A unique Petersen brick combination creates a warm and private retreat in Glen Waverley

Aug 13, 2019

Autumn House is not what you’d expect in Avendon, the well-established volume estate in Glen Waverley. It’s a suitably different private retreat that sits in stark, yet beautiful, contrast to its neighbours, and will comfortably and capably take its family of five from the present day to their retirement in many years to come.

Led by Olena MacCallum, Director, Bayley Ward, the design reflects careful, creative thought at its best. Set around a c-shaped courtyard, Autumn House effectively turns its back on its neighbours, providing an insular design, emphasising internal views and privacy.

What makes it such a standout is the way the material palette cleverly adds a strong sense of warmth of the home, while seamlessly accommodating the competing functional needs of this growing family. Think five bedrooms, a quiet parent’s retreat, a separate children’s zone, a music room and a private retreat for Dad.

Brickwork is the hero, featuring a unique combination of Petersen D47 and D48 bricks. “The family’s desire for a warm feel was a big influence in the final material selection. They were adamant that there was to be no grey – and it was good to get out of our comfort zone and explore different options and take advantage of the variety and richness of the colours that are offered through Petersen bricks,” Olena remarks.

“The startling elements of one off saffron and moss were a beautiful balance to the warmer mahogany and wine tones in the brickwork. The brick colour was critical to the calm, earthy home that was produced, bringing the exterior texture of the brickwork inside the home,” Olena continues.

Indeed, brickwork greets you at the home’s entrance and follows extensively throughout. A subtle pulsing of bricks at the entry creates a beautiful detail on the home’s façade that extends to form the garden’s front retaining wall. Inside, the ground floor and half basement are sunk into the ground and wrapped in brick, connecting the courtyard with the entry, grounding the building and ending with the hearth. A brick portal also breaks up the private parent’s sanctuary from the active family part of the home. So well considered.

The remaining materials are paired with the brick to further provide warmth to the home, including stunning golden yellow oak floors and neutral timber veneers with stark contrasting colours of joinery in maroon and mahogany.

It’s also the combination of details that makes this home unique to its location and the family’s needs. Take, for instance, the internal staircase that, with Bayley Ward’s clever thinking, became more of a functional than transitory space. By integrating the landing into a music room and library, Olena and her team unlocked the design by providing a partial basement for the Dad’s retreat. There is also potential to introduce a lift in the stairwell should the need arise in future years.

Autumn House is a high-quality home that’s beautifully designed and constructed. In fact, Olena says, “The master craftsmanship of the team from the Stockwood Building Group helped the whole project come together so well; they were just so wonderful to work with.” And, indeed, the unique colour tones and textural quality of Petersen bricks have worked their magic on Autumn House to create a home that is full of colour, life and warmth, and that is without question a beautiful private retreat that will be enjoyed for many years to come.