Bricks from PGH Bricks & Pavers helped the architect meet the brief for a mid-century modern look and also respond to the local vernacular at a new house in Chandler, Queensland.
The Long House, so named for its elongated, linear floorplan was designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects, with the building set upon tranquil acreage stretching out across the east-west axis to take advantage of the north-eastern exposure. The architect, Shaun Lockyer further capitalised on the available space by creating an outdoor room defined by white brick ‘ha-ha’ walls. A ha-ha is a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier while allowing uninterrupted views of the area beyond.
The outdoor room, which features a couple of full-height walls with large circular apertures, adds depth and intrigue to the property without restricting the flow of space and light. Defining the entire ground floor is the white brickwork that also serves to create the mid-century modern look sought by the owners, Don and Kelvie.
“The clients were interested in mid-century modern work, referencing white painted brick specifically, but they also wanted to contextualise the house in the sub-tropics,” recalled Lockyer.
“To this end, we proposed a mix of simple modern forms with some playful combinations of simple, timeless materials.
“We chose a random selection of bricks from PGH Bricks and had them painted in Dulux’s Lexicon Quarter Strength 'PCWF4'. We use PGH for the overwhelming proportion of our work as they consistently offer great service, technical support, guidance and product selection,” he added.
In addition to referencing a mid-century modern look at the Long House, PGH bricks also respond to the local vernacular, which is overwhelmingly brick veneer construction. Known for its robust nature and longevity, brick is capable of withstanding the harshest of weather conditions, making it perfect for a home in the sub-tropics.
