award® Gold accolade in the Product Design Hardware & Building category, the Elvire Collection is unlike any other. Grounded on practical, functional and sustainable

design principles, this Collection provides designers and homeowners a unique way to celebrate the Australian natural environment without compromising on durability or purpose.

Caroma

caroma.com.au

The post Nature and luxury unite in the modern Australian bathroom appeared first on Habitusliving.com.

Rudimentary forms

Posted: 27 Mar 2022 06:51 PM PDT

There is a very elemental elegance to this house designed by Designshop in Singapore, with its clear massing, structural precision and material dexterity. The formal living room is housed in a gleaming-white fair-faced concrete pavilion fronting the pool while a bricked volume contains the more private quarters.

"The owners wanted a non-ostentatious house with as much garden as possible. Their brief prescribed an understated and timeless building that would respect the topography of the land," says Joy Lim, managing director of Designshop. They also desired separate spaces for private time and social interactions.

The land was amalgamated from two Good Class Bungalows (GCB) – premium landed property in Singapore of which there are only 2,800 plots. One belonged to the husband's family and the couple purchased the other when they got married. Designshop renovated the latter in 2003. "As the children came along and grew, the family needed more space and decided to build one house on both plots of land," shares Lim on the now combined 2,250-square-metre site.

The design of a group of simple forms following the contours of the site respects the land with a sloped terrain. "This minimises cuts and proved to be an excellent solution to a difficult site. It also created an interesting route through the house," Lim says, highlighting the vistas and sensorial embrace of nature as one traverse the blocks through covered corridors and walkways, flanked by landscaping.

The minimal material selection aids in the reading of the neat volumes. "The white of the off-form concrete, the burnt red colour of the brickwork juxtaposed with the natural tones of grey stones is a strong palette against a backdrop of greenery and flowers," Lim observes. The brick, as well as internal terrazzo floor tiles, were reinterpretations of the owner’s childhood home.

The formal living room for entertaining guests is particularly striking in its simplicity. "The pavilion is the heart of the house. It is a pristine, elegant structure that is seen at the end of a large garden, seemingly floating on a pool of water," Lim describes. Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House inspires this architecture. "The structural columns were placed on the outer edge of the pavilion to allow flexibility in how the space can be used," references Lim on Mies' idea of the 'universal space'.

"In contrast, the main house is solid, with fewer fenestrations and clad in brickwork, making it clearly a more private area for the family," says Lim. The monolithic block cantilevers over the western façade's full-height glass walls to shelter from heat, glare and rain, showing yet another example of a minimal gesture with maximum impact.

Project details

Architecture – Designshop
Photography – Studio Periphery

We think you might like this home in Singapore built around a pool

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Finding inspiration in our lifelong passions

Posted: 27 Mar 2022 05:58 PM PDT

Here at Habitusliving, we constantly strive to shine a light on some of the most prolific designs and designers across the region. We were lucky to sit down with Emma Buchan of EB Interiors to talk about how she continues to foster a supportive environment for women in her firm and the industry at large.

EB Interiors is a high-end interior design firm, founded by Emma Buchan in 2011. Spanning an extensive portfolio of residential, multi-residential and commercial properties, EB Interiors is committed to delivering meaningful, refined designs inspired by the modern Australian context.

Read on to discover more about Emma Buchan and her future-focused design studio EB Interiors, and her passion to forge ahead in this evolving industry.

Habitus: Thank you so much for chatting with us, Emma. Please tell us a little about yourself.

Emma Buchan: Well, I am a proud mum of two beautiful girls, a wife to a supportive husband, and the founder of EB Interiors. I absolutely love being an interior designer and have worked in the industry for close to two decades now, both in London and in Sydney.

And what do you think led you to where you are now? Was design a part of your life from the beginning?

I was first introduced to the design world as a child. My dad was a builder and I loved visiting building sites with him and messing around in them. I realised from a young age that this was a world I wanted to be a part of. As a child, I would rearrange my bedroom furniture regularly (much to my parents’ dismay!), and I was always drawing pictures of houses.

My passion for design was magnified when I was a teenager and travelled overseas with my parents and encountered incredible feats of architecture, which fuelled my pursuit for design.

I went on to study a Bachelor of Interior Design and worked in various residential design firms in Sydney such as Hare & Klein before starting EB Interiors in 2011.

How would you define EB interiors and its role in the industry?

EB Interiors is an interior design practice based in Sydney's south that specialises in high-end residential, boutique commercial and bespoke custom-made pieces.

The studio was driven by my desire to be able to work closer to home and spend more time with my daughter. Once the firm started to grow, my intention was to create a place that could support working women with the same flexibility – to allow them the opportunity to work in a creative role they loved, without having to sacrifice time spent with their families.

What is the driving philosophy behind what you do as a creative/designer?

As a designer, I always try to push the boundaries and approach each project from an entirely new lens. Each project is incredibly unique and tailored to a client's brief, and ultimately what unites our projects is our commitment to utilising quality materials, custom finishes, beautiful textures and design appeal.

At EB Interiors we like to challenge one another to think outside the box on designs and details.

How do your past experiences influence the way you design today?

I never stop learning and gaining knowledge from past experiences, both good and bad! I am continually inspired by my childhood experiences, my travels, my family and my environment.

Travel, in particular, has played an important role in this. Being an avid traveller has heavily influenced my style and creative thinking, and I still take inspiration from incredible buildings I've encountered. Being a mum has also given me a more sophisticated understanding of the family network, which impacts the way I design homes.

From your personal and professional experiences, what role does design have in fostering a balance of function, wellbeing and comfort within our residential and commercial environments?

The role of good design is imperative to creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional and nurturing. Having a well-thought-out spatial plan is key to creating a space that comes together efficiently. This is particularly important in tight spaces, where the precision of design is so important.

And once that plan is developed, how do materiality and the use of colour then play into creating relaxed environments?

Colour and texture are key to creating relaxed environments. Although each project we undertake is incredibly unique, our designs are unified in their relaxed design style – all inspired by Australia's laid-back way of living.

Does the Australian landscape influence the creative process as well?

Many of our residential projects are situated by the ocean, so we try to take inspiration from the surrounding environment and carry these cues inside the home, making the most of natural textures and subtle colour palettes. We like to embrace the understated.

As a female-led design team, how have you felt the impact of working with women in the architecture and design industry?

As an all-female team many of our designers are mums and work around school hours or work from home, which allows them to spend more time with their kids. I strongly believe that women shouldn't have to choose between a fulfilling career or motherhood. You can have it all, it just takes a supportive working environment (and a lot of hard work!) to make it happen.

There are so many incredible women in the design industry, many of whom I look up to, and many of whom I get to work with each day. I think there’s growing respect and recognition for the role women play in the industry, and the unique perspective they bring to the job. EB Interiors is an all-women team by coincidence, and I think that speaks to the calibre of talent among female designers. I feel privileged to work with such a strong, creative, and hard-working team of women.

Apart from the women by your side every day, who would you say is your biggest inspiration?

Zaha Hadid. Not only am I inspired by her works, but her story of where she came from and what she became is truly aspirational. I will forever be in awe of her legacy.

What would you say has been the biggest highlight in your career so far?

Starting my own design firm has got to be my biggest career highlight. It was an incredibly daunting experience at the time, but looking back on it now, it truly is the best decision I've made.

In terms of projects, my favourite would be a commercial fit-out we did for Highland Property Agents. We were able to reinterpret real estate workplace design and conceive an innovative space for real estate marketing.

We conceptualised a space that brought the city to Sydney's Sutherland Shire region and implemented a grid-like design inspired by the draughtsman Henry Beck (responsible for designing the London "Tube" map). We ran with Beck's ideals of pure geometry, seen in the placement of the glass pods and the linear nature of finishes and materials in the space. Between the industrial design and luxurious furnishings and joinery, we could create an edgy and unexpected corporate space.

From your perspective as a designer and design firm owner, what responsibilities do architects and designers have in shaping the future of the industry?

It is a privilege to know the design industry plays such an important role in influencing the way we live. Not only do we take inspiration from the Australian lifestyle, but we also do our best to hero Australian designed and produced products. As Australian designers, we understand the importance of supporting local to shape a better future, both from an economic and sustainable standpoint.

These principles heavily influence our design process at EB Interiors: we need to choose wisely, be kind to our earth, reuse where we can and design with longevity in mind.

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A series of crafted sheds make for a down to earth family home

Posted: 27 Mar 2022 05:39 PM PDT

"Gently rolling farmland and stunning coastal views make this a beautiful and unique site," says architect Abe McCarthy, founder of Abe McCarthy in describing Flinders Residence.

The rural site, characterised by undulating low hills, farmland and native bushland offers picturesque vistas over the rolling landscape that extend down towards Westernport Bay to the East and Port Phillip Bay to the North.

The home's chosen siting on over 200,000 square metres maximises views of the neighbouring farm properties and their agricultural undertakings and the secluded nature. It was this siting that was leveraged to create a meandering series of unsealed roads leading to the arrival point. "This journey adds to the sense of discovering a hidden and unique place in the natural environment," adds Abe.

The refined craft of Flinders Residence in both architectural and interiors is evident in both its refined form and considered material palette.

"In terms of our approach to crafting this home, our starting point was that it had to be practical in responding to the requirements of farm living, responsive to rugged coastal weather, engaged with the landscape and stunning views and borne of natural materials – to speak to the surrounding land and context," explains Abe. As a result, robust materials like steel, Colorbond and external grade timber were employed.

Given that the clients sought a warm and comfortable family home that suited farm-style living and architecture inspired by a mountain chalet typology. Flinders Residence was conceived as a series of connected pavilions or barns which capture the romantic nature of a series of farm dwellings.

"The barns themselves have been conceived of as simple and practical structures that connect to a long history and can be expressed in a contemporary way," offers Abe. "A central aspect of the beauty of the barn is its honesty. We pay homage to this by expressing the structural beams and adopting a simple architectural approach that focuses on crafting and detail to allow the natural materials to express their inherent beauty and character."

The quality of light internally is equally dramatic. "Much in the way that cracks of light might pierce through a farm shed in the early morning light, Flinders Residence is designed to capture and harness natural light and create an unfolding and changing experience of light and shadow," says Abe. To that end, the living pavilion faces both east and north, drawing in low morning light and controlling the sunlight as it moves higher in the sky.

"Sunlight drapes across the island bench at breakfast time and shafts of light rest on the dining table as the evening approaches," describes Abe. "These are curated experiences where light forms an integral part of the materials palette. Gabled roofs and carved openings open out to the landscape from every angle, creating a continuous dialogue of sun and shadow."

The project placement is such that the ground level allows ample connection to the landscape, whereas the upper level offers more intimate and focused spaces. "The design is premised on creating a romantic evocation of farm-style living, whilst being underpinned by pragmatic and highly resolved episodic space," Abe adds.

"The barn forms allow significant opportunity to engage with the landscape in an expansive way at ground-level, then transition to more intimate and cosy experiences on the upper "loft" levels. "Living spaces are amazing, the sunken lounge below the bar/loft is the perfect lounge area/conversation pit, set below the most amazing timber-lined vaulted ceilings.

The interior expression of a timber-lined dwelling imbues the home with this warmth and depth of natural charm. "A growing family lives in this house and it is in the country so it needs to be sophisticated and elegant but also practical and comfortable," says interior designer Alice Villella of AV-ID.

"Given the drama of the architecture we wanted to ground it with a colour palette reflecting the surrounding landscape." Alice has masterfully manipulated the interplay between light and shadow, sun and shadow in the interior by reflecting the play of the sun over the architectural envelope. "We played with texture, and tone and contrast. Dark furnishings, windows, door and joinery contrast against the beauty of the Tasmanian Oak throughout the three buildings," she continues.

The team selected polished and matte finishes, as well as textured elements like polished black Zellige tiles set against the matte texture of charcoal, split Abysss slate in the moodier bathrooms. Alice then took a contrasting approach in the children's bathrooms, embracing the light with beige Zellige tiles against honed Turko Argento limestone and light sandblasted stone pavers.

The furnishings and lighting elements all bear a handcrafted seal and intrinsic artisanal beauty. For example, a leather conversation pit sofa is set against a bespoke claret coloured shag carpet and black timber joinery sits alongside black rolled steel.

"In terms of integrated sustainable initiatives, the project employs several key strategies to allow it to perform in an off-grid context," adds Abe. Elements like a Biomass boiler fuels the heating and hot water, a solar array providing base power, and rainwater storage to fulfil domestic water, irrigation, and fire-fighting reserves have been integrated.

Substantial thermal mass has been specified to absorb low summer sun for passive solar heating and louvred and operable glazing including operable skylights to allow the building to breathe and cool naturally, or close-off to manage seasonal extremes.

"The result is incredible as it's everything we wanted in terms of the way we live in the home, and the warmth and closeness the original brief sought, yet there is a modern architectural edge to the entire home that makes it extraordinary to live in," concludes the client.

Project details

Architecture – Abe McCarthy Architects
Interiors – AV-ID
Photography – Shannon McGrath

We think you might like this barn-style farmhouse house in regional Victoria

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Food And Recipe Fusion

Tuesday, March 29, 2022