Circe Circle
In the leafy surrounds of Perth’s Dalkeith sits Circe Circle Residence. From the exterior, the home by Ben Mountford of Mountford Architects presents a welcoming timber battened and brickwork facade, fusing traditional herringbone with contemporary tonality and shape.
The home, according to Mountford, reflects and builds on the history of experimental architecture in the suburb.
In its expansive geometric interior, the herringbone brickwork is continued from the facade inwards, partially lining the base of the walls, grounding the project. The herringbone motif plays with a sense of tradition; its vertical stature echoing heritage yet breaking away from recognised uses of the pattern, while still providing contrast to the otherwise modern features of the home.
‘We wanted a calmness in the materials and a narrow pallet,’ says lead architect Ben Mountford. ‘Within that narrow pallet we wanted to render the skill and care of the trades on the walls and in the details.’
Delivering on this objective, Mountford Architects employed off-form concrete, dowelled cedar battens and the prominent brickwork composed of Bowral50 bricks in Bowral Blue to establish a simple yet high quality foundation.
‘We felt the human scale of Bowral50 and its hand-crafted detailing of the herringbone gave this modern home a warmth it may have otherwise lacked,’ adds Mountford.
The kiln-fired tonal bricks amalgamate an array of hues, including cool blue, charcoal, deep purple and rich red. ‘That blue grey of the Bowrals compliments the overall pallet of raw concrete and western red cedar,’ says Mountford. As a result of the firing process, each brick is uniquely textured, bringing a crafted texture to the residence.
The design uses both materiality and design to embrace the property’s sunlight. As light trickles through the house, the bricks transform. ‘Depending on the angle of the daylight,’ says Mountford, ‘the Bowrals have both a matt look or a gloss look, and we liked that effect.’ Mountford’s affectionate familiarity towards ‘the Bowrals’ is telling of his fondness for the product; this isn’t the first time he’s specified this material.
It’s not only the aesthetics of the bricks that appeals. Mountford points out that the bricks have particularly ‘crisp edges’ and are high density, making them ideal for cutting and laying. ‘When the joints are finally raked the shadows are very sharp.’ The natural insulative properties of brickwork proved another drawcard, helping reduce the need for excessive heating and cooling.
Circe Circle residence is the epitome of a luxury home. The materiality and textures of the project allows it to be at once both grand yet subtle; impressive yet homely.
“We felt the human scale of Bowral50 and its hand-crafted detailing of the herringbone gave this modern home a warmth it may have otherwise lacked.”
“We felt the human scale of Bowral50 and its hand-crafted detailing of the herringbone gave this modern home a warmth it may have otherwise lacked.”
- These distinctive dry pressed bricks have been used in many of Australia's most admired and historic buildings. With their unique granular patina and tactile aesthetic, Bowral bricks are highly prized by customers, architects and designers alike, and set the standard for design and integrity. Their sharp edges and inherent character combine with the distinctive Bowral clay colours to create what can only be a Bowral Brick.
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