Brick veneer homes of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s were once Australian housing staples, but decades on they’re showing their age, especially when standing alongside contemporary counterparts, with their much bolder designs and diverse materiality.
For owners of these homes not all is lost though. Creative architects and designers are showing that amazing transformations are possible without the need of a bulldozer or big budgets. Through creative thinking and clever material selection, a lot can be achieved for a sensible outlay.
A recently renovated home in the coastal New South Wales town of Bulli is the perfect example. The owners’ brief to Nadine K Design, was to modernise the home’s façade, while also adding a front verandah to provide all season access and take advantage of ocean views at Sandon Point
A modest budget of $200,000 was allocated to the project, which proved sufficient to dramatically lift the appearance and integrity of the dwelling, while giving the owners the added functionality they wanted. In developing concepts for the exterior revisions, principal designer Nadine Ryan considered the personality of her clients, one of whom is a local artist, as well as the dark colour palette of the recently renovated kitchen to draw some styling cues. The result is a wonderful combination of timber, concrete, stonework and steel in the form of LYSAGHT ENSEAM®.
Nadine explains that a key element of the design is the roofline over the verandah which points boldly towards the ocean and is characterised by the strong vertical lines of the ENSEAM® cladding.
“The ENSEAM® roofing shaped from COLORBOND® steel in the colour Night Sky® is striking but with its broader pans is not too busy; the strong linear appearance is then softened by the circular concrete support column, while the use of spotted gum on the verandah ceiling and eaves brings additional warmth,” Nadine said.
“Night Sky® is one of the darkest and boldest colours available within the LYSAGHT® steel range, but is very accommodating, not competing with the other façade materials or more generally with retained materials at the sides of the home; the dark colour also complements the black kitchen.”
Consideration was given to making the new verandah usable year-round, this is achieved by using an ENSEAM® clad wall as a wind block from southerly winds, while a glass balustrade protects against onshore breezes. When warmer temperatures prevail, a large stacker sliding door between the verandah and kitchen and living areas provides seamless indoor – outdoor flow. A flush drain at the sliding door gives some added insurance against water ingress when the weather isn’t as favourable.
Along with increasing the usability of the home, the project also addressed some structural concerns.
“Certain areas of the brickwork had become compromised over the years with mortar beginning to fail,” Nadine said.
Other improvements to the home included the addition of a window over the entrance to increase natural light, with the door and window separated with a secondary roofline within the porch to create added architectural interest. A raised stone garden bed to the left of the entrance adds an exclamation mark to the rejuvenated home.
Nadine said that the wider adoption of LYSAGHT® cladding on domestic projects in recent years had seen proactive builders remarkably hone their skills in the installation of these products. The Bulli home which was completed by builders Country to Coast projects, showcases considerable workmanship, particularly the use of returns where the ENSEAM® abuts the front steps.
“There’s a real skill involved in installing products such as ENSEAM® to maximum effect,” she said.
“I’m lucky to have worked with several builders who have made an artform out of it, their flashings are clean and crisp and on this project the returns where the ENSEAM® meets the front steps adds extra detail and a high level of finish to the entry.”
As part of the broader project, the home’s original tile roof was also replaced with LYSAGHT CUSTOM ORB® corrugated roofing.
Nadine said that for owners of older homes who may not have the funds to undertake a full renovation, upgrading the façade was a viable alternative, or could be a first step towards a gradual complete renovation.
“Owners who may we weary about overcapitalising at a time when property prices are tightening a little, should consider a smaller scale project – they might find they can achieve a lot of what they seek in a larger renovation but in a more cost-effective way,” she said