ellivo (Archive)

This is the first experience store of its size in Australia which commanded attention from all stakeholders from Australia to Germany.  Miele wanted to envelope their brand in an interior space that complimented the fabric of the building and this is where Ellivo came in.

The existing shell was challenging and exciting and made for a complex design. With such a refined brand and strong graphics we decided to use the angles, voids and existing concrete fabric to act as the stage for the experiences. The customer journey was carefully planned out amongst the architectural elements to create a space that can adapt with product developments into the future.

The building’s form seeks to be bold, minimalistic and timeless – designed to be efficient for both buildability and capacity.

Natural light and landscape is incorporated without comprising floor yield, to ensure a sense of calmness and tranquillity, supportive of the building’s Medical purpose. The building’s open corner addresses the main entry, with well-shaded balconies wrapping the upper floor, allowing for a private retreat for workers without disconnection from the ground plane. Double height atriums open both to sky and planters below seeking to breathe life into the building – trees are able to grow through atrium voids which are decorated with seating plinths at ground level.

The chosen material palette draws inspiration from the surrounding industrial context. It plays with a juxtaposition of textures through raw materials such as brick, concrete, steel and plywood.

We owe the success of the project to the strong support of our open-minded client and supportive builder, who worked with us seamlessly throughout the project to ensure the quality and vision of the project was upheld.

Our brief was therefore twofold, create a sleek commercial podium, and a multi-residential upper that responds to the transitionary nature of the site.

We drew upon early 20th century modernism as inspiration for the simple yet bold forms of the façade. Bands of concrete frame the showroom, which is softened by a double height curved glass façade that is grounded by a garden. The curved glass wall draws residents & visitors into the entry, giving back space and volume to the street and giving a sense of openness to the street.

A simple material pallet of concrete, glass, steel, metal cladding & vegetation create a balance between a commercial aesthetic podium and a human scale level of detail for the residential component above.

We used subtropical design fundamentals including vegetation, flow through ventilation, natural light & solar control to make sure we created a high-quality living environment for the residents & commercial tenants. This includes a communal recreation space on the roof with a pool and steam room to offer a meeting place for residents.

This is a very young and vibrant business, bursting with enthusiasm that we were very excited by the first time we listened to their vision for their move to much larger premises.  Taking over a largely existing floor we had a modest budget with which to create their dream – the arrival to a law firm that was to be very AJ & Co.

From the lift doors opening on level 18 of Waterfront Place the foyer opens up through their arrival area to river and city views. There is no reception welcome, just a welcoming space, iPad sign in and then onto the lounge. Complete with bar and spaces to meet and relax, the space is to be shared and enjoyed.

Nero Apartments offers a high-quality living environment within the rapidly evolving Newstead neighbourhood. Located within close proximity to the newly developed and growing Gasometer retail precinct, the development benefits from an abundance of recreation and amenity options for its residents. Positioned amongst a multitude of high-density apartment buildings, Nero seeks to stand out from the crowd and strives to offer something a little different. Residents are offered concierge type facilities to welcome them home, as well as apartment technologies more akin to hotel accommodation.

Nero, meaning black in Italian, inspires the dark personality of the building’s overall expression and resulting material palette. The external form of the building creates a homogeneous façade that conceals the apartment balconies behind it. This is a direct response to the due west orientation of the apartments, balancing solar protection without limiting access to light and views.

Clad in black tile, aluminium cladding and screening, the development has a sleek and timeless appearance. The folded gold screening to the lower podium levels has many roles; it provides solar protection towards the west while folding open towards the north, it provides privacy up to the balustrade height, creates foreground interest where there are no views, and forms a sculptural contribution to the streetscape.

Photography by Scott Burrows

Their desire to demonstrate integrity and openness is embedded within their new home. From the moment you step inside the front door the client area is open and has views to Newstead beyond and the newly refurbished historical Gasometer. The combination of smoky glass, polished concrete, concrete, plywood and leather provides comfort and texture in the detailing and a most warm welcome.

Arena is a collective response to the context of the people, the site, views, orientation and ground level activation. We partnered with Galileo, to deliver something unlike anything else is South Brisbane and its strong bold form makes a real statement in the vibrant South Brisbane community. The central courtyard defined by the expression of the podium form, is the heart of Arena and is host to active public gathering areas, and private retreat and refection nooks.  The rotated podium and tower form takes advantage of the expansive view lines, allow views for neighbouring buildings and creates an urban courtyard that contributes to both the public and private amenity.

The site and client held three key criteria, design for flood immunity, design for ultimate privacy and design for openness and light. The contrasting requirements for achieving privacy in a light filled home formed the framework for the project. As each step up toward the house protects it from potential flood waters, the gardens that surround its entry step into the house. Our clients were our co-creators of this new home. Being retired empty nesters, this was a place not only for them to call home, but a retreat for their extended family and friends. With this in mind we focused on provided flexible living spaces, which could accommodate activated living and entertaining as well as private play and sleep out guest rooms.

Drawing inspiration from nearby natural attractions such as Mt Cootha, and taking cues from the values and attitudes of the local community of residents within The Gap, we partnered with Lantona group to create a unique development in the heart of The Gap with a focus on community and the natural surrounds.

Hive aims to create an idyllic lifestyle providing refuge and a sense of belonging as a retreat from the pressures of modern life. The homes seek to strike a balance between a sense of privacy and a sense of community, taking advantage of the leafy surrounds and native plant life.

Fortitude Valley is located on the fringe of Brisbane’s CBD and showcases a mixture of heritage brick buildings, art and nightlife. Fortitude Café embraces the ‘Valley’ vibe with pops of neon, colour and memorable graphics which pay tribute to the locality and history of the area. The café sits on the ground floor of a large office building, and is directly accessible to office workers, passing pedestrians, construction workers and nearby residents. We took our clients on an identity and branding journey, working in partnership to create the logos, graphics and stationery, which has given Fortitude Café a truly unique identity.

The fitout is light filled and open-aired, balancing a refined yet edgy personality. Featuring pops of pink neon lettering (‘The F. Word’) - sitting above a pink velvet banquette in the lounge, hand glazed emerald green tiles, distinctive Patricia Urquiola triangle breeze blocks, herringbone terracotta tiles, the design emphasises our client’s passion for their work and has created a distinctive living and dining area.

Aerocare have a proud history in Australia and New Zealand as a leading independent ground handling company. They were keen for their surroundings to demonstrate to others what they do and their enthusiasm. It was critical to us to include their sense of fun and let this fitout become part of the brand. Together we took a creative approach to work spaces in conjunction with them and the developer (landlord).

Harnessing the concrete and blockwork surrounds, the natural light and their strong aeronautical links, this inspired the selections, colours and elements within. Passion and energy was delivered through installations, graffiti mural and the ‘escape’slide which connects the two levels and defines in the built form who they are.

With steep tree-lined streets, colourfully renovated Queenslander houses, and boutique bars and restaurants, Rosalie is a compact, attractive pocket of Brisbane that is a well-kept secret of the locals. We were approached by the client to deliver an eye-catching office building for the under-stocked Rosalie Village Centre. Our response was to compliment the eccentric character of the Rosalie, providing workers and visitors with a unique commercial and cultural experience.

In this generous family home, we were able to celebrate our client’s connection with this eternal material but also making sure that the other needs of the family were catered for.

A simple crucifix form created four courtyards for different outdoor activities. In the centre of the cross is the kitchen-the “command centre” of the modern family unit. Everything radiates out from the kitchen hub to the more private spaces within the home. Kids have their own wing to run wild in, but are never too far from the kitchen for mum to keep an eye on things.

The four courtyards defined by the plan created different activity zones- a car court, pool zone, tennis court and a green space for the kids and dogs. The home flows out through a generous double height terrace that is the summertime focus for outdoor living. Like all our projects for individual clients, the real pleasure is seeing how the family makes the spaces their own and really engage with the architecture.

Our brief was to create a space that will balance function, utilise natural light, deliver the best out of their modest budget and provide a welcoming environment for staff and patients alike. The clinic sits on the second floor of a large office building and is easily accessible with onsite parking. As you enter through the ground level, there is the option to choose either the lift or use the entrance to the grand staircase that leads to two different receptions on to the floor plate which is over 1000m2. The fitout is light filled and open-aired, balancing a refined yet young personality. Featuring pops of colour to retain branding, feature timber panelling and wall dividers for warmth and directing clientele, and feature lighting in the stairwell and reception all create a more homely feel for staff and patients.

Newstead a suburb in transformation – converting from a warehouse district into a hip, inner city hub with no shortage of shopping, dining and nightlife options. With Brisbane CBD, New Farm’s James Street and Fortitude Valley just a short stroll away, the site is at the heart of the entertainment and lifestyle precinct. La Vida is an extension to this energetic community. Together with Bekaa group, we sought to deliver a sleek and contemporary expression of the suburb, providing residents with resort living amenities with a luxury touch with views to the edges of Brisbane. These large, open, spacious apartments are designed with luxury in mind while still being an entertainer’s dream.

Photographer: Scott Shirley

Rochedale is located within the middle ring of Brisbane and is known for its friendly community, rich farming history, relatively low density and abundant nature reserves. Its well connected locality has seen the suburb develop rapidly with new master planned estates. We partnered with Aveo Group to create a catalyst for a community’s wellness, fitness and connection. With resort style living a key component to the brief, it was hard not to have fun on this project. We studied the context, site opportunities and various building materials, to create a unique cultural feature of the area.

The Hyatt Coolum Visitor Centre for Lend Lease welcomes visitors with expansive walls of glass capturing views to Mount Coolum. The light filled open plan space caters for functions, openings and a permanent sales display with associated offices. Copper clad walls and an earthy patina to the subdued material and colour palette, settling the building into its golf course location. The floating roof is accentuated by effective lighting by night to give the appearance that the whole form floats lightly over the ponds beneath.

Located in the heart of the well-established Everton Park community, Greystone Terraces responds to a demand for low-maintained high-end living to down-sizing retirees and inner-city professionals. We partnered with Mirvac to provide a varied portfolio of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes catering to the varied Everton Park community. Together, our approach blends elegant, considerate architectural design. The success of the Greystone Terraces, with all homes sold out within weeks of release, was owed to a close working relationship with the client, consultant team and project builders. We are thrilled to have been a part of this catalyst project.

Less than five kilometres from Brisbane CBD, Stones Corner is a well-connected inner south-eastern suburb of the city nestled between Greenslopes and Woolloongabba. With a strong history, this gazetted nook is growing as a cultural and lifestyle precinct. Being a major residential destination for Brisbane’s young professionals, Stones Corner residents seek a dynamic home which enhance the existing offerings of the area including its connections to Hanlon Park and Bikeway, and the active Stones Corner retail strip.

In Partnership with Lantona, the design of Oxy aims to be complementary to its context by using a material palette that is sympathetic to its surroundings, while providing a high level of private and social amenity. Materials such as weatherboard, timber palings and brickwork provide a sense of familiarly. The weatherboard façade pattern represents the roof form of the traditional Queensland Cottage – a nod to the historical vernacular.

Jade is one of our most iconic and memorable projects. Everything about the project was exemplary. The vision for the project was to attract an international clientele who would be using these for permanent residences or for holidays. This understanding informed the project at every level, from the flow of the floor plan to the detailing of the understated but opulent finishes. The result is pure luxury but with genuinely Queensland sense of relaxed living.

Timeless architecture is difficult to achieve, but there is no doubt that this project still remains one of our most recognised and enduring projects.

As a gateway to South Brisbane’s laneway culture and a stone’s throw from the cultural hub of West End, the site on the corner of Fish Lane attracted residents that were searching for more than just a place to call home. We identified the need for an alternative design vernacular in contrast to the existing commercial provisions in the South Brisbane precinct.  We placed a focus on connections with the outdoors, activation of the ground plane network of bustling cafes and bars, and providing visual connection to neighbouring precincts of West End and the CBD were essential components of their living criteria.

What is the appropriate response when designing a contemporary family home in a sensitive and historical setting? Minimal and raw yet textured and welcoming, the Paddington Residence is an exploration of space and materials for a rigorously contemporary family home in a historical setting. Beyond simply satisfying the client’s spatial requirements, the design explores how to create layered spaces with edges that offer privacy and flexibility.

The challenge within this brief was to deliver their spatial requirements on a small 400 square metre site with heritage neighbours, a very steep slope and ensuring protection of the significant tree. The design response has been to imagine the home as a procession of 5 distinct spaces, each with their own function, transitioning from the historic Moreton Bay Fig Tree to the west and the views to the city to the east.

This multi-award winning development provided New Farm with one of the first one per floor penthouse developments and created a benchmark for luxury homes in the inner city. Recognising that high end purchasers came from large homes all areas were designed with entertaining and an overall feeling of space in mind. Internal black reflection ponds create a divide between living and the Master bed, but also assist in creating space and luxury within.The palette reflects the traditional Queenslander with warm timber and travertine throughout and compliments both modern and classic furnishings.
Awards: HIA National Award, Project of the Year (2005), QMBA Project of the Year (2005), >QMBA winner residential building $2 million – $10 million (2005), HIA Housing & Construction Award for Res. Buildings over $10 million (2005)