PowerPanelXL, an external wall system from Hebel met the brief for a new house designed by progressive and adaptive design firm, Reece Keil Design.
The ‘Back to Front House’ – named for its reversed layout – is a showstopper home designed by Reece Keil for an older professional couple who were particular about building a house that would not need ongoing upkeep. They wanted a home that would spark visual interest and invite the waterways of Surfers Paradise right into their living room.
The main living areas are in the north-facing frontage of the house, which has the views. The garage has been shifted to the rear of the block, maximising the dwelling’s street frontage, and creating a welcome canvas to inspire design.
In addition to an alluring façade, the client wanted the home to be made of a solid masonry material that was anything but brick. Having had poor experiences in the past with movement and cracking, they asked Reece to provide alternative solutions that would still offer a solid masonry aesthetic.
Curves are in
Strong and Solid
Permission to construct this Southport home out of materials other than brick meant that Reece could design something to visually separate the home from an architectural brick dwelling next door; it also meant he could incorporate a product that maximises thermal efficiency, a building fundamental for the Australian climate, particularly in sunny Queensland.
Reece offered a foam board option as well as the Hebel PowerPanelXL to the clients. The clients weren’t overly thrilled with the thought of foam as external cladding, even though they liked the idea of its thermal performance. They wanted something they could knock on which would sound solid.
Therefore, Reece suggested Hebel as it “blocks, it holds, it repels, it does all of those things that a masonry type wall would do but the system itself is a lot easier to work with”.
“That’s why I pointed them in the direction of the PowerPanelXL because it’s more robust, it’s got good thermal qualities and on the flipside of that, it’s quite easy for the builders to use.”
Reece was very familiar with the Hebel product having used it on several other projects. Its fast installation method was another factor that the client found appealing, as did the builder Tidal Constructions.
“The builder loved working with Hebel. They don’t know why it doesn’t get used more widely,” Reece’s team members commented.
This award-winning project featured Hebel on the entire lower level, so it was within reach of the client. Being of an older generation, they wanted something strong and solid they could touch and feel. From a design perspective, Reece wanted the bottom to get lost with the decorative Cemintel cladding featured atop. And so, Hebel played an important role in providing peace of mind for the homeowners while complementing the entire home’s dynamic.
Two tone cladding adds beauty and depth
Hold Your Colour
What better way to make an element disappear than to paint it black! Darker colours can disappear while light colours tend to stand out. With the top level of this home clad in Cemintel Territory Woodlands Whitewash, a light timber looking product, the black rendered finish of Hebel would be the perfect accompaniment for an engaging contrast, providing the client with the visual impact they sought from Keil.
Keeping the overall palette light to suit the coastal surroundings, Cemintel Territory Woodlands Limed was also added to the front façade to join fellow material Cemintel Territory Woodlands Whitewash over the rear garage. Reece was concerned that the cladding was not going to be light enough, but the depth created from the two colours made for a dynamic and alluring aesthetic.
“It gives the house different identities throughout the day, depending on what the weather is doing,” he said. The cladding can look white in the sunlight and adopts a creamy appearance later when evening sets in.
However, the most important consideration to their brief was to ensure the home would not require ongoing maintenance. This is where Hebel excels – in Reece’s opinion. The good thing about PowerPanelXL is you get a high-quality flat surface resulting in a brilliant, clean crisp finish.
Hebel not only offers a thermally efficient alternative to brick, but PowerPanelXL also provides durability with a seamless look to suit a broad variety of design solutions.
