1. Farrier Lane

When designing his family home, it was essential to Matt Delroy-Carr of MDC Architects that an awareness of both its carbon footprint and intrinsic functionality were core aspects of the plan. Beginning with a foundation of certified carbon neutral Jamison house bricks for their durability and thermal efficiency. Farrier Lane’s pared-back palette was realised, opting for raw timbers and concrete to highlight each brick’s unique patina. 

Further design choices were made to reflect the state of the home year-round, with the site’s orientation and built elements protecting its residents from the summer sun. While distinct window placements let it shine through in the cooler months. Basking in the beauty of its natural surroundings, the home’s earthy palette forms a connection with its expansive garden. Wwhich takes up over 60 percent of the site. Acting as a space for entertaining, play and relaxation, the indoor-outdoor connection reflects MDC Architects’ commitment to working with the natural environment. 

2.Hyde Park House

Retaining existing architecture honours a home’s heritage while reducing the environmental impact of intrusive renovations. Hyde Park House by Robeson Architects uses a custom blend of Daniel Robertson Hawthorn Tan and Hawthorn Red carbon neutral bricks as a visual reference to the surrounding red brick cottages, all while significantly mitigating the home’s eco footprint. 

The considered material choices continue with the inclusion of Bowral Bricks Hamlet pavers that surround the pool and outdoor dining areas. Adding warmth to the striking black and white shades of the family home. Inside, porcelain, FSC-certified timber and ivory continue the sustainable narrative. Creating an elegant interior palette that meets the eco-conscious requirements from the family. This passive house offers natural thermal regulation across the material choices. Combined with double-glazed windows, solar-powered electricity and hydronic heating to form a comfortable home. 

3. Mygunyah by The Circus

Blending contemporary additions with a historic façade, Mygunyah by The Circus is designed for contemporary family living. Specifically, home to a young family and live-in grandparents, the design of the home takes into account the multigenerational needs of the owners. Furthermore, presented as three separate pavilions, Mygunyah addresses multi-generational living in a functional and refined series of spaces that cater to each lifestyle. 

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design retained the Victorian makeup of the initial structure to convey the site’s historical significance before blending it with the two brick buildings beyond. Connecting each distinctive building is the choice in materials. Which allows each tone and texture to create a cohesive display throughout every space. Specifically, made up of three styles – Daniel Robertson in Buff, Austral Bricks La Paloma in Romero and Nubrik Acland Cream – the modern additions harness the robust nature and timeless appearance of brick. Moreover, building a lasting home that able to withstand the everyday wear-and-tear of family living. 

4. Ha Ha Haus

Placing nature at the centre, Ha Ha Haus surrounds its inhabitants with a lush central courtyard, grounding them in their natural context. Moreover, Ha Ha Haus by FIGR boasts an acclaimed approach to sustainable design. Responding to a brief based on feeling rather than dimension, architects FIGR were able to manipulate the design to create a home that connects to the natural environment. While supporting the residents’ lifestyles within. 

The circular layout of the home not only acts as a distinctive design feature. But also contributes to passive solar principles. This design maximizes cross-ventilation and utilizes north-facing glazing efficiently. Replacing a traditionally man-made fence structure with a lush garden mount. Ha Ha Haus heroes greenery throughout, prioritising it as an integral residential feature. Additionally, the design places a landscaped mound over 20,000L rainwater tank that stores recycled water for irrigation and bathrooms. Ensuring that the family uses their primary resources with respect to the land. Austral Bricks La Paloma in Miro from a visual reference for the home’s organic design. Pairing its calming qualities with the resistance and thermal efficiencies found naturally in house bricks.

“Presented as three separate pavilions, Mygunyah addresses multi-generational living in a functional and refined series of spaces that cater to each lifestyle.”

“Presented as three separate pavilions, Mygunyah addresses multi-generational living in a functional and refined series of spaces that cater to each lifestyle.”

The post 4 Sustainable Homes Built With Brick appeared first on Brickworks.

Above all else, bricks are inherently non-combustible. Composed of water and natural clay, bricks are baked in kilns at temperatures reaching 900 to 1200 degrees, higher than the temperatures often reached by bushfires. This allows them to both contain and resist fires, reducing the risk of spreading for up to one and a half hours, in contrast to the dangerously small window for timber and plastic building materials. With many Australian homes built in high Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) areas, brick offers peace of mind within tranquil bushscapes. 

Not only are bricks highly heat resistant, but they can also withstand powerful winds and water. Strong winds carrying debris, rain and hail carry little to no impact on bricks, leaving homes unweathered after heavy storms. In extreme cases of hurricanes and tornadoes, the strength and mass of brick buildings absorb external energy and wind-born debris, protecting the home within. 

Structurally, bricks hold additional stability in their interlocking arrangement, giving them the capability to withstand more severe conditions. Subsequent flooding from heavy storms is also catered for with brick; its low porosity and density makes it an ideal foundation for both tropical and icy climates, without issues of swelling and rotting. Bricks are able to dry completely after significant wet weather events, furthering their effectiveness as resistant materials. 

Living in Australia, where harsh and turbulent weather environments are a constant, brick offers an exceptional solution to maintaining first-class performance and function, while achieving extraordinary design. The inherent durability of brick allows a home to retain its structure and design complexity without frequent maintenance. Resistant to everyday destruction and decay, their built structures are affordable to maintain, adaptable to a variety of interior styles, and designed to last a lifetime. 

“Boasting durability and longevity from inception, bricks are one of the most weather-resistant materials around.”

“Boasting durability and longevity from inception, bricks are one of the most weather-resistant materials around.”

The post Resilient Housing Solutions: The Power of Brick appeared first on Brickworks.

These five projects celebrate the distinct natural conditions of their surrounding environments, using high-performing materiality and meticulous design processes to ensure their longevity and liveability without compromising on exemplary design. 

1. La Scala

Basking in the sunny, endless warmth of the Queensland weather, renowned architects Ingrid Richards and Adrian Spence of Richards & Spence created a home that plays with traditional notions of the backyard. Sitting atop their home is the building’s crown jewel – a sculptural oasis of greenery and architecture, evocative of thoughtfully restored ruins and a tropical retreat in a sun-drenched outdoor living space. GB Masonry Honed in Porcelain is the basis of the space, with reflective properties conducive to a naturally cooling area, despite its ample exposure to sunlight. The curation of tropical greenery also speaks to Brisbane’s glorious weather, choosing succulents and heat-resistant plants that require little maintenance, ensuring this rooftop remains lush throughout the year. 

2. Mermaid Beach House

Coastal homes can often be seen with neutral-toned palettes, reflecting its locale and offering a blank canvas for individual design styles. An added benefit is the colour’s cooling effects, reflecting the sun’s rays away from the residence as it sits underneath the 

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Deeply immersed in its Gold Coast context, Mermaid Beach House reflects its locale through a myriad of earthy tones, enriched by a warm tactility that embraces its coastal surroundings. Maher Design renovated the original 1980s residence with the objective of maximising natural light throughout the reconfigured two-storey layout. Designed as a ‘forever home,’ the project’s layout and design provides a delicate balance of a relaxed, yet adventurous lifestyle for the inhabitants. A screen of Kite Breeze Blocks, designed in collaboration with Adam Goodrum, adds warm terracotta hues evocative of the Mediterranean coastline, provides ventilation all-year round and filters in natural light through the entryway. Offering endless design possibilities, Kite Breeze Blocks can be arranged in a multitude of patterns, adapting to the needs and style of any project without compromising on design. 

3. Garden House

With sustainable design at the forefront, this downsizing couple desired a home reminiscent of their former rural property, translated into a more intimate, suburban context. Garden House by Placement Studio and Nest draws from the surrounding bushscape – featuring an array of brickwork, concrete, timber and spotted gum throughout displayed in an earthy, neutral palette as well as a robust material foundation. 

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The use of Bowral Bricks in Chillingham White not only emphasise nearby greenery but increase the thermal efficiency of the project, lowering energy bills and establishing a comfortable temperature when combined with tinted burnished concrete flooring. All windows are double-glazed, while solar energy and charged water tanks further promote a lifestyle that sits in harmony with Australia’s climate. 

4. Albury House

Designed by Kerstin Thompson Architecture, this home in regional NSW required extra attention to mitigate its high risk bushfire site. Beginning with fire resistant GB Masonry Smooth in Nickel, the home is designed to withstand extreme temperatures from its foundations, acting as a natural insulator to reduce energy costs. The high-performance material additionally imbues a sense of quiet luxury into the modern countryside abode, enhanced by dynamic timber and cool concrete slabs. Flyscreens, louvres, perforated cement sheet screens and sliding glass walls were also all employed to combat the region’s turbulent climate, allowing the owners to enjoy their rural getaway. 

5. Mount Eliza House

Sitting on the border of the Earimil Creek Reserve overlooking the Ranelagh Estate is Mount Eliza House – a unique family residence which celebrates the full scope of its surrounding context. Nestled between a cliff to the east, Earimil Creek at the bottom and north-facing bay and city views, the site offers an abundance of breathtaking views across Melbourne’s Port Philip Bay. Designed by Antony Martin and Cameron Suisted of MRTN Architects, the home utilises GB Masonry GB Honed Masonry Smooth Blocks in Nickel, adorning the living spaces in a sense of calm with its neutral tones and tactility. Built as a holiday home, the studio implements natural ventilation and cooling throughout the residence, which is achieved through the orientation and material palette. The controlled temperature optimises relaxation, with sloped eaves in place to further harness the sun’s impact over summer and winter months. Additional stone and timber elements take from natural sensibilities surrounding the home, further grounding Mount Eliza Home within its context.

“A screen of Kite Breeze Blocks, designed in collaboration with Adam Goodrum, adds warm terracotta hues evocative of the Mediterranean coastline, provides ventilation all-year round and filters in natural light through the entryway.”

“A screen of Kite Breeze Blocks, designed in collaboration with Adam Goodrum, adds warm terracotta hues evocative of the Mediterranean coastline, provides ventilation all-year round and filters in natural light through the entryway.”

The post Living With Brick: Designing for Australian Weather appeared first on Brickworks.

Below are five residences that harness the versatility of brick to curate spaces that span from gracefully historic to effortlessly modern. 

1. The Casa

Hailing from the aquamarine coast of the Mediterranean, The Casa emphasises the flexibility of brick and the vastness and beauty of Australia’s landscapes as an ideal canvas for a multitude of residences. Builders Webb & Brown-Neaves pair rich earthy tones with robust stone textures to allow this Spanish Mission home to transport its residences to the sandy coastlines and jewelled tones throughout the Mediterranean. Iconic terracotta roofing is achieved by utilising Bristile Roofing La Escandella Curvado in Roja, with the discrepancies between each tile creating a deeply authentic façade for The Casa. 

2. Merricks Farmhouse

Merricks Farmhouse by Nielsen Jenkins and Michael Lumby Architecture successfully executes the delicate practice of architectural restraint and striking material composition, resulting in a beautiful modern farmhouse style home. The architects deliver a modern interpretation of a quintessential Australian countryside residence, enriched with a contemporary perspective on rural lifestyles. Working to the timeless simplicity of Austral Masonry Grey Block, the design aims to minimise the impact on the surrounding coastal countryside, choosing instead to hero its coveted views in a discreet but impactful manner. Charcoal timber planks and rugged landscaping trail throughout the external spaces, creating intimate pockets to pause and take in the views, adding a magical element of warmth to the home from inside to out. 

3. Ponds

Foregrounding brick’s ability to restore historic spaces, Ponds is an eclectic and colourful project by architects WOWOWA. Reinterpreting a home with layout challenges from previous renovations, WOWOWA sought simplification and function, all while emphasising its striking Art Deco elements. Over the extension at the home’s rear, Bowral Bricks in Gertrudis Brown, Bowral Brown, Limousin Gold and Hereford Bronze were used to create a point of visual interest over undulating exterior walls. Inside, the rich colourway is intensified, with warm ambers, yellows, ochres, and rusts forming a quirky continuation of the brickwork. 

4. Bermagui Beach House

Based on a barefoot experience of the home, Winter Architecture’s Bermagui Beach House is a considered iteration of the coastal experience through cooler months. The exceptionally modern home required a material that aligned with its ethereal interiors while offering a tactile and durable experience for its residents. GB Masonry Smooth in Porcelain warms the beachside home with textural depths, simultaneously setting the foundations for an all-white space that highlights its moody coastal backdrop. Its orderly rectilinear linework provides a basis for its carefully curated, minimalist furniture. 

5. Doasis

Doasis by Solis Estudio is a home in Queensland’s south-east, which fuses mid-century modern and coastal design. Located just off Tallebudgera Creek, the location informs every aspect of the home – blending the organic profiles of mid-century design with a Palm Springs resort feel. Austral Bricks La Paloma in Miro shines throughout Doasis, creating a seamless transition from its exterior façades through to its interior environments. Complementing the neutral-hued brickwork, the addition of natural stone and warm timber instils a sense of warmth and comfort in the open-plan residence. Across the rectilinear exterior, simple linework juxtaposes the organic forms found within the interiors designed by SMUB. With three-metre-high ceilings, the living spaces are free-flowing and spacious, offering endless possibilities for furnishing and design styles. 

Spanning centuries of style cues and design inspiration, brickwork fosters creativity across Australian residences, delivering a striking variety of projects that will stand the test of time. 

“Australia’s architecture & design landscape, comprises a striking patchwork of styles, each grounded in their distinct forms, materialities and decoration. A defining feature in all these designs, however, is the ultimate sustainable material – brick.”

“Australia’s architecture & design landscape, comprises a striking patchwork of styles, each grounded in their distinct forms, materialities and decoration. A defining feature in all these designs, however, is the ultimate sustainable material – brick.”

The post Living With Brick: Designing for Every Style appeared first on Brickworks.

1. Australian Embassy in Bangkok 

Thailand’s Australian embassy asserts diplomatic respect for place while striking a delicate balance between two contrasting architectural styles. Designed by BVN, the project takes cues from the Thai tradition of both exterior and interior aquatic elements, the undulating red brick façade is encased by a generous rectangular vessel of water to unify the building as one. Choosing red brick, though uncommon in Bangkok, hails to the red-dirt deserts of central Australia – its organic landscape reflected in the building’s soporific curvature. A nod to Thailand’s ‘it mon dang’ bricks, the 450,000 bricks used in the Australian embassy used nine different radii to create the surprisingly smooth texture of its thick exterior walls. 

2. John Livingston Building, Kirwan State High School 

Responding to the unique demands of Northern Queensland’s harsh tropical climate, Deicke Richards’ renovation of the John Livingston Building was the first development at Kirwan State High School in almost 40 years. Named in honour of its great advocate and the school’s widely admired late principal John Livingston, this exemplary project received a commendation at the 2016 North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards. The project addresses the strong connections within the community and reinforces the school’s vision to provide educational excellence for future generations. Establishing an assertive identity in its sweeping façade, the revitalised building uses Austral Masonry Grey blocks to create a distinctive contemporary feature that protects the school from busy parallel roads. To combat the humid climate, internal circulation was embedded in the building with its generous spaces and full-length glazing over windows, offering ample ventilation and views across the school’s greenery. 

3. UNSW Kensington Colleges

Winning the opportunity to reimagine UNSW’s historic Kensington Colleges, Bates Smart created a modern student accommodation precinct designed to unite the university’s lower and upper campus areas. The project reimagines contemporary student housing, offering a variety of accommodation with communal areas, private and shared bathrooms, direct access to an expansive courtyard, leafy outlooks and more. Using Austral Bricks Glazed Bricks in a myriad of bold colours, each of the four colleges – Baxter, Basser, Goldstein and Fig Tree – boast three neutral shades of face brick that cover them, displaying a unified front amongst residents and the wider UNSW community. In the centre of the accommodation area lies a landscaped courtyard for residents to relax, participate in activities and socialise. The project went on to win the commercial category of the Think Brick Awards for 2014. 

4. Dr Chau Chak Wing Facility for UTS Business School

Designed by globally-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the University of Technology Sydney’s Dr Chau Chak Wing facility holds a remarkable resemblance to a gently scrunched brown paper bag. Highlighting the essentiality of imperfection in the pursuit of education, the Business School building appears alive in its form, using 320,000 custom bricks to establish this fluid effect seamlessly. Additionally, the warm neutral tones of the brickwork emulate sandstone, referencing Sydney’s coastal architectural roots while creating a striking contrast between the outwards material and the concrete, timber and polished metal features inside. 

These projects offer a glimpse into some of the notable projects Australian architects were producing 10 years ago, marking the continuous evolution of local design paving the way for the impeccable standard of projects designed today. 

“Choosing red brick, though uncommon in Bangkok, hails to the red-dirt deserts of central Australia – its organic landscape reflected in the building’s soporific curvature.”

“Choosing red brick, though uncommon in Bangkok, hails to the red-dirt deserts of central Australia – its organic landscape reflected in the building’s soporific curvature.”

The post Design 10 Years Ago: 4 of the Best Projects of 2014 appeared first on Brickworks.

Below are our top five landscaping tips to enhance any outdoor space, which are small in scale. 

1. Go Vertical

If your backyard has no space for planting (or if you have no backyard at all), take advantage of any wall space and grow a vertical garden, indoors or out. Lush green canopies can provide shelter during the warmer months, while a tailored vertical herb garden gives you easy access to flavour enhancers as you cook, saving you time and money. To create a cascading wall of colour, plant edible flowers across your planters for a beautiful yet practical display. If wall space is also not readily available in your home, hanging gardens are a great alternative, adding a unique splash of greenery through both interior and exterior environments. 

2. Pick Potted Plants

Removing the need for on-the-ground soil, potted plants allow you to maximise any and all available outdoor space. Create a curated collection of bright eclectic pots or sleek, neutral vessels to assert personality within your outdoor space. If your outdoor space allows it, pots can hold small vegetable patches, giving you the opportunity to grow your own produce, despite spatial confines. Easy to maintain, these plants are, most importantly, moveable, allowing you to transport your small-scale garden wherever you go. 

3. Choose Climbers

An easier-to-maintain rendition of the trendy vertical garden is the use of climbers. From whimsical wisteria to cosy grapevine, playful orange trumpet to mysterious creeping fig, the possibilities are endless with these low-maintenance additions. Let them grow freely for a fantastically unruly impression with added privacy benefits, or use plant supports for a neat and precise look. Additionally, full-grown climbers create their own biospheres, acting as a lush sanctuary for local wildlife. 

4. Curated Layering 

Opting for quantity does not have to mean compromising on quality. With a little planning, mixed florals and foliage can flourish in romantic layered gardens that add vibrant flair to any home. Choose fairytale pastels with lavender, iris and peonies or go bold and beautiful with marigolds and zinnias for a bustling garden year-round. Alternatively, groundcovers are a more relaxed option, generating textural depth over small landscapes in a calming, viridescent colourway. 

5. Embrace miniature gardens

Plant green spaces throughout your home by investing your time into miniature gardens. These ventures allow you to create entire biospheres within just one pot. Not only can you experiment with small-scale residential landscaping, but these gardens are known for extending the notion of ‘real’, with whimsical fairy gardens and wonderlands often taking centre stage in these works of art. Requiring occasional upkeep, miniature gardens provide gardening enthusiasts with a green-thumbed creative outlet that works in all spaces. 

Regardless of spatial constraints, small spaces are able to achieve the same beautification in their landscaping as any expansive garden.

“To create a cascading wall of colour, plant edible flowers across your planters for a beautiful yet practical display.”

“To create a cascading wall of colour, plant edible flowers across your planters for a beautiful yet practical display.”

The post Landscaping For Small Spaces appeared first on Brickworks.

Do a Deep Clean 

While a weekly wipe, mop and vacuum should keep most homes spick and span, scheduling in a day for a deep clean can give you that new-house feeling. A quick cleaning supply stock-up will give you all the tools to brave your bathroom, combat the kitchen and have your home looking and smelling as fresh as it did on move-in day. Although this one requires a bit of elbow grease, the results of seeing your iconic furniture pieces shine in the sunlight are all-the-more rewarding. Plus, a usual weekly clean should be enough to maintain the cleanliness for up to six months at a time, making it an investment with serious long-term benefits. 

Switch Up the Colourway

Your home does not need to stay the same grey-white shade all-year round, and a fresh coat of paint can make a room feel completely new. The process itself is also relatively easy, and requires patience above all else, making it an accessible DIY that you can repeat as many times as you like. Begin by patching over any cracks, dents or holes in your existing walls and use a primer to ensure maximum coverage and adhesion before starting the actual painting process. 

Pop down a canvas drop cloth to protect your floors, choose any colour you desire and go, using a paint roller and paint grid for an even finish. If an entire room seems too big a commitment, feel free to paint door frames, kitchen cabinets, your front door or a feature wall for a change of scenery that is just as impactful. Take inspiration from your natural surroundings or make a statement with a striking bold tone to impress the neighbours – get creative! 

Add Artwork 

Any artwork can redefine an interior’s personality entirely. What was once a sophisticated living room can become a playful and contemporary space by swapping out a classic framed landscape for some big and bold abstract work. Alternatively, mix-and-match interior and art styles to create a room with a distinct and quirky atmosphere. If you’re looking for a cost-effective option, second-hand sites such as Facebook Marketplace and creative outlets like Etsy have unique pieces that will stand out in your home. 

Make the Most of Outdoor Space

Unused paving in the backyard? Harness the outdoor space you have with some select furniture and accessories to make it a place you can enjoy a communal catch-up, or breakfast in the morning. Adding some potted greenery, a dining table and chairs or a loveseat can turn a once neglected area into a new space for relaxation and conviviality. As the weather changes through the year, it is a good idea to invest in a large outdoor umbrella that can adapt to offer shade in the summertime and shelter through the rainier season. 

With a few affordable purchases and a bit of gumption, you can give your home a well-deserved revamp, making it a fresh and exciting environment to live in. 

“Take inspiration from your natural surroundings or make a statement with a striking bold tone to impress the neighbours – get creative!”

“Take inspiration from your natural surroundings or make a statement with a striking bold tone to impress the neighbours – get creative!”

The post Small DIYs That Make A Big Difference appeared first on Brickworks.

1. St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

As part of St Margaret’s extensive redesign, their coveted sports precinct offers world-class facilities within a dynamically designed space. Blight Rayner Architecture opted for coastal Austral Bricks’ La Paloma Miro to be used throughout the exteriors and interiors of the Queensland school, giving the building a relaxed, luxurious look. Interiors feature a 25-metre heated pool, a strength and conditioning gym, a physical education centre, a basketball and gymnastics hall, two tennis courts and an indoor climbing wall. 

With the expansive sporting offer came the need for a flexible material that could withstand high impact activities and traffic. The natural endurance of La Paloma bricks made an ideal foundation for the new build, creating a sporting space that is both easy to maintain and visually impactful. 

2. Church of England Grammar School

The significance and heritage of the Church of England Grammar School (or ‘Churchie’) within the community is immense. BPSN Architecture marked a new chapter for the school with the development of a new educational hub and creative arts precinct, built to enrich the student body’s learning experience for years to come. Renovated through the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project prevailed despite industry hardships, creating a multi-level building that elevates immersive, multimodal learning.

Three shades of brick were used to replicate the historic exteriors of the surrounding campus – Austral Bricks Symmetry in Paprika, Bowral Bricks Hereford Bronze and Bowral Bricks Renovation Gertrudis Brown. The striking combination of these three products create a symphony of modernity, warmth and timelessness for the project. Moving through to the recreational courtyard, the bricks envelop the lush greenery that enlivens an area for handball and table tennis, creating a vibrant hub for students to gather and enjoy. 

3. Macquarie University Arts Precinct

Set to redefine the student experience, Macquarie University’s Arts Precinct engages students with its external landscape and delivers a series of dynamic and highly functional walkways. Using an eclectic blend of UrbanStone pavers in varying tones and textures, Group GSA worked over a space of 17,000 square metres, including primary walkways and a rooftop garden, to create a space that reflects its lively and diverse cohort. The pavers draw from the university’s existing architecture, further grounding the structure within its surroundings. By offering communal outdoor spaces for study and leisure, the new precinct enhances the academic and recreational aspects of the university with a contemporary flair. 

4. Monash University Earth Science Garden

Forming an abstract depiction of a geological map across the grounds of Monash University, the Earth Science Garden by Rush Wright Associates is both a striking visual feature and active outdoor classroom. Used for students partaking in geology studies, the rock garden features a developed system of rocks in various forms to tell a geological narrative. Notably, a cluster of bath salt columns stand tall in a mystical display amidst the collection. 

Choosing Bowral London pavers in Brahman Granite, Chestnut, Maple, Regency Grey and Silver Sand, created a staggered palette of earthy tones that could withstand high levels of pedestrian traffic while replicating the natural colourways of the surrounding rocks. The new garden reflects the university’s drive for experimentation and innovation, making holistic use of its campus. 

5. UTS Dr Chau Chak Wing Building

Defying previous conceptions of brick’s possibilities, Frank Gehry’s inaugural Australian design is one of Sydney’s architectural highlights. The UTS Dr Chau Chak Wing Building takes the form of a crumpled paper bag, made entirely out of Bowral Bricks Limousin Gold for its solid, dry-pressed composition. Known for pushing materials to their limits, Gehry created a complex system of bricks in five different forms, including K and L shapes, to combine in the building’s unique artistic form. Its many undulations hit the sunlight over the course of the day, giving the façade an ever-changing liveness. 

An architectural wonder in its own right, the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building marks boundary-pushing design with brick, opening up endless creative possibilities across the Australian landscape. This one-of-a-kind structure epitomises the necessity for innovative design within learning spaces, reinvigorating daily experiences in education for students and staff alike.

“Three shades of brick were used to replicate the historic exteriors of the surrounding campus – Austral Bricks Symmetry in Paprika, Bowral Bricks Hereford Bronze and Bowral Bricks Renovation Gertrudis Brown. The striking combination of these three products create a symphony of modernity, warmth and timelessness for the project.”

“Three shades of brick were used to replicate the historic exteriors of the surrounding campus – Austral Bricks Symmetry in Paprika, Bowral Bricks Hereford Bronze and Bowral Bricks Renovation Gertrudis Brown. The striking combination of these three products create a symphony of modernity, warmth and timelessness for the project.”

The post Inspiring Learning Environments Designed With Brick appeared first on Brickworks.

Even five minutes outdoors or spending time in an environment replicating nature can have significant benefits. By incorporating and surrounding yourself with natural elements in your daily routine, there are a multitude of health benefits and opportunities to enhance productivity. 

Below are our top three reasons you should bring the outdoors in and how to do it. 

01

Boosts health and wellbeing benefits

Along with the rapid increase of urbanisation, our stress rates are constantly rising. Australians now spend over 90 per cent of their time indoors, emphasising the importance of natural elements in creating a space that fosters wellbeing rather than reducing it. 

Additional greenery, sunlight and ventilation throughout your home can be relaxing and uplifting due to our evolutionary connection to nature. Moreover, water features exude a sense of calm that can balance stressful mindsets.

02

Optimises productivity

Spending time amongst greenery can also be exceedingly restorative, boosting your productivity. Our brains can further focus on tasks when surrounded by an environment that exudes calm, as opposed to clutter, lifeless corners and dark spaces. As a result, not only do we see an increase in our productivity but also escalated creativity. Increased plantation can also help reduce noise levels within crowded indoor environments as they absorb and deflect sound through their leaves and branches, making biophilic design optimal for residential and commercial interiors. 

03

Creates nature-centric environments

Sustainability is at the forefront of innovative urban design and becoming increasingly critical to include within residential spaces. While adding plants within the home reconnects us with the natural world, it also contributes to a cleaner environment by regulating temperatures. 

So, how do we achieve biophilic interiors? 

Live plants are an easy and accessible solution to greening up your space and there are plenty of hassle-free options, such as philodendrons and staghorn ferns, out there for those who lack a green thumb. If you have already mastered house plants, dedicating walls or corners of your space to cascading plants can elevate their biophilic effects.

Understandably, indoor plants are not feasible for everyone, and incorporating leafy or timber textures and colours throughout your home can produce a similar effect to the real thing. Having a backyard is a real asset, particularly if you live in an urban environment. Ensure that the indoor-outdoor access is optimised with sliding doors or large windows that frame the backyard area. Opening all the curtains and blinds throughout your home can increase natural light and ventilation, boosting biophilic benefits. 

Increasing the greenery in your home can transform it into a serene and efficient area that exudes tranquility within a lively urban landscape. 

“By incorporating nature in your daily routine, there are a multitude of health benefits and opportunities to enhance productivity. ”

“By incorporating nature in your daily routine, there are a multitude of health benefits and opportunities to enhance productivity. ”

The post The Role of Biophilia in the Home appeared first on Brickworks.

1. Clever (@getclever)

Created by Architectural Digest to appeal to the everyday individual, the ‘Clever’ Instagram page offers ‘design advice for real life.’ This is demonstrated through its focus on the popular mid-century modern interior. The account showcases the sophisticated homes of popular figures, from artists and models to entrepreneurs and activists. One thing they have in common is their appreciation for function over form. 

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2. The Modern House (@themodernhouse)

Named by Vogue as the “best interiors Instagram account,” The Modern House page highlights the scope of beauty in mid-century modern homes. The Modern House is a unique estate agency representing design-led homes that ‘pay attention to space, light, materials, nature and decoration.’ These homes provide authentic inspiration for homes structured around the principles of mid-century modernism and will give you an abundance of tips for incorporating the style into your home. 

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3. The Hadley Haven (@hadleyhaven)

For home interior envy, follow the Hadley Family. Their mid-century modern Utah house is a literal ‘haven’ inhabiting a sophisticated collection of Herman Miller furniture enjoyed by their whole family. This is an excellent page for those looking to profit from their home as the Hadley family demonstrates how to turn your home into a photography studio. This family-run page truly highlights the functionality of a mid-century modern interior. 

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4. Mid-Century Home @midcenturyhome

For your daily dose of mid-century modern homes, midcenturyhome takes you all around the world, discovering purposeful and functional homes. Each post shows a room exhibiting clean lines, geometric shapes and muted curves, conveying the international appreciation for mid-century modern style.

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5. Shed Architecture @shedarchitecture

Feast your eyes on this thoughtful arrangement of mid-century modern architecture and design. Shed Architecture & Design is a Seattle-based architecture firm seeking ‘design inspiration informed by the qualities of nature, culture and craft.’ This page embodies mid-century modern design by creating an indoor-outside connection using floor-to-ceiling windows, plants, and abundant natural light to create easy interior flow. 

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6. Midmodoz @midmodoz

For fans of mid-century modern home decor, this one is for you. Midmodoz presents an extensive range of furniture, lighting and art, all inspired by mid-century modern living. This is a page you won’t get bored scrolling through, as no two pieces are the same. Midmodoz showcases unique furniture pieces and often pairs art with furniture items, offering inspiration for your home. If you like what you see on Midmodoz’s page, you can venture into their store in Peregian Beach. 

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“The account showcases the sophisticated homes of popular figures from artists and models to entrepreneurs and activists. One thing they have in common is their appreciation for function over form.”

“The account showcases the sophisticated homes of popular figures from artists and models to entrepreneurs and activists. One thing they have in common is their appreciation for function over form.”

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