Unique Opportunity
Published in Green Magazine, March 2019, Issue #66, p30
“With this project being only two townhouses [on] a very tight, irregular corner site; it was a matter of designing a well-considered corner solution that hid cars away and responded to the local and streetscape context,” remarks Grant Amon of Chaucer Townhouses. Located in bayside Melbourne, the design is mindful of the local context while remaining contemporary and bold. These two townhouses reference neighbouring Edwardian properties through a red brick boundary wall, a material that continues across the ground floor and into the building’s central core. An injection of modernity and a touch of playfulness come from the design’s dark coloured metal cladding, which ensures this corner site is a point of focus in the streetscape. Passive ESD principles are reflected in the project’s access to north daylight, cross ventilation, courtyards and gardens. “Use of materials (bricks and metal), architectural massing, orientation, compact layouts and responsible planning response [plus] ESD principles all contributed to the final design,” Grant concludes.
Chaucer Street in the The Age Domain
Published in The Age Domain, April 8, 2019
In Melbourne and Brisbane two mid-level developments show how density can work well
Words: Jenny Brown
The 20-year process of increasing density in detached house neighbourhoods has so far delivered a mixed bag of results and reviews.
Some multiple unit blocks and townhouses have been good and have held appeal and resale value. A lot have been bad and quickly slipped to low rent status. Far too many have been dog-box ugly, standing now as visual detractions in precincts they could have improved.
But as two recent projects demonstrate, some newer mid-scale developments are striving to add to their locales by referencing and respecting their contexts and connections. Though 1600-plus kilometres apart, the Chaucer Townhouse pair in Melbourne’s St Kilda and the Longfellow Terraces in Brisbane’s Norman Park are idiomatically linked by more than poetic place names. Both offer three-bedroom accommodations that make them viable for families and, because they’re in near-city situations, hold as much appeal for downsizers and working professionals.
“Australia’s first Pride Centre is a step closer with the announcement of St Kilda-based firms Grant Amon Architects and Brearley Architects and Urbanists as the winners of the Pride Centre design competition.
Jade Munro AO, Chair of the Victorian Pride Centre board said the winning design is outstanding and will immediately make the Pride Centre iconic and uplifting.
“With over 18 submissions received, we wanted the winning design to be a building that out LGBTQI community can be proud of owning, a place of celebration and a safe sanctuary. This design is inspirational and more than satisfies these criteria,” Ms Munro said.
“The building is due to open in 2020 and our aim is for the Pride Centre to be a catalyst for the revival of Fitzroy Street and to fit into the St Kilda design vernacular which this design does superbly.”
June 2017 Edition, p32, 33 and 38
Publication: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/boutiquedesign_201706/index.php#/40
Words by Oriana Lerner
“The “boutique” mentality – a small footprint and a super-specific product – has gone from retail to hospitality to restaurants. Another red-hot outpost for that niche market? Nightlife venues that eschew the idea of a basic bar, or, indeed, a basic bar menu and thrive on ultra-curated food (and drink) choices and escapist vibes.
Words experts from World Ski Awards, website Press Release Artile
http://worldskiawards.com/award/australia-best-ski-boutique-hotel/2016
“The fourth instalment of the red-carpet event took place at the five-star A-ROSA Kitzbühel this evening, welcoming the elite of the ski hospitality industry to Austria…
World Ski Awards Managing Director Sion Rapson said: “The 2016 World Ski Awards has been our most successful to date, firmly cementing our position as the global benchmark for ski hospitality. It has been a pleasure to recognise so many industry leaders here this evening and I hope their recognition, both by their peers and members of public ski community, will inspire them to aim ever higher in the pursuit of excellence.” “
Words by Grant Amon Architects
This compact townhouse project represents a dexterous and varied use of many timber products. Combined with the extensive use of timber external cladding to the main body of the building, the metal clad corner element is further wrapped in continuous laminated cypress pergola beams. The structure provides the base for climbing plants to weave their way up and over the adjoining roof decks for each apartment. Another unique feature is the use of timber slatted battens to the Garage doors that combine with backlit coloured panels to a lantern like effect by night and day.
Internally, selected timbers have been used in the joinery elements, stairs treads, wall panels, flooring and cladding to provide a warm texture and colour to compliment the interior material palette.
Overall, the use of timber has given the townhouses a natural life and vigour both to internal living areas and external expressive elements.
Published in Essentials: Food / Wine / Art / People / Places, Spring Issue 2016, p63 – www.essentialsmagazine.com.au
“Astra is a modern, stylish alpine lodge with a newly renovated cedar-lined dining room warmed by a crackling wood fire. Chef Emma Handley, recently of the award-winning Villa Gusto, has introduced a menu of classic Italian dishes to embrace the alpine cool outside. The room looks out onto a snowscape bathed in soft light at night. Excellent, quality local smallgoods feature on the antipasto plate and the two-cheese fondue is served in classic red and white Swiss caquelons. Warm up with a rich plate of lip-smacking sticky cotechino with lentil and mustard fruits perhaps served with a glass of Pizzini nebbiolo. Handley makes pasta by hand daily, serving up light and golden pumpkin gnocchi with beurre noisette, sage and toasted pumpkin seeds. Mains could be a hearty Italian lamb braised with truffled polenta or perhaps a dish of chicken cooked in milk with lemon and capers. Astra’s well-considered wine list, focused on the North East and hand-picked French and Italian wines, creates the perfect blend of High Country and European Alps.
www.astralodge.com.au”
Published in Artichoke, Australia's Interiors and Design Magazine, Issue #53 December 2015 - architectureau.com/magazines/artichoke/
Words by Freya Lombardo
" If you’ve skied or snowboarded with any enthusiasm, you know the kiss of crisp, mountain air on your cheeks, the thrill of charging down the slopes, the delight of riding the first lift and the bolt to catch the last lift for one more run as the sun disappears behind the summit. Once all that adrenaline has coursed through your system, you’ll also know the physical exhaustion that takes hold once evening descends. That’s when the apres-ski experience really comes into its own. Think open fires, a welcoming bar and unpretentious dining that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy the company of family, friends and fellow snow lovers.
References: restaurantandbardesignawards.com
Words by Grant Amon Architects
The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards is the world’s biggest event dedicated exclusively to the design of food and drink spaces. Architects and designers all the way from Australia and New Zealand to Japan, Canada, Italy, Mexico and all countries in between showcase their flair and technique in a competition that captures the eye, the imagination and the taste buds.
The 2015 Awards saw 37 Australian entries. Of these entries, the George Hotel Bar by GAA was shortlisted in the Australia & Pacific Bar category. With exciting new bar and restaurant projects underway and on track for completion in the new year, we look forward to unveiling these to the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards platform in 2016.
References: www.architeam.net.au
Words by Grant Amon Architects
Astra Lodge by GAA was awarded a commendation in the 2015 ArchiTeam Awards. Of the 12 entrants in the Commercial category, Astra was acknowledged alongside two other projects.