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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.
Tim Stewart Architects operates in a manner that reflects my personal ideas and values with regard to design and the community. Along with a range of commercial and hospitality projects we do a significant number of residential projects for discerning clients wanting a bespoke outcome for their homes and families. We take our role in the community seriously with attention to the broader built environment and the natural environment, whilst we also commit 10% of our profits to social based charities.
What was the design brief for the Kauri Road project, and what was your vision for achieving your client's goal?
The design brief was not clearly defined. Initially the client primarily wanted to install a pool and improve the landscape design of their back yard plus make some upgrades to the kitchen. When we showed them how by moving the kitchen and re-configuring the living spaces we could link the indoors and outdoors successfully they decided to go with the idea and this meant the original brief expanded somewhat. It was the vision for opening up the space with the large sliding doors and bifolds that led our decisions in the proposal to them. We had gained a great understanding with the client and were familiar with their lifestyle patterns by this time and that helped inform our design.
Were there any challenges in trying to achieve your vision for this project?
The main challenge was detailing the doors in such a manner that the kitchen bench could remain continuous from inside to outside. The client loves to entertain and their social interaction is all about the kitchen and the BBQ. Anything but a door that could disappear from the kitchen completely would have been a compromise.
What atmosphere were you trying to achieve for this refurbishment?
We really wanted a relaxed atmosphere. One of the points of the design was the informal nature of the space. The dining room was forsaken for a larger kitchen and large island bench with stools all round. By incorporating a very simple palette of Australian spotted gum and white we really took the focus off the interiors and allowed the eye to be drawn to the outdoor spaces, including the sunken fire pit adjacent to the pool.
The project received the RAIA Small Projects Architecture Award. What is the most gratifying part of that recognition?
I see it as an important element of my practice to be an active part of the industry and its associations. The awards process is a great way to test your ideas and projects against other members of the industry, and it gives you a gauge to test the currency and rigidity of your ideas, however the most important part of the outcome is how the project effects the day to day living of the client. The thanks and appreciation of the client are the most important outcome for me.
Bifolding doors allow for a broader outside-inside transition space than other door types. How important was this for achieving the look and feel of your design?
I use bi-fold doors in most of my projects. They open up rooms to the outside better than any other door type and this allows us to create the indoor outdoor spaces that are so important to the way of life people are so embracing, particularly in our Queensland climate.
Have you had any feedback from the client about their indoor-outdoor space and the hardware's functionality?
They absolutely love the way the spaces open up and connect due to the doors, obviously you need the hardware to perform or the task of opening up the house each day would become laborious. They are really happy that they don't have to worry that the doors might jam or become stuck. The Centor hardware gives us that piece of mind, the client doesn't have to think about the doors, only whats going to be on the BBQ for lunch
You used Centor systems in this project. Why did you choose Centor over other systems?
Centor is the first choice for us, the range and flexibility of the system means we can design any opening confidently knowing that a top quality system is available to deal with the doors. At times, we create very large openings and it is a credit to the Centor system that the operation of the doors never becomes an issue. I think that the clients don't appreciate what the hardware is achieving. Some of these doors were just not possible in domestic applications when I started practicing architecture.
Centor hardware is designed to be easy to use, with just a fingertip. How have you and your clients found using Centor hardware?
Exactly as you say, with just a fingertip. There is never any question about that. I used Centor in my own house because I have experienced the quality and ease of use in project after project using Centor.
Is there anything else you would like to add about this project?
A great project is only possible with a great client. In this case the client gave us the freedom and trust to produce a great space. It is always fantastic to work with a client with whom you can share a vision and bring it into reality.
*This project was completed by Tim Stewart as a director of Base Architecture. Tim Stewart is now the sole owner and director of Tim Stewart Architects.
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