Austral Bricks has been acknowledged for its work in the Wakerley Residence, which has been announced as a winner for a prestigious Residential Architecture award.
Wakerley Residence was named the winner of the Robin Dods award for Residential Architecture - Houses, at the Australian Institute of Architects 2013 QLD Architecture Awards held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture – Houses was awarded to James Russell Architect for Wakerley Residence.
The house was recognised as a home that celebrates place, environment and community, while representing a new style of living that allows the home to be opened up to the street front encouraging engagement between inhabitants and their neighbours beyond.
Austral Bricks worked with James Russell Architect on the exterior of the building, incorporating its contemporary, Burlesque and Metallix clay brick ranges.
The house has an envelope of face brickwork and concrete, both self-finished and able to cope with extreme weather. The combination of adaptable glazing, walls and landscape, allows the spaces to readily alternate between internal or external use.
The Metallix brick range from Austral Bricks used in the project, is said by the company to be ideal when used in large expanses of brickwork, or for a fantastic contrast when used as a feature material. The premium metallic finish of the clay bricks added a subtle sheen and new look for the Wakerley Residence.
A balance was constructed in Metallix Emery, a dark brick with a metallic finish, which imparts a subtle, silky sheen that creates a sharp look. Austral Bricks said that the distinctive finish adds polish to any building project, while still retaining the durability and technical excellence inherent in clay bricks.
Glazed and lusciously bright, Austral’s Burlesque bricks, in Chilling Black, also feature in the building.
The ground level brickwork in Wakerley Residence is laid in a decorative Flemish bond (a double thickness, solid wall with the end of every second brick laid displayed). The combination of Burlesque fully-glazed bricks (to the front and sleeping areas) and a waterproof mortar adds watertight protection to the walls.
According to Austral Bricks, clay bricks have long been known for their ability to withstand the harsh Australian sun, icy winters and monsoonal downpours, with little ongoing maintenance.
Austral Bricks also suggested that face brick’s thermal mass combined with climate sensitive design can lower carbon emissions through a reduction in space heating and cooling, which they said could provide up to a 25 per cent reduction in cooling and heating bills.
