This home in Miami on the Gold Coast took out two top national awards, winning the coveted Australian House of the Year and the award for Best House Alteration and Addition Over 200 Square Metres. Pictures: Christopher Frederick Jones
A Queensland renovation of a “ramshackle 1970s-era house” has been named the best in the country, and is so good it went on to scoop the coveted Australian House of the Year title as well.
MORE: Instant property mogul: 10 homes for just over $3m
Giant skate bowl home sells for millions
Offers flood in for Australia’s most popular house
Two awards were presented to this home located in the Gold Coast suburb of Miami. Picture: Christopher Frederick Jones
The home located in Miami on the Gold Coast won the top gong at the Houses Awards that were handed out Friday, where 10 of Australia’s best homes were selected across nine residential design categories.
The jury statement over the win said Cantala Avenue House designed by ME “champions the capacity for modest residential architecture to significantly impact the way we live in Australia”.
The renovation transformed the 1970s home. Picture: Christopher Frederick Jones.
It said the home was “within an unremarkable yet incredibly familiar suburban context” but the renovation of the “ramshackle 1970s-era house offers its neighbourhood a welcoming communal space comprising a new brickwork entry sequence, planting and seating under a mature poinciana tree”.
The jury said the design balance between public and private space was “skilfully navigated”.
ME had told judges that the design established a private north facing courtyard and re-engaged the public components of the dwelling with the street and wider neighbourhood. “Planted courtyards permeate the plan providing access to light, ventilation and nature.”
Judges said it was a “contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional beach shack”. Picture: Christopher Frederick Jones
The judges were sold on the idea, saying the design responded to its location on the Gold Coast and was a “contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional beach shack”.
“It is a playful and refreshing reinvention of this typology,” the jury citation said. “It has civic respect, yet individualism.”
The home also took out the best house alteration and addition over 200sq m title.
“Once typified by scenes of bronzed bathers enjoying long, hot summers, the Gold Coast has been going through a slow transition from holiday playground to Australia’s sixth-largest city,” the jury statement said. “With the unfortunate demolition of many of its understated 1950s houses, the laid-back and neighbourly feel of the area has shifted.”
The backyard and pool before the renovation.
The stunning new pool area after renovation.
“Located within this challenging suburban context, Cantala Avenue House by ME is an alteration and addition that joyously reinterprets the history of its place and beach shack typology.”
“Rather than erase the character of the neighbourhood, ME has tactfully taken an ordinary 1970s split-level house, reworking and extending the plan to better engage with the street, the garden and the yard.”
The statement said the courtyard and pool allowed privacy, while a low brick wall and terrace connected the home’s interior to the activity of the street.
“Acknowledging its humble origins while meeting the needs of a young family, the project sits comfortably within the suburban Gold Coast and adds to the sociability of its quiet cul-de-sac.”
The award for Best Emerging Practice was presented to Brisbane-based architect, Lineburg Wang – designer of this home. Picture: Christopher Frederick Jones.
A Brisbane firm also took out the award for best emerging practice. Lineburg Wang, located in Brisbane, had a “palpable freshness” in design, the jury said.
“Park Road is a fine example of a response to a traditional Queenslander house: it is subtle and sympathetic to the existing condition, with layers of history revealed. Simultaneously, the architects’ bold and clever design moves transform it into a contemporary home.”
The judges decided that Lineburg Wang “solves pragmatic concerns with poeticism”.
“The jury was impressed with the formal clarity and spatial experimentation seen in the collection of predominantly alteration and addition projects and are looking forward to seeing what’s to come for Lineburg Wang.”
FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON FACEBOOK
The post ‘Ramshackle’ QLD reno named Australian House of the Year appeared first on realestate.com.au.