Cascade Terrace Project | Acacia Joinery

Client Needs

Architect Sam Crawford and his team were tasked with transforming the disjointed home, into a unified retreat celebrating light, space and connectivity to outdoor living areas while maximising the views over the nearby parklands. Competing factors were the client’s requirement for privacy, the management of traffic noise, and heritage conservation zone regulations.

Acacia was commissioned to craft traditional painted timber windows and doors for the façade of the property in keeping with the heritage streetscape, as well as custom timber windows and doors in Queensland Spotted Gum for the rear of the property to complement the new contemporary design.

Challenges

Production for this project occurred at a time when the supply of building materials, especially high-quality timbers such as Spotted Gum, was heavily impacted by COVID-19. Acacia worked closely with our suppliers to manage the quality and consistency of the selected timber, ensuring the highest level of finish was achieved.

The master bedroom corner window unit was constructed as a single unit comprising a series of double-hung sashless windows and fixed windows. Similarly, the single corner living room unit featured two fixed/sliding glass units opening in opposite directions to enhance outdoor connectivity. To add complication, each unit had to accommodate a structural circular corner post. Detailed planning during pre-production and meticulous accuracy by our production team was required to achieve this.

Being an inner-city property, site access was problematic, particularly due to narrow rear lane access. Given the size, weight and complexity of the contemporary spotted gum frames, some being nearly 400mm deep, we understood even from the design phase that lifting them over the property wall was going to be a significant, yet not insurmountable, challenge.

Solutions

Given the access issues, Acacia elected to glaze many of the larger windows and doors on site. This minimised the weight of the units, increased manoeuvrability, reduced the risk of damage to the windows and improved the safety of personnel.

Both the traditional style windows for the existing façade and the contemporary Spotted Gum windows and doors were fitted with high performing acoustic double glazing to mitigate street traffic noise and increase thermal efficiency.

Outcome

The inspired design by Sam Crawford Architects has seamlessly combined the original Victorian terrace with its 1980s addition, creating a spacious, light-filled sanctuary. The hero of the design is a sculptural staircase of white painted steel and timber that links the three levels of the home.

Materiality is key to the design’s success. The simple neutral colour palette works in harmony with European Oak flooring and joinery, Acacia’s custom Queensland Spotted Gum windows and doors, brass fittings and distinctive marble benchtops and kitchen splashback, to deliver a sophisticated aesthetic.

The rear of the home takes full advantage of the abundant natural light, passive solar and natural ventilation courtesy of the sliding window unit in the living area, while the pool house features a floor-to-ceiling glazed sliding door. These large openings enhance the connectivity between the interior and the exterior living spaces. Fly screens were integrated in both areas to maximise usability, while double glazing has been employed to increase thermal efficiency.

Upstairs in the master bedroom, the large corner window unit of fixed pane and double hung windows frames the exquisite parkland views. Pivoting timber louvres act to minimise heat in summer, control light and privacy, and add to the contemporary aesthetic and serene ambience.

“Acacia, as always, provide a high quality product, exhibiting precise craftsmanship and attention to detail.

In addition to this, what sets them aside is their pre-construction service, providing valuable input during the design process, budget estimates, and review of architectural details. This continuity ensures a seamless transition from design stage to construction when it comes to window and door joinery.

I would not hesitate to recommend them.”

Benjamin Chan, Sam Crawford Architects, Architect

Cascade Terrace

Project Details

Project Overview