The dramatic design of this house on a new estate in the suburbs of Geelong is as much a response to the steeply-sloping site as an aesthetic consideration.
The soaring, cantilevered upper level oversails the solid lower level which is primarily clad with Austral Masonry GB Split Face concrete masonry. Although the building features a variety of materials, the Sandstone-coloured concrete masonry predominates to the street, complementing the cedar panelling.
The upper level is finished in composite fibre-cement panels, cedar and corrugated steel. The split face of the GB Split Face Masonry is formed by moulding a double block and literally splitting it in half.
The resulting face texture is unique to each unit, mimicking the rough-hewn appearance of natural stone. “Split face blocks are a great way to add texture to building facade,” says Buck Grgic, Topic Builders inhouse architect. “They are also maintenance free and cost effective.”