palaestra

12 Reviews

Building Designers

About Us

7x Best of Houzz winner

Eco-friendly

Available weekends

Award-Winning Building Designer Based in the Central Coast & Sydney

Palaestra creates beautiful places. We bring our thoughtful design skills to create & enhance living spaces for life. We work to illuminate the physical, cultural and emotional context of each project. Palaestra always incorporates sustainable design principals in our house plans such as low energy use, low embodied energy materials, low toxicity material usage and passive solar design. We particularly love timber and recycled timber. Our work has been acknowledged through exhibition, awards, teaching and our client base of repeat business. In addition to conventional building procurement we offer cost effective pathways to new homes or additions through our work with a range of prefabrication firms. Our clients say: " We are still wandering around in amazement, wondering how on earth we managed to find ourselves in such a beautiful, well-designed, warm, sunny and – damn it – cool house! It was quite a bizarre experience for a while, and I personally wasn't at all prepared for just how perfect this house was going to be for us to live in" Simone, Blackheath. "The house is a dream...receiving a gazillion compliments. I have a never ending feeling of joy looking at it...the ambience is absolutely wonderful" Monika, Woy Woy. "The house is fantastic and the design is incredibly functional and thoughtful. The high window is brilliant. The sun streaming in from early morning to the afternoon has eased the early chill of winter. It’s been a wonderful house to be isolated in." Emma, Leichardt

Services Provided

Architectural Design, Architectural Drawings, Building Design, Custom Home, Energy-Efficient Homes, Floor Plans, Green Building, Handicap-Accessible Design, Home Additions, Home Extensions, House Plans, Modular Home Additions, Multigenerational Homes, Sustainable Design

Areas Served

Pretty Beach, Killcare, Hardys Bay, Mac Masters Beach, Somersby, Erina, Wamberal, Avoca Beach, Pearl Beach, Patonga, Palm Beach, Avalon, Sydney, North Shore, Peats Ridge, Dorrigo, Blackheath

Awards

RAIA Graduate design medal 1995 TAS young home designer of the year 1994 Best of Houzz 2014 to 2017

Professional Information

B.Arch University of Sydney B Sci (Arch) University of Sydney

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13 Projects

Pretty Beach, NSW

Credentials

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Featured Review

simoneford

Relationship

Client

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12 Reviews for palaestra

4.8|12 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

4.6

Value

5.0

Dave Petschack

Relationship

Client

I knew we had made the right choice when I found Charles at our block sitting on a rock with his sketch pad. 20 years ago he designed a beautiful home for us that sits perfectly in the environment capturing all the light and air. We have not changed a thing and we are constantly grateful for Charles creative approach. Charles also designed a holiday home for us which, again, is perfect for its situation and use.

February 8, 2021

Comment from palaestra:

Thanks Dave - such a pleasure to hear your homes are still serving you well. Design is always a leap of faith & thanks for making that leap with me.

picwix

Relationship

Client

Charlie did a major renovation on our northern beaches fibro cottage in 2002 and a smaller addition in 2015. He perfectly understood the style that we were after - We loved our 50s fibro and wanted to retain it's charm. The result was a fabulous modern beach house with an innovative mix of fibro and weatherboard textures that is much admired. When we later renovated the kitchen he designed the joinery and had some great suggestions with colour and recycled timbers. I would recommend him to anyone.

October 29, 2020

Comment from palaestra:

One of my favourite projects - the design solution was already there in the old home. Thanks Pic.

Peter Renney

Relationship

Client

We had decided to downsize from from an acreage into our dream home. Charles Wright from Palaestra had been recommended to us and we decided to approach him to assist in designing a home which would be functional, easy to maintain and architecturally sound. We are very pleased with the final result. Charles eye for good design helped us in achieving our goal and we are extremely delighted with our new home.

August 27, 2020

Kate F

Relationship

Client

Of the four architects we interviewed, Charles was the only one who not only understood our brief but showed genuine enthusiasm for our project. We have only been in the house for four months, but we are delighted with both the design and functionality of our new home, which has character, unique design features, bucketloads of natural light and plenty of space for our family of four. We are regularly stopped by strangers on the street telling us how much they like our house. Charles’ strengths include his attention to detail, solution-focussed attitude and excellent project management skills. The budget did become a major issue when trying to find a builder, so this is something that needs to be better managed during the design and specification process.

August 12, 2020

Nicholas Wright

Relationship

Client

Charles Wright of Palaestra Studio produced a comprehensive design, which retained elements of the original house for economy. The best thing is the new parts make the home cool in summer and warm in winter with views of the large surrounding garden and the farmland beyond. The new central hearth and recycled rosewood doors are a beautiful feature. The sunny outdoor terrace is great for entertaining. The bathroom and hallway were remodelled to be wheel chair friendly in case of future need. As to be expected there were some construction challenges along the way but a very good relationship developed between the builder, Jeff Hughes and Charles. Jeff felt that Charles understood the difficulties he was encountering and was responsive in answering questions in a timely and practical way. Although Charles was 500km away, electronic transmission of photos and sketches allowed problems to be resolved quickly and efficiently. In my view it is very important for your architect and builder to get on well. My new house is very liveable with bonuses in that its living area has excellent acoustics for small in-house concerts and is much admired. The architect of my former, much loved home, has declared it to be a “master piece”. Maybe that is a slight overstatement for a renovation, but I still love my new home.

November 20, 2017

Rob Williams

Relationship

Client

Charles delivered the spaces we really needed. We love our 50’s modernist home but it lacked connection to the garden. Charles’ thoughtful & simple moves added the outdoor spaces, a little extra living space & access to sun we really needed. We came in on budget yet still have a few great features that really lift the spaces from ordinary to excellent. It was great work, and we got back our view! We recommend Palaestra to any of our family and friends who are considering a building project. We are also getting Charles back for stage 2, and that is the highest praise we can give!

May 4, 2017

Jill

Relationship

Client

Charles is an excellent designer to work with. We are delighted with the renovation he designed for our holiday house on the coast. Great use of light and space. Creative response to our brief, which was to transform a tiny house suitable for tiny kids into a shared space for adult kids and their partners. We had absolute confidence in Charles, and he delivered quality output.

May 2, 2017Last modified:August 20, 2019

Comment from palaestra:

Thanks Jill, it is always a pleasure working to make happy clients & good spaces.

angofra

Relationship

Client

I would have to say your professionalism in how you have approached our job has been, for me, one of the best professional experiences I have encountered – especially the blend of pragmatic and creative energy you have brought, and being patiently consistent with the original brief of having us as clients heavily involved in the design process. It has proved laborious – but I think ultimately constructive – in finding solutions around the competing factors – council zoning, preserving the existing structure where possible on enviro/cost grounds, aesthetics – both between Sharnie and I and yourself, working respectfully with the surrounding garden, working through various functional permutations. For me, it has shown clearly how the elements within such a project all inter-relate.

January 26, 2014

Tah

Relationship

Client

We would like to to enlarge and re-configure our living area at the back of our bungalow. Palaestra has prepared some sketches for us, which we are keen to get built when we can! I have seen a lot of renovations that re-configure the back area of these 100 year old houses - where closed-in backs of houses are opened up. But I find that the vast box-like spaces that are usually created are pretty uninspiring. The reason I would only ask Palaestra to re-design our back-room living spaces is because each of the three Palaestra-designed-houses that I have visited manage to accommodate a number of living spaces that are vastly more interesting, useful, cosy and just beautiful than the boxy ones that are the norm. Spaces in Palaestra houses have our activities in mind - they respond to what we do in those spaces. And they seek light and air to our advantage. Each space has it's own character and it's own special delight.

January 27, 2013

Benjamin Taylor

Relationship

Worked with pro

In June 2004 Charlie Wright (architect) and myself, Ben Taylor (carpenter) worked together to redefine and extend an existing timber cottage on the edge of the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney. From the start it was an engaging and rewarding experience. Charlie's sensitivity and understanding of landscape were evoked through his thoughtful use of recycled materials that included beautiful ancient iron bark columns and lovely old refinished window frames. Window apertures were placed sensitively to frame views of the secret life of the river. A wonderful gift of Charlie's was the ability to bring the 'dimension' of the river to the spaces constructed within. High ceilings and expansive rooms reproduced the scale of the landscape and gave an open quality to the spaces. Throughout the construction process every care was taken to minimise waste and increase efficiency in production and use of materials. It was a pleasure and great fun to work with Charlie and I would highly recommend him to anyone considering him for their design.

December 3, 2012

simoneford

Relationship

Client

Charles designed the home we never knew we could have - it was better than we imagined in every way, and a year after completion continues to delight us with its efficiency, beauty and cleverness. Our very tight budget provided challenges that he more than rose to, and we have a beautiful and sustainable home to show for it. He was fabulous to deal with, accommodating and helpful. Highly recommended!

November 29, 2012

felicity1968

Relationship

Client

We bought a total dump of a terrace which had serious structural and aesthetic issues. We hired Palaestra to help us reconfigure the building to make the most of the spaces, increase the light while keeping the cost low. Palaestra solved the puzzle of using the space as well as possible. We have a truly brilliant new stair configuration. They designed really great rooms and had real sensitivity to our rather serious budget constraints. Unlike a number of the people we hired on the job, Palaestra really got that we couldn't afford the best or most beautiful finishes but always come up with a good looking alternative. Palaestra always deliveredon time and responded to crises.

November 29, 2012

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19 Comments

Commented: How tall are the back cushions?I was back at this house recently & measured it for you - the seat is 400 off the floor - a little higher than might be usual. The back of the seat to sill is also relatively high - 520 - its a lo...

June 28, 2016

Commented: Any ideas of where we could source the floor tile?Yes - the colour scheme was developed by the owner through a web based tile service: Trend: Trend Mosaic They were well priced. The colour mix was a development from one of their standard mixes. If yo...

May 22, 2016

Commented: Flame zone?Hi Katy, yes this house was rated as being in a flame zone. The regulations since then have changed, but this house has static water storage & a fire sprinkler system which you can see on the roof...

September 30, 2015

Commented: BrickHi Kimberly, that finish is paint over a "light bagging". Bagged brickwork is something your bricklayer can do as they go, or you can do it when the wall is complete. It is not really render...

May 20, 2015

Commented: BrickHi Kimberley - I'm so sorry I missed your question. Perhaps it is too late, but here is your answer: they are brick commons, flush jointed, lightly bagged, with a Porters acrylic paint. Light bagging ...

May 20, 2015

Commented: Custom floor planHi, good luck with your project. The following opinions are provided with the intention of assisting you to refine your expectations of the design provided. My comments are limited by not having yo...

April 16, 2015 in Design Dilemma

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