This year saw another fantastic instalment in the Grand Designs Australia series hit our screens—and what a milestone it was. Celebrate 15 years of Grand Designs Australia with us in this bookazine, full of inspiring images, informative articles, and personal tales of the incredible humans who dared to dream big when it came to their home’s design. The Best of Grand Designs Australia features some of the most iconic houses from all 12 seasons of the show so you can relive the magic or discover new-to-you builds, along with an article on what makes a grand design and a foreword from the show’s host, Anthony Burke.
Best of GDA
FROM THE EDITOR
A FOREWORD FROM ANTHONY BURKE • Fifteen years of Australian dreams…
A LOVE LETTER TO AUSTRALIA • From coast to coast, through desert and high country, Grand Designs has redefined our connection to home and teased our most audacious aspirations out of the woodwork.
INVERLOCH SAND DUNE • Altering the narrative around what a traditional home looks like, the Inverloch Sand Dune House is risky but not grandiose, resulting in an entirely liveable home that speaks to its natural surrounds. There’s also a strong commitment to sustainability in this home, with the project created using all-natural materials. Rammed earth walls and the concrete floor have resulted in passive heating throughout the home, with the fireplace only in use in winter and no need for an air-conditioning unit thanks to the fierce sea breeze.
KING ISLAND WHALE TAIL • Designed to withstand harsh weather systems, the King Island Whale Tail home is a triumph that celebrates the rugged natural beauty of its island surrounds. The home’s unique shape is designed to ensure that no matter which direction the wind is blowing from, there’s always a point of shelter. Double-glazed windows span throughout the home to ensure there’s a horizon at every turn, allowing the homeowners to watch the weather roll in while still being protected from the elements.
YACKANDANDAH SAWMILL HOUSE • On paper, it’s hard to believe that a house with no plans could turn into a design success — yet that’s exactly what happened with Yackandandah. Two brothers’ skills harmonised to create a home that responds to the elements and celebrates nature by inviting her in thanks to motorised operating systems.
LAUNCESTON SUB-STATION • A grand design doesn’t have to be new. The transformation of this 1920s Launceston sub-station into a striking family home saw the owners celebrate history, with original features preserved and married with contemporary design characteristics. Panoramic windows, a cantilevered staircase and sweeping concrete floors are features which help confirm this home’s status as one to remember.
NORTHCOTE VINEGAR FACTORY • This orphaned building was given a new lease on life — despite facing more than a few challenges along the way. With a primary focus on upcycling, reusing and recycling as much as possible, the homeowner transformed this unliveable abode into a light-filled modern oasis that also celebrates its roots.
ALDINGA BEACH DUNE • When one sand dune won’t support the weight of a house, what’s a landowner to do? The answer to this seemingly insurmountable problem was a creative design that split the home across two separate dunes. Welcome to the Aldinga Beach Dune House, a testament to creativity, eco sensitivity and style.
STIRLING GLASS STONE HOUSE • The sturdy appeal of castle-thick stone walls is juxtaposed with a glass box in this creative build that celebrates the garden and invites the outdoors in. The Stirling Glass Stone House might not be what you expect of a family home in South Australia, but this grand design boasts heightened functionality and contemporary style, wrapped in the beauty of nature.
EUROA • Designing a home around 300-million-year-old boulders is no...