One of the first materials that came to architect David Neil’s mind when designing a new home in an established, leafy street in Hawthorn, Melbourne was brick. Looking to create something truly special and solid for his clients, something that blended nicely into the surroundings, but also gave it a true point of difference, David Neil of Neil Architecture specified Petersen’s K91 handmade bricks for the new home. About his choice, he explains that bricks provide a wonderful textural appeal, particularly to this well established, leafy area.
Builder Vince Sainato of TCM Building Group agrees with David, commenting that “Petersen bricks are an individual type of brick because being handmade, they’re not consistent and they do bring more to the elevation of the house, and help to individualise it.”
Having used Petersen bricks in previous projects, David knew that they worked well with natural materials to bring character, warmth and timeless beauty to a home.
David said, “We used Petersen K91 bricks with slate cladding, and the combination of the two gives it a beautiful earthy tone. It’s quite a dominant form, being a big house, but because of the materials it basically breaks down the scale. And using stone with texture in it, as well as the brickwork gives it a timeless quality.”
David used Petersen’s bricks on the building’s base, as well as the front fence and a wall in the home’s entryway, which flows seamlessly from the exterior to the interior.
David’s clients are now fully enjoying their new space, and really love the Petersen bricks, and the whole feel of their new home.
Photography: Hilary Bradford
