ellivo (Archive)

Located in the highly sought after area of Kangaroo Point, the development sets out to showcase the heritage significance of the existing residence, Thornclyffe.  The tower form curves around the house, and makes use of large screen elements to create a backdrop to the heritage setting. The screens help to produce an aesthetic quality that blurs the line between background and foreground, inspired by the Bokeh photography style.

The development comprises of the existing heritage house and 20 luxury apartments, including two sub penthouses and two penthouse apartments that feature spacious, private rooftop gardens. The location and design of the tower captures a range of outlooks, from the Brisbane CBD, to stretches of the Brisbane River.  Each apartment maximises its unique view with open-plan layouts and generous glazing.

The Ronald McDonald House charity provides a home away from home for seriously ill children and their families. In South Brisbane they have built a 10-storey complex adjacent the Mater Children’s Hospital, which is slowly being fitted out floor by floor as they get funding. Ellivo was commissioned to design the fitout for Level 9, which was destined to become a home for the families that need to stay longer.

The project consists of nine accommodation rooms – some with interconnecting doors to house larger families – as well as communal kitchen facilities and a dining area, a large fenced play area, and a private function room which can be booked for family functions.

The project received funding from various charities and fundraising efforts – among them, the annual Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation bike ride contributed a large amount. Two of the riders and fundraisers for this were Ellivians Mason and Jen, who rode 1000 km from Sydney to Brisbane in 2017.

Photographed by Mindi Cooke

The new Caesarstone showroom sits next to the state-of-the-art warehouse facility in Yatala; and is designed for prospective clients to appreciate the look and feel of the Caesarstone product. With the changing light of day, and during the night, the space functions as a retail and event space. The focus is always on the product, and the quality of the light is all-important for showing the true colours and textures of the stone. Users can touch and feel large pieces of stone, collect samples and view slabs in the warehouse. The space also utilises touch-screen technology to allow clients to visualise the stone in their own projects.

The project was designed to be as flexible as possible, to enable Caesarstone to change their stone panels whenever they wanted to showcase new products. For this reason, the palette is crisp and simple – making the stone the hero of the spaces. The various Caesarstone finishes flow through into boardrooms, amenities & staff areas to reinforce the pride that the Caesarstone team have for their brand.

Photos by Rix Ryan Photography

The Whistle Dixie sits on the ground floor of Aurizon’s sleek 15-storey office building in the Fortitude Valley. In a playful nod to the building’s main occupant – Australia’s largest rail freight operator – we used trains as our departure point for inspiration. The main counter represents derailed carriages with train tracks hung above, a light box portraying the ‘X’ train stop sign is seen in the front window, and the floors feature recycled timber sleepers that have been recessed into the concrete. These touches are mixed with luxurious, high-quality finishes that help to create a space that can cater for patrons seamlessly from the early morning to the late evening.

The client wanted the space to be flexible in how it could be used through the day – they needed it to be light and open during the morning when the venue was a café, while also being a warm and intimate venue come nightfall. We achieved this with large, mobile, curved velvet lounges under high-level planting, subtle leather and brass touches, and full-length curtains that allow users to create smaller function spaces when needed.

The name ‘Whistle Dixie’ came from a Clint Eastwood movie, which injected some fun into the fitout - not just in name but also in touches throughout all the branding. This was a true reflection of the clients’ attitude, which we were able to highlight as we took them on an identity & branding journey. It was extremely important that the venue’s interior design and the Whistle Dixie brand worked seamlessly together. We worked closely with the client to create the logos, graphics, signage & stationery, which has given the restaurant a truly unique identity.

Photography by Mindy Cooke Photography

The refurbishment of the Master Builders Queensland offices was a big step for the board, and a huge commitment to change. From the start, we were aware of the association’s heritage, and its importance to the building community.

We went on a journey with the Master Builders team where we explored who they were, how they wanted to be presented to the general community, and what mattered the most to them. This helped to identify the essence of the project for us – the few key things that needed to hold true through the whole fitout. These qualities included the following: heritage, craftsmanship, high- quality of workmanship, functionality, connection, and modesty.

This exploration led us to look at the history of Queensland builders – their craft, and the materials they work with. We created subtle touches through the fitout showcasing traditional materials in their raw form, to remind visitors of the origins of Master Builders. These little details helped to identify different spaces as you move through the building and help to create the sense of a journey – you go from timber through copper, steel and brass details as you get further into the building.

Another key concern that came out in early workshops with the clients was the connectivity between different teams in the office. The old layout consisted a segmented cluster of small rooms, which meant that space was being used inefficiently, and many of the staff felt disconnected from the rest of the office and from the members. We were able to combine spaces and win enough previously-wasted area to allow for centralised break-out spaces, small team meeting rooms and spaces for people to congregate casually away from their work desks. Most of the lower ground floor was repurposed as a refreshing lunch area with the feeling of an outdoor café, complete with extensive end-of-trip facilities.

Photography by Mindi Cooke

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.

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.

Being designers we were excited by the prospect of testing our approach to the end user by starting with our staff and clients and personifying their needs and mapping out their possible journey with us.  We soon realised that our clients and staff were all very different and this led us to create spaces that could adapt.

We created private spaces where meetings can be confidential, small meeting spaces and public spaces where people can connect. We wrapped all of these in a series of movable curtains that change the privacy and use of the spaces. We can cocoon spaces and make them private, we can adjust lighting and become more of an entertaining space. The uses are varied and practical to take us through the next five or ten years that we may be here.

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.

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.

Rainbow Bay is an evolving beachfront boulevard of Coolangatta. We partnered with our long-term client Aspect Property Group, to deliver a catalyst of exclusive living which reflects the unique assets of the site, in particular the direct proximity to Rainbow Bay beach. Our client sought to deliver to a niche of down-sizing owner-occupiers looking for a premium product. We focused on creating a timeless built form, minimising the amount of rendered surfaces was important in delivering a building that aims to look admirable long into the future.

Photographed by Andy MacPherson Studio

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.

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.

The Providence Sales and Community Centre embodies the values of a vibrant new neighbourhood precinct located in the Ripley Valley. The Centre serves as a welcoming gateway, reflecting true community living while holding a strong connection to the landscape in which it is sited. Situated amongst vegetated nature reserves, the design seeks to connect and blur boundaries between the inside and outside, unlocking views across the adventure playground and mountain ranges beyond and balancing the requirement of an open accessible ‘pavilion’, while engaging with the landscape. The design is accessible, welcoming and familiar and enhances the existing features of the site for all visitors to share and enjoy.

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.

Lorna Jane sought our guidance to update, professionalise and re-energise their brand through a number of fitouts Austalia wide.

Ellivo Architects carried the concept ideas through to construction to achieve a unique fitout which represented the “Active Living” ethos of the Lorna Jane
brand.

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.

Petrie Terrace, wedged between the CBD, Milton and Paddington, is rapidly becoming a hot spot for after-work drinks, evening dining and weekend catch-ups from young professionals to inner-city workers. Growing tired of the existing ordinary hotel offerings, visitors seek a dynamic, elegant yet acquainted answer to their short-stay accommodation. We felt it only fitting to pay homage to the cultural background of Petrie Terrace. The articulated building form and selection of materials including white tiled archways and classic red brick, nod at Petrie Terrace’s industrial past and highlights the elegance of the surrounding heritage brick and stone buildings.

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.

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.

Photographed by Andy MacPherson Studio

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.