The Local Project – September 2020
We’re very pleased to have our recent Balmain project featured on The Local Project, the leading Australian architecture website. For a full view go here.
Phillip Street Photography – August 2020
Hi-Spec construction have completed building our design for alterations and additions to a weatherboard workers cottage in Balmain. The clients are all set to move in at the weekend and Tom Ferguson has taken some great shots with Holly Irvine assisting on the styling.
DA for Northbridge – July 2020
Our project for a new dwelling in Northbridge has just been approved by the planning panel of Willoughby Council. The application required two clause 4.6 variation requests due to exceeding both the height and FSR controls. After consultation with neighbours and a positive dialogue with Willoughby Council the panel agreed with the assessing officer’s recommendation that the design had been skillfully developed to minimize any impact to neighbouring properties and was well considered for it’s context.
Phillip Street Siteworks – June 2020
A big day on site in Balmain with the large skylights and large rear doors being craned in to position. The skylights comprise of four sheets of glass laminated and formed in to high performing double glazed units, weighing about 400kg each panel. Perfect fit.
Details in Tamarama – May 2020
Having got DA approval for alterations and additions to a four storey terrace in Tamarama towards the end of 2019 we are now busy finalizing the interior details, including this pantry, ready for pricing.
Progress in The Philippines – February 2020
Things are progressing well with our project on the Philippine island of Bohol with the main structure now complete ready for the finishing touches.
Phillip Street Siteworks – January 2020
A new year and work is progressing rapidly on site in Balmain. Hi-Spec Constructions have completed the complex steel and timber framing of this multi-faceted roof design which incorporates a large triangular skylight.
Approval for Waverley - December 2019
They’re on fire at Waverley Council. Hot on the heels of our Bondi project being approved another design of ours, for a new freestanding dwelling in Waverley, has been approved. This one was even quicker, with consent granted just over two months after the application.
Photography at Coleridge – October 2019
Tom Ferguson has been out to Leichhardt to get us some fantastic shots of our Coleridge project. Emma Elizabeth assisted on the styling and we’re very grateful to our clients for letting us invade their home for the day.
Approval for Seaforth - September 2019
Northern Beaches Council have granted DA consent for our design in Seaforth. The DA process went smoothly with no objections and no amendments required by council. We’re very excited and looking forward to progressing this project to construction.
Design for Northbridge – September 2019
We’ve enjoyed developing this design for a substantial four level home on Sydney’s north shore. The design sits on a steep slope, with a modest street presence and commanding views across Sailors Bay to the rear.
Virtual Reality – July 2019
We’ve just invested in an upgraded modelling computer with a monster graphics card so we can now bring virtual reality to our clients. Using the enhanced rendering quality of Enscape software clients can now literally take a tour of our designs and fully experience the spaces. We’ve been having a lot of fun entering a new world.
Design for Waverley – June 2019
This project in Waverley comes with an unusual shaped site. Our design for a new dwelling follows the contours and bends of the site. Translucent light wells form transition zones as the building shifts in angle and height turning the corner, like a train or bendy bus, to transition from street frontage to rear garden.
Upcycling: Creative Reuse by Design – May 2019
The Australian Institute of Architects invited Nick to be a speaker at a CPD seminar focused on the design process behind upcycling. The talk focused primarily on our recycled house where materials from the demolition were repurposed or “upcycled” on site into the new design.
Philippines Site Visit – April 2019
With the main structure almost complete it’s time for a tropical site visit to Bohol. Some great site meetings with the client and builder during which it was important to stay hydrated. Tough gig!
Habitus Living – March 2019
We’re delighted to have our recent Bronte project featured on the excellent design site Habitus Living. For a full view go to https://www.habitusliving.com/architecture/bronte-house-nick-bell-architects
Siteworks in the Philippines – February 2019
With the typhoon season over construction work was able to commence on our Philippine project at the end of 2018. With ground works complete, the new house is starting to emerge on the beautiful island of Bohol. Here we see what will become the main entry.
Design for Seaforth – January 2019
We have recently had the pleasure of designing a new home on a stunning waterfront block in Seaforth. One of the design challenges was to maintain vehicle access across the steeply sloping site, which limited the potential footprint of the building. Our solution was to develop the “Corbel House” whereby concrete corbels are used to cantilever upper levels and increase their usable area. With two solid base levels housing sleeping and ancillary areas the top floor is a lightweight pavilion style structure sitting on an expanded terrace with commanding views of Middle Harbour.
Occupation on Read Street – December 2018
In before Christmas. It was always going to be a tight program to get our clients into their new home before Christmas but with a well-organized design team and PMD Build able to work to tight deadlines this large new build construction was built in well under a year. Our clients are equally delighted with the design and the quality of finishing. This steel staircase forms a sculptural centerpiece to the home and fills the entry with natural light.
Grand Designs – November 2018
We are delighted to have our Vaucluse project featured on the cover of the new issue of Grand Designs magazine along with a generous eight page feature. We're extremely grateful to our clients for all their support with the design and allowing us back to photograph their home, as well Tom Ferguson for his photography.