The Lang Mursten range of bricks from PGH Bricks & Pavers was specified by Joe Adsett Architects for a beautiful new home, Stratum, located at Hope Island in Queensland. The extensive brickwork celebrates the timeless design of the home as well as its surroundings, with generous views to the South as well as the Links Hope Island golf course to the North.
Capitalising on these views, the design incorporates a series of courtyards to allow natural light and breezes throughout the core of the home. The brief required a contemporary single storey dwelling, which did not present as cold and clinical to the home’s visitors. According to Jack Wright, project leader at Joe Adsett Architects, they achieved the desired warm and inviting vibe in the home through careful selection of materials. PGH Bricks & Pavers’ Utzon from the Lang Mursten range was specified to achieve the design objective.
“The result is a dwelling carved out of one monolithic material, PGH’s Lang Mursten bricks. The solid brick foundations provide an anchor to the tall, carved ‘white box’, propped high above the primary living areas, allowing internal spaces to be light-filled and ventilate effortlessly.”
The elongated shape of PGH Bricks’ Lang Mursten range emphasises the exaggerated linear geometry of the house. The long-format Danish bricks are soft-moulded and tastefully proportioned, representing the perfect blend of cutting-edge design and practical functionality. The use of these bricks – both internally and externally – creates a flowing space, blurring the lines between the indoor and outdoor environments.
Achieving a beautiful custom home can require a brick out of the ordinary. The Lang Mursten range delivers a unique and elevated aesthetic, while maintaining the raw and authentic properties of a clay brick. Utzon from the Lang Mursten range contributed to the rustic and handmade features of a luxury build, while providing the warmth and homely feel sought by their clients.
“The bricks were specified predominantly for the bespoke aesthetic qualities of the bricks and the natural, unrefined appearance they exhibit.
“Despite being a manmade product, the bricks have a very rustic and handmade essence about them, contributing to the aesthetic of a timeless and enduring piece of architecture,” says Wright. “They introduce a gritty, rugged component to the project, which is primarily composed of refined, polished materials.”
The Lang Mursten bricks are also known for their robustness, which is why they were specified for the Hope Island home to support its structural integrity. Stratum has incredibly large spans that are assisted by the structural properties of the bricks.
The house got its name from the use of stacked bricks throughout the home’s internal and external walls, paying homage to the idea of a house that has been built in layers.
“The bricks create a strategic datum throughout the house that is critical to the overall architectural composition. In essence, the bricklayer has created a solid foundation to the bottom layer of the house, with primarily lightweight construction used above the established datum,” Wright explained. “The bricks also serve as a structural support to the stretched concrete awning along the rear façade of the building.”
Supported by the experience of builder, Allwood Contractors, and the craftsmanship of bricklayer, BGM Bricklaying, Joe Adsett Architects achieved an exceptional Queensland residence, which sits beautifully along the Links Hope Island golf course. The Utzon bricks contrast beautifully with the greens of the fairway and the adjacent flora.
