At last Justine and I are able to show our completed addition. Typically, as two architects its taken us about 10 years…
Justine wrote this great description….
“In the 1950’s the WA Railways Commission undertook the building of homes for workers and their families in the new subdivision of Bedford Park. Today, the owners of one of these cottages embraced the opportunities of a tight budget, a modest house and a sub-divided block to design an addition that could offer space, light and a sense of generosity to the resident family. A living, dining and kitchen space, a second bathroom and laundry were conceived as a ‘box’ that would suspend itself from the rear of the existing cottage, sitting above the sloping grade of the block to invite maximum light and space into the home. Good passive solar design was critical to the comfort of the home. Materials were selected for their robustness , warmth and their ability to balance the expression of solid and void within the ‘box’.”
We are very pleased to showcase this recently completed project -Â the outcome of the passion and enthusiasm of Project and Design Architect Natalie Hill.
The design approach for the project is focused on providing an effective operational environment for the delivery of Hospitality training packages. The facilities are laid out to accommodate skills training style classes, with a demonstration bench facing work areas that accommodate up to 16 students in a class. The facilities also accommodate A La Carte training and service which interfaces with a restaurant environment.
Primarily the intention was to create a functional and comfortable facility that also provided engaging, flexible spaces that energise students, teachers and the community.
A series of folded pale green ceiling planes allow an abundance of natural light, while a glazed perimeter frees the roof volume from the walls creating a sense of lightness for the students, teachers and patrons inside. Externally, insitu concrete planter boxes for a future produce garden aspire to connect students with the elemental aspects of food. They also promote positive exchanges between patrons of the restaurant and students emerging from the kitchen to collect items such as herbs, tomatoes or fruits.
The articulation of simple qualities of space and light have aspired to create positive teaching and learning spaces that are open, communicative and connected.
Trevor and Darrel from the college have both expressed great delight with the outcome and GA are very proud to have been involved in such a great project team. Thanks too to Shane and Tristan from PACT constructions for doing such a great job. Nice one boys.
Handover of the new Donnybrook Medical Centre to The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup was official on 24th June 2011!
Located adjacent to the Donnybrook Regional Hospital this great new facility will provide a long-awaited new home for the local General Practice plus a separate tenancy for pathology services.
This low-key but edgy facility combines elements of the local vernacular and a human scale with a slightly quirky architecture incorporating finishes such as glass-faced cement render, slick white joinery, a striking ‘green apple’ perforated aluminium screen and a warm twist on the traditional blue/green palette of health service facilities of the past.
Congratulations to the contractor, Cimeco, who, after a very slow start in 2010, pulled a rabbit out of a hat to reach Practical Completion only two weeks behind the contracted date.
Credit also goes to Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup’s CEO, John Attwood and Councillor Peter McCabe for both fitting the client side of this challenging project into their busy schedules and for the faith and goodwill they demonstrated in allowing architects to be architects and do their thing, often against their better judgement!
The result is terrific and …..certainly if the number of local sight-seers cruising through the carpark at night-time for a look-see is anything to go by…….then this building will be a credit and an asset to the Shire for years to come!
The striking ‘green apple’ perforated aluminium screen
Gresley Abas is participating in Open house Perth and we encourage anyone with time, money or access to some of the best buildings in Perth to get involved…… Open house began in London in 1992, there are now 17 open house cities around the world including London, New York, Barcelona, Melbourne and now Perth… This is a chance for us all to celebrate Perth design on a national and international stage… For more information on Open House http://openhouseworldwide.org/ Please help us spread the word Open House is coming to Perth
“LACE FENCE is a high-end metal fabric that gives new insights in how we can create unique environments.
The design, quality and density of the patterns are flexible. Meaning that for each application we create according to its function. For example to prevent climbing on, to hide or enhance its surroundings. To deal with harsh weather or to give an unique custom made look.” Â See:DEMAKERSVAN.
Uh Oh. Construction workers please note: Somebody just built a 20-foot tower using flying robots. No people involved.
The demo took place in a warehouse-like art gallery called FRAC, just outside Paris.
As humans (none of them, I presume, in the construction trades) applauded and gaped, four helicopterish thingies swooped through the air, somehow avoiding each other, and one by one, settled on some “brick dispensers.” Using small plungers they then plucked one brick at a time, carried each to the “building site” and slowly created a wall. It took a few days, but what emerged is a twisting, undulating tower, designed by Swiss architects Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Kohler……..by Robert Krulwich
Tucked away on the Kapiti Coast a couple of hours out of Wellington in New Zealand is a wonderful little seaside town called Waikanae.
Justine and I stumbled across this delightful little place in 2005 whilst there attending an Urban Design Conference. We stayed in a quaint architecturally designed cottage looking out over the beach. The more we looked around, the more gorgeous little beachside shacks were nestled amongst the sand swept streets and the dunes.
On ArchDaily today is a new “shack “in Waikanae by Parsonson Architects which certainly embodies my memory of that ‘place’…
This Blog forms a collection of events, news and odds and ends relevant to the studio of Gresley Abas. The Blog is an insight into how our studio works, where we draw inspiration, what we enjoy and how we progress. We hope you find common ground with us here.
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