Bardon Home Wins

Like the vast and spacious land of Australia, this Bardon abode by local architect Bureau Proberts stands proud and independent, designed to mimic its motherland with intelligent functionality behind all its beauty.

Claiming the Residential Architecture – Houses (New) prize at the 2017 Queensland Architecture Awards, this home has now come in at number five on Architecture Australia’s Most Popular Homes of 2017 list. Judges of this year’s Most Popular awards cited the meaningful connection between the physicality of a property and its surrounding landscape.

Capturing a slice of suburban wildness was at the heart of Liam Proberts’ design for his own family home. Tapping into the iconic architectural style of the Queenslander, and drawing from the home’s sub-tropical setting, the ridge top site nestled in inner western Brisbane looks north, gazing over a bush reserve at its feet and into a copse of leafy canopies. Below, a dry gully slithers through the centre, morphing into a watercourse during episodes of torrential rain.

Clad in vertical black slats to encapsulate the retreat within, neighbouring houses are distant enough beyond the forested slopes to form part of the picturesque idyll without intruding on privacy. There is a distance maintained without the feeling of isolation, allowing the home to remain completely accessible yet uphold the Australian value of one’s space.

The view, with its generous expanse of sky and clear register of seasonal changes, provides the perfect accompaniment to the wide verandah-like stage of the living room. A 12 metre long wall of glazing seemingly brings Mother Nature’s offerings of flowers, birds, trunks and branches into the home. This feature encourages the appreciation of stepping outdoors when the weather is welcoming, and taking shelter to appreciate from afar when it is more unforgiving.

Proberts’ intent with construction was to work harmoniously with the environment, producing comfortable family living and practicality whilst upholding a level of sculptural intrigue that proved minimalism does not have to be negatively connoted. He achieved a balance between viewing the wonders of a property and feeling the wonders of a home.

Nature was further incorporated into the home by taking a bite out of the western side of the plan and feeding it into an indoor living space. This created a miniature, manicured landscape to juxtapose the wild bushland of the northern reserves.

Craft Building Company worked alongside Proberts on the project to problem solve onsite throughout the entire process, also drawing on the expertise of colleagues to refine design elements during busy times.

Timber and stone weave throughout the home to draw the outdoors further within, as well as providing a solid, sturdy foundation. Hallways carved into the residence mimic caves and the house terraces down into a backyard, following the natural lay of the land. The home conjures iconic Queensland backyards, complete with the hint of family barbecues and backyard cricket to be played.

The Bardon home has earned its place on the leader board by seamlessly blending natural and contemporary Australia.

Readers also enjoyed this story about Lagoon House.