Tag Archives: building

Pre-CAD Designer Me

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Lately I have been in my happy place: designing a home.

This has always been my favourite thing to do. As a child I would make house plans using the piles of grass on our lawn after my father had mown, then walk through the ‘rooms’ saying where things would be placed. Surely an early clue for my parents to foster and encourage this trait, but sadly this did not occur.

Graphic Communication at Secondary School fed this design urge. But instead of continuing down the path to become an Architect, I was detoured into qualifying as an Industrial Designer.

Back in the late 70’s and 80’s I was excited by the developments being made into sustainable and passive solar housing design. My thesis at tertiary level was on the topic of energy systems. Back then in 1980, the forecast was that coal and oil would be depleted by 2010.

During these tertiary studies I undertook an elective subject of computer programming as I could clearly see how the Graphic User Interface would open up a new world for designers. But this was way too early for the Computer Aided Design we see commonly used now. I was born too soon.

In later years as a mother with young children and working in another line of work altogether, I enrolled in a Building Construction course. I was the only female in a room full of young male tradies. I passed well enough and learned a lot, but CAD was still not being taught at this level. This was the early 1990’s. (Back in the 1980’s, when I had my children, women had to resign from their job when they became pregnant. There was no such thing as maternity leave or government assisted child-care. Maybe in some fields of work this was emerging, but not the male-dominated field of housing design and development.)

Despite this education, I have successfully designed four houses in partnership with Mick for our own family.

Swans Way 1989

Highfield Road 2002

Norfolk Place 2010

Sherwood Road 2015

These were always designed and built within our very limited budget and financial means at the time. Consequently, they were always modest and simple. We incorporated the things we wanted and needed at the time, and eventually after years enjoying these spaces as a growing family determines, we sold them and moved on. We were not ‘flipping’ houses. We are not developers or wannabe developers. We are not faux interior designers, stylists or desperate ‘influencers’.

My interest in sustainable living remains and over the years I have admired the development of “Earth Ships”. This method was initiated by a US architect Michael Reynolds back in the 1970’s. It is great to see the practical efforts and applications by Australian Architect Martin Freney continue to develop and build earthships here in Australia.

But personally, we have always lived in suburbia and are bound by the bureaucracies that bind us. Currently we have solar panels on our roof and a tank to gather rainwater for toilet flushing, and we will install these systems again in the new house.

So, we have a new project underway. We had been looking. I created a list of ideas for what we wanted – a vision board. And the very next day we had ‘manifested’ the property in the area we sought. Our wishlist formed the brief to the designer.

We have been looking at display homes, looking at materials, visiting showrooms, seeing what is being promoted online. It amuses us how curves, arches, and ribbed panels are back in style. This is an echo of the 1950’s, and not a look we like. Some interior designers seem to think they are cutting edge, but we see this style as very daggy and not new or unique at all. All things come around in cycles it seems.

So, while I used a drafting board and pens back when I was employed as a Designer, now using my graph paper, a pencil, ruler, and eraser, I have been plotting out designs for this block of land. This is what I love to do, and I envy the young designers who have their expert hands on CAD tools. The clients brief has some complexities that include a two-car garage as well as a parking spot for Mick’s small boat, while not sacrificing a nice street-facing façade of the building. The block is not big but fortunately flat (unlike our last project at Sherwood Road).

With Mick’s input and ideas, we have come full circle with our design plans, and we are up to Sketch Design Number 8B. Let’s see what our young CAD Designer has to say.

Points of perspective

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Here I list some of my random thoughts and impressions after one year in this new location and lifestyle (in no particular order of relevance or preference):

  • Have settled into this new life
  • LOVE the new vistas
  • Needed this change of scene more than anything
  • Miss my kids and parents achingly
  • Feel I have escaped the “ratrace”.
  • Realise I am not a “country person”.
  • Have not seen evidence of the fabled “country charm”.
  • Am amazed at the lack of world view by many country-folk.
  • Feel a sense of impending doom.
  • Have seen/experienced the effects of the population/cultural explosion/collision in Melbourne and want to warn the locals of the approaching tsunami.
  • Feel like a foreigner in my own country.
  • Have read the local history of Portland and realise how this has shaped the culture of the town.
  • Love the look of the old buildings especially those made of stone.
  • Always feel sad at the sight of another dead koala on the road and wish I could protect them.
  • Love the local bird life.
  • Still want to live in France (not sure why) but realise the culture/population problem is far worse there.
  • Am looking forward to settling into our new house.
  • Feel proud of what we have achieved with our building project.
  • Miss friends, workmates and lifestyle on the Mornington Peninsula.
  • Portland is a “blokes” paradise.
  • Love the regular trips to Melbourne on a small (20-seater) plane.
  • Appreciate Melbourne more as a visitor.
  • Miss regular and varied choices of movies to see at the cinema.
  • Have not established a regular exercise routine yet.
  • Feeling healthier as a probationary vegan.
  • Enjoy listening to audio books in my car as I travel the country highways.
  • Love the weather – the wind, the cold, the rain. Sunny days are gifts.
  • Love living beside the wild open sea.
  • Enjoy the variety and challenges of my job.
  • Have made some new friends.
  • Grateful to have a constant companion/friend/husband to share this with.

Grand Designs

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Grand Designs is my favourite TV show at the moment. It really is a great concept. Made in the United Kingdom and intelligently hosted by Kevin McCloud, it follows domestic building projects from start to finish.

There are a wide variety of circumstances that add to the interest and individuality of each unique project. Some people use professional architects, project managers, builders, etc. Others use one or two, while some go at the project alone – bravely or perhaps foolishly. It is often surprising to see the results from some really determined people.

For Australians it offers some architectural work not commonly seen here in Australia. For starters we lack old stone castles, and you won’t find too many buildings over 200 years old ripe for renovation. Then there are the obvious climatic differences. This brings a whole range of differing factors that shape the design and construction of the buildings. Their ground is a lot different to ours. They experience a lot more mud than we’ll ever see. The heat and light in Australia are harsher and this means we design to accommodate those conditions. You don’t see too many verandas in UK building design. But those UK cousins of ours soldier on, building their castles in the snow and mud and cold. You really have to admire their tenacity. How many aussie tradies do you know that knock off and go surfing if the conditions are right? And good luck to them.

Kevin McCloud brings intelligent commentary to the process. He plays the devils advocate baiting the starry-eyed visionaries with possibilities of things that could go wrong. His background in architecture and design ensures his input comes from a solid knowledge base and understanding.

It is a real pity Australian TV production companies don’t take careful note of the popularity of this show amongst Australian viewers. Everyone I talk to watches it and loves it as much as I do. I thought my background in industrial design made me specifically attuned to this show, but it seems to reach beyond that. I suppose we all dream of beautiful homes to own and live in, and we’d all like to shape that nest to fit our own unique sensibilities.

I cringe at the aussie shows like Location Location and Backyard Blitz. When Better Homes and Gardens comes on I can’t change channels quick enough. The loud discordant theme music is enough to make me shudder and this is quickly followed by the shouting bullying monologue of the presenters.

Even the introductory theme music of Grand Designs is beautiful and of real quality. Well done Kevin McCloud and Grand Designs and the ABC for airing it in Australia. On Facebook I’ve joined the groups Kevin McCloud Makes Architecture Sexy and The Kevin McCloud Appreciation Society. Cool!!