Mystery box
Like a skilled poker player, this home’s facade gives nothing away. From the moment builder Paul Phipps began work on his own house in Brightwater it piqued the interest of passersby. Intrigued by the expansive white screen wall, which ran the length of the boundary, it was anyone’s guess what lay beyond. Amused by the speculation, Paul and wife Robyn admit they have always been drawn to architecture outside the typical suburban mould. So when they saw house plans for the site by building designer Trevor Reitsma they couldn’t resist giving it a go.
“I would have driven past the block and not given it a second glance, because it is a really odd shape, but the designs Trevor had done were just so innovative I saw it as our next challenge,” Paul says. Set on a 600sq m block with a 30-metre long boundary, the unusual triangular shape inspired the layout of the long linear home. Opting to detach the garage and put it at the front of the block, the home was located at the rear boundary to create a secluded central courtyard.
To optimise the available space, multi-track sliding glass doors on either side of the living/dining space open to outdoor entertainment areas. These are shielded from street view by a batten screen wall, which doubles as the home’s fence and facade. The simple layout is broken into three zones. To the north-west, Paul and Robyn’s bedroom and ensuite bask in sunlight while the central hub of the house features an open plan kitchen, living and dining area.
To the south, additional bedrooms, bathrooms and a second living area are perfectly suited to their adult daughter, Lauren, and guests.
Innovative concealment also plays a part in the design, with a laundry hidden behind opaque sliding doors in the hallway. Having built at least half a dozen homes designed by Trevor, including several for his family, Paul says they enjoyed the opportunity to team up again.
“When it comes to design I absolutely trust his judgment and we consulted every step of the way to overcome any challenges that arose,” the owner of PRL Homes explains. “We found because it was such a long home with bathrooms at either end, a double hot water system was needed. Another challenge was installing the ducting in the ceiling because at some points the roof was only a three-degree pitch, which was very tight.”
With a preference for minimalist streamlined interiors, the home reflects a contemporary beach aesthetic. The exterior is a mix of timber composite panelling in Resene Double Stone Wall and render in Surfmist while the entertainment areas are finished in pebbled cement. Inside, off-white porcelain tiles unify the attractive kitchen and living areas, and reflect the abundance of natural light, which pours through the louvres and large windows.
In the kitchen a Caesarstone benchtop in Snow and high gloss white laminate cabinetry is punctuated with a charcoal tile splashback. In contrast to the home’s angular lines, Robyn chose a round kitchen sink for something “just a bit different”. While muted tones dominate, the landscaping adds a shot of green with thriving buffalo grass softening the home’s bold white lines. “We did the landscaping ourselves and looked at a lot of books for inspiration because we wanted the gardens to look like they were established, rather than brand new,” Robyn says.
“In the end we choose a few large pandanus trees and Nafray grass, which has grown incredibly quickly.” Drought tolerance and ease of maintenance were also key considerations in the garden design and prompted the creation of pebbled beds topped with potted cycads. Birds of paradise and a few hardy tropical varieties were added along the fence line for colour and texture. Garnering attention from the building and design industry, as well as a constant passing parade of residents, Trevor recently picked up the Building Design Association of Queensland regional award for best home under 250sq m and new home construction under $1100 per sq m.
Robyn and Paul admit the win was a nice surprise and agree one of the best aspects of the house is its feeling of spaciousness, despite its small footprint. “What makes a good house is the feeling of space,” Paul says. “You can build a small house or a large house, but what really makes the difference to how well it functions is the layout. If that’s right a smaller place can feel much larger than it actually is.” Always keen to push the architectural envelope and build something challenging, Paul says he is already considering his next project. But for now, he and Robyn are content to enjoy the private sanctuary behind their home’s mysterious exterior.
INSIDER
Favourite spot
Paul // I like the little front courtyard. It is nice and private and has good filtered sunlight in the morning.
Best design aspect
Paul // I think the indoor and outdoor living areas work really well together. It gives the house a really open feel and makes it incredibly airy.
Best time of day
Robyn // In the afternoon the battens on the pergola cast a nice diffused light and shadows on the outdoor living areas.
Story: Kylie Jackes, weekender Issue 632, June 24th, 2010.
Like a skilled poker player, this home’s facade gives nothing away. From the moment builder Paul Phipps began work on his own house in Brightwater it piqued the interest of passersby. Intrigued by the expansive white screen wall, which ran the length of the boundary, it was anyone’s guess what lay beyond. Amused by the speculation, Paul and wife Robyn admit they have always been drawn to architecture outside the typical suburban mould. So when they saw house plans for the site by building designer Trevor Reitsma they couldn’t resist giving it a go.
“I would have driven past the block and not given it a second glance, because it is a really odd shape, but the designs Trevor had done were just so innovative I saw it as our next challenge,” Paul says. Set on a 600sq m block with a 30-metre long boundary, the unusual triangular shape inspired the layout of the long linear home. Opting to detach the garage and put it at the front of the block, the home was located at the rear boundary to create a secluded central courtyard.
To optimise the available space, multi-track sliding glass doors on either side of the living/dining space open to outdoor entertainment areas. These are shielded from street view by a batten screen wall, which doubles as the home’s fence and facade. The simple layout is broken into three zones. To the north-west, Paul and Robyn’s bedroom and ensuite bask in sunlight while the central hub of the house features an open plan kitchen, living and dining area.
To the south, additional bedrooms, bathrooms and a second living area are perfectly suited to their adult daughter, Lauren, and guests.
Innovative concealment also plays a part in the design, with a laundry hidden behind opaque sliding doors in the hallway. Having built at least half a dozen homes designed by Trevor, including several for his family, Paul says they enjoyed the opportunity to team up again.
“When it comes to design I absolutely trust his judgment and we consulted every step of the way to overcome any challenges that arose,” the owner of PRL Homes explains. “We found because it was such a long home with bathrooms at either end, a double hot water system was needed. Another challenge was installing the ducting in the ceiling because at some points the roof was only a three-degree pitch, which was very tight.”
With a preference for minimalist streamlined interiors, the home reflects a contemporary beach aesthetic. The exterior is a mix of timber composite panelling in Resene Double Stone Wall and render in Surfmist while the entertainment areas are finished in pebbled cement. Inside, off-white porcelain tiles unify the attractive kitchen and living areas, and reflect the abundance of natural light, which pours through the louvres and large windows.
In the kitchen a Caesarstone benchtop in Snow and high gloss white laminate cabinetry is punctuated with a charcoal tile splashback. In contrast to the home’s angular lines, Robyn chose a round kitchen sink for something “just a bit different”. While muted tones dominate, the landscaping adds a shot of green with thriving buffalo grass softening the home’s bold white lines. “We did the landscaping ourselves and looked at a lot of books for inspiration because we wanted the gardens to look like they were established, rather than brand new,” Robyn says.
“In the end we choose a few large pandanus trees and Nafray grass, which has grown incredibly quickly.” Drought tolerance and ease of maintenance were also key considerations in the garden design and prompted the creation of pebbled beds topped with potted cycads. Birds of paradise and a few hardy tropical varieties were added along the fence line for colour and texture. Garnering attention from the building and design industry, as well as a constant passing parade of residents, Trevor recently picked up the Building Design Association of Queensland regional award for best home under 250sq m and new home construction under $1100 per sq m.
Robyn and Paul admit the win was a nice surprise and agree one of the best aspects of the house is its feeling of spaciousness, despite its small footprint. “What makes a good house is the feeling of space,” Paul says. “You can build a small house or a large house, but what really makes the difference to how well it functions is the layout. If that’s right a smaller place can feel much larger than it actually is.” Always keen to push the architectural envelope and build something challenging, Paul says he is already considering his next project. But for now, he and Robyn are content to enjoy the private sanctuary behind their home’s mysterious exterior.
INSIDER
Favourite spot
Paul // I like the little front courtyard. It is nice and private and has good filtered sunlight in the morning.
Best design aspect
Paul // I think the indoor and outdoor living areas work really well together. It gives the house a really open feel and makes it incredibly airy.
Best time of day
Robyn // In the afternoon the battens on the pergola cast a nice diffused light and shadows on the outdoor living areas.
Story: Kylie Jackes, weekender Issue 632, June 24th, 2010.
