Manhattan on Belmore

A sinew of raw sustainable materials was the primary focus of this inner‐city Urban design. Walking around on site and inspecting the old home that was to be demolished I got a sense that what I designed needed to blend with the streetscape; an eclectic mix of residential houses, commercial and tall tower apartments.  We have contrasted the bold Colorbond Lysaght Enseam 265mm cladding with a light recycled brick, it was all about the balance of these two main materials with a feature hardwood being used as a third highlight material, softening the overall look and giving the home a welcoming vibe.   Specifying sustainable materials for this project was important and aligned with my company’s sustainable development goals (SDG’s). I wanted to use materials that would blend with the city environment and withstand the salt from nearby Belmore Basin. The dark Monument cladding sits into the landscape well and the recycled brick balances the aesthetic perfectly.   Contractors United Homes then took the brickwork on ‘Manhattan on Belmore’ to the next level by laying the brickwork in a Flemishbond pattern with a featured Dogtooth Corbell, executed to perfection by Birch Masonry.   The brickwork here is a powerful medium and is really brick art.       The end result is visual poetry, a clear link is evident between architectural, art and poetry.