The sum of its spectacular parts makes up the whole at Bayside House. Adam Kane Architects is the mastermind behind this well-considered design and, even at first glimpse, you can see Adam and his team have cleverly referenced the heritage context in a stylish, contemporary way. A beautiful gable-rooved brick building is the first hint of the many details to come, which add to this home’s holistic design.
Bayside House is a modern home with a sophisticated aesthetic, yet still provides a timeless, comfortable space for the family to live in. A space where bringing the outside in was key to not only marrying the internal and external palette, but also attracting an abundance of sunlight into the living areas and maximising views out to the garden’s inviting pool.
A durable, neutral palette of Custom Krause Emperor Bricks on the façade is joined to the interior palette via large glass windows. Here American Oak floorboards, muted with a grey wash, create a ‘sandy’ feel that neatly references the beachside location. These two materials then sit in stunning contrast to the dark, walnut-brown veneer on the joinery, yet each element works in great harmony creating a truly elegant setting.
“We created a holistic design concept of what works internally and outside, so defined a palette that worked well together with de-saturated colours and a lot of timber and a lot of texture, “ Adam Kane, Director, Adam Kane Architects, says.
What makes this project a standout is its clean, minimalist simplicity. And the thoughtful detail within that simplicity, which adds sophistication to the design. The use of locally-made Krause Emperor bricks being case in point.
“We wanted to use these bricks in different ways, because it’s such a beautiful brick material that we didn’t want to just have a flat façade with a standard treatment,” Adam comments. As you can see, nothing about Krause Emperor bricks or the way they’re laid is standard.
Apart from the stunning gable, referencing the adjoining homes, there’s an eye-catching hit and miss breezeway at the entrance. It’s an attractive design feature but also works in a practical sense, providing diffused light and airflow, and an important sense of privacy for the family. Bricks are also glued to the outside ceilings as a finish, so when you look up you’re immersed in beautiful brickwork. And the façade’s right hand side “is kinked back to add a little bit of depth to the building at almost a 45 degree angle, creating sharp corners. Then on the left, bricks are laid at a horizontal angle above a window and a vertical angle below,” Adam explains.
Of course it takes a special brick to achieve such a sophisticated aesthetic. And, when it came to brick choice, using a locally made brick was a huge drawcard for Adam. “We found we could work with them to find the right colours. And having the flexibility of hand picking an assortment of bricks – custom to your needs – is important to us, and that ability to work with a smaller manufacturer, compared to the larger players of the game.” Brick shape was important, too. Krause Emperor brick’s long, slender proportion definitely hit the mark in that respect.
“Those long, slender bricks are timeless. It wouldn’t have been as special if it were a standard proportion brick or something that was more uniform in texture and colour. That nice patchwork of texture and colour really brings something unique and special to the home,” Adam says.
Bayside House is a great result all round. The family is exceptionally happy and the architects are justifiably, though humbly, proud. And it’s not just because of great design and material choice. It’s having clients who were easy to deal with and trusted their architect. “Having a client who trusts your designer aesthetic and what you’re proposing is really great, it just enhances the build, and the end result,” Adam concludes. And what a stunning result it is.
Architect: Adam Kane Architects
Product: Krause Emperor Bricks, Custom
Builder: Hardwick Build Co
Bricklayer: Newmac Bricklaying
Photographer: Tom Blachford