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Tell us about yourself and your practice.
Tony Owen Partners is a firm of architects taking a new approach to the issues of managing development in our cities. This approach is based on the notion of unprecedented reality. The notion that ordinary pragmatic forces are creating new typologies faster than planners can theorise them. By taking a critical view of a particular set of design circumstances we identify the dimensions of the condition to find a way into the problem.
Working in Sydney we find inspiration from the natural landscape. We are currently working on a series called Liquid Architecture. They include projects in Castlecrag and Double Bay, Bondi and The Entrance. These are foreshore or beach projects and the design inspiration is based on the concept of water. The geometries are derived from tidal patterns and the estuarine flows and the traces they leave in sand dunes, coastlines and rock formations.
What do you like best about being an architect?
I enjoy the creative process. I don't believe you can create anything exciting unless you truly enjoy the journey. We are constantly switching from 3D CAD modeling, to drawing to physical models to tease out the best solution.
What was your brief for the Wave House job?
The brief for this house was simple - capture the spirit of Bondi in a home which is both a beach house and a stylish urban dwelling. It was designed for a supplier of architectural glass who wanted to show off his wares, so the house makes extensive use of glass.
Why did you decide to use bifold doors?
The client wanted to maximise the space by turning the garden into an outdoor room. This meant blurring the distinction between inside and outside. The bifold doors gave us the opportunity to completely remove that wall and have one single space.
The big opening brings light and outdoors inside. Were the bifold doors crucial in this?
Yes, definitely.
What do you think the Centor Architectural systems added to this project?
We needed a reliable and elegant technical solution that was within our budget. The Centor system allowed us to do this.
Has there been any feedback from the client regarding functionality of the hardware and the ease of operation?
The client is very pleased with the result. Their children use the space all the time. The doors are never closed and the space works as a continuous room just as intended.
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