Architect Frank Bienefelt selected Petersen D72 bricks for a new two-storeyed modern seaside home in Torquay to achieve his design objectives.

Though the property has a 25-metre frontage, the house sits comfortably with the scale of the area without imposing on the street. Since brick selection was critical to the success of Bienefelt’s well-considered design, he chose Petersen D72 bricks as the hero material in the elegant, modern palette of diverse materials. Brick is used as a welcoming feature at the entrance, weaves its way throughout the house on various feature walls, then out onto the alfresco entertaining area.

Surprisingly, the owners of the Torquay house hated bricks. What they wanted was a modern, four-bedroom, state-of-the-art luxurious home, unlike any other on the street, with ample space for entertaining. However, the owners sought a homely environment with the right scale of spaces to feel like a welcoming home.

Having used Petersen bricks from Robertson's Building Products Pty Ltd in previous projects, Bienefelt was well aware of the impressive outcomes one could achieve with this range, including the ‘wow’ factor sought by his clients.

Despite their scepticism, the owners agreed with Bienefelt’s selection and are today thankful for their decision. Now, they simply love their new home and couldn’t imagine using anything other than Petersen D72 bricks.

“When the first few walls came up, they understood what I was trying to achieve. You just have to look at the style of the brick – it has the right texture and the right scale to make the project work,” Bienefelt said.

Bienefelt used a clever collage of materials for the home’s standout appeal. In addition to brick, anthracite zinc on the upper storey, polished concrete and various hardwood timbers were used throughout the home with each material picking up the subtle colour variations in Petersen D72.

“I fell in love with the sandy colour blend, because it best reflects the sandy, mottled colours of the Torquay cliffs. It’s not too imposing, it’s a beautiful light colour and I’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback on this brick. The beautiful variation in colour actually makes the whole concept convincing – it ties in so well with the anthracite zinc on the upper floor as well as the timbers.”

Photographer: Ferne Millen Photography