ellivo (Places to Live & Stay)

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 2018.

Photographed by Mindi Cooke

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Vantage is located in the Royal Pines Gold Precinct known for its PGA Quality Golf Course and Carrara Stadium. Nestled between Southport and Nerang, residents enjoy the close proximity to major Gold Coast hot spots and major golf courses, while also having a peaceful buffer away from the hustle and bustle. Ellivo partnered with the Rayjon Property Group, to maximise the potential area’s nature assets and create a rich community for people to live in.

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.

Designing for the specific characteristics of a place and its people is a mantra in our studio. Enclave at is a great example of how an understanding of these elements can make a great place. Our client recognised the limited offerings for medium density options in the Wynnum Manly area. Our brief was born out of the area, its residents and the characteristics that define bayside living. Three buildings offer three types of living, from townhomes to generous apartments. The key elements of the design are views, bay breezes, and a level of accommodation that appeals to owner occupiers. It also has to “fit“ in the local area. The materials and scale were driven by the desire to embrace and reflect the scale and feel of the neighbourhood. The central timber boardwalk reflects the nearby mangrove boardwalks. But the most important ingredient is to create the spaces that reinforce community. This is not a gated community, it provides security but contributes to the streetscape and provides great communal spaces for the owners.