-
Architects: Alexander&Co.
- Area: 250 m²
- Year: 2020
-
Photographs:Anson Smart
-
Manufacturers: Concrete Bespoke, James Richardson Corp., Natural Brick Co., Studio Enti
An Overview - Alexander House (AH) is the home of Alexander &CO. where our team work from and where our clients meet with us. It is an architectural residential showcase and a purpose-built live/work set up aiming to challenge preconceptions of home, land, family and work. Importantly, AH is also a prototype for exploring sustainability, carbon sequestration and environmental innovation.
The Vision - Alexander House is our new way of practicing our craft. A courageous space to foster leadership, creativity and learning. Designed as a safe space for reflection, experimentation and to nurture the creative spirit, AH is our thesis, prototype and a place for our team and community to test out and challenge ideas. We look forward to hosting events, “Creative Conversations” and utilizing AH to open a wider dialogue on our industry, impacts and our potential to introduce change.
We are passionate about local artists and are underway with discussions regarding a moving gallery concept - perhaps even a future artist in residence. We are also committed to educating and engaging our team around reconciliation and have engaged Susan Moylan-Coombs from the Gaimaragal Group to host a series of ‘Cultural Conversations’. We are looking forward to sharing these discussions with our team and wider community.
The Materials - As well as reclaimed timbers, rammed earth bricks from waste materials, a cohesive material palette of concrete, polished plaster, steel, brass and stone accents have all supported our aesthetic vision which fosters a ‘found’ feeling. We have chosen finishes and materials which are inherently imperfect. Materials are deeply expressive and were selected to show their age, as is the case with the sandblasted timber and brass which could blacken and develop over time.
The Space - Conceived as a design laboratory, AH supports a diversity of uses including; working environments for both collaboration, meetings and solo time. Site limitations encouraged creativity when it came to encompassing the various program functions our team required within the small terrace footprint with each of the four floor plates conceived to be programmed separately and transition with time. There are both private exterior spaces and internal environments which vary in material, scale, lighting and volume. Each space allows us to provide both a true residential showcase experience for our clients and a flexible working environment for our team.
