A major design feature of the duplex is the innovative treatment of the Stramit^® Corrugated roofing.  While the roof is often ignored on duplexes, Tony Trobe opted for highly articulated curved steel roofing, with a  “leaves of iron ” philosophy in the tradition of architects like Glen Murcutt who take inspiration from simple Australian rural building forms..

“Curved metal roofing with simple forms and thin edge detailing has emerged as a quintessentially Australian design aesthetic,” Tony Trobe said.  “To complement the roof shapes we used sail structures as awnings on the balconies, creating wave forms that resonated with the beachside location.”

The narrow block required placing the double garages at the front, leaving a space of only two metres in between for the front entries.  The successful resolution of an awkward planning situation requiring living areas at the back of a narrow block where significant ocean views were available have been successfully resolved,.

Well articulated single-storey elements at the street frontage (the garages) prevented the front elevation from becoming overpowering and helped reduce the overall building mass.

Externally, the combination of solid, rendered-brick walls and delicate, sloping roofs produce a dynamic synthesis of form and colour appropriate to the coastal setting.  The neutral, light grey roofs harmonise with the colour of the rendered brick wall, which is taken from the trunks of the eucalyptus trees on the block.

Tight site access raised construction issues for the builder, which were resolved by careful planning and a problem-solving approach to the non-traditional detailing.  The challenges created by the innovative roof design were successfully realised through attention to detail and careful supervision of trades throughout.

A five-star energy rating was achieved for the building despite the north-south long axis, which restricts solar access to the narrow frontages.

The street frontage has generated much local comment and provided inspiration for further development in an otherwise undistinguished main traffic corridor.

Tony Trobe said the project was an excellent example of cost-effective building and proof of what he described as the “design dividend”.

“A week before moving in, we believe one of the clients was offered $900,000 for his half of the development,” Tony said.  “That’s almost twice the cost of the building, including land value.”

A major design feature of the duplex is the innovative treatment of the Stramit^® Corrugated roofing.  While the roof is often ignored on duplexes, Tony Trobe opted for highly articulated curved steel roofing, with a  “leaves of iron ” philosophy in the tradition of architects like Glen Murcutt who take inspiration from simple Australian rural building forms..

“Curved metal roofing with simple forms and thin edge detailing has emerged as a quintessentially Australian design aesthetic,” Tony Trobe said.  “To complement the roof shapes we used sail structures as awnings on the balconies, creating wave forms that resonated with the beachside location.”

The narrow block required placing the double garages at the front, leaving a space of only two metres in between for the front entries.  The successful resolution of an awkward planning situation requiring living areas at the back of a narrow block where significant ocean views were available have been successfully resolved,.

Well articulated single-storey elements at the street frontage (the garages) prevented the front elevation from becoming overpowering and helped reduce the overall building mass.

Externally, the combination of solid, rendered-brick walls and delicate, sloping roofs produce a dynamic synthesis of form and colour appropriate to the coastal setting.  The neutral, light grey roofs harmonise with the colour of the rendered brick wall, which is taken from the trunks of the eucalyptus trees on the block.

Tight site access raised construction issues for the builder, which were resolved by careful planning and a problem-solving approach to the non-traditional detailing.  The challenges created by the innovative roof design were successfully realised through attention to detail and careful supervision of trades throughout.

A five-star energy rating was achieved for the building despite the north-south long axis, which restricts solar access to the narrow frontages.

The street frontage has generated much local comment and provided inspiration for further development in an otherwise undistinguished main traffic corridor.

Tony Trobe said the project was an excellent example of cost-effective building and proof of what he described as the “design dividend”.

“A week before moving in, we believe one of the clients was offered $900,000 for his half of the development,” Tony said.  “That’s almost twice the cost of the building, including land value.”