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The proposed site was located on an ageing garden tennis court, surrounded by mature pine trees on a beautiful property at the foot of the Snowy Mountains. The client commissioned Cradle Design to conceive a simple modernist space in which to create and display large paintings.

The brief required that the space allow paintings up to 14m long be both mounted on the walls and laid out for the artist to visualise and work on. The modern architecture and interior design of the new-build was also to accommodate a separate storage area for the artwork, a substantial reference library, an administration area, a kitchen for washing brushes and a separate shower room.

The client was keen to adopt as many principles of sustainable design as possible. Underfloor hydraulic heating, solar hot water, rainwater capture and re-use, cross-ventilation and recycled materials were all utilised in the building design. Large expanses of glazing not only provided the artist with natural light, but also provided beautiful natural vistas to the garden and surrounding woodlands. The client had previously salvaged multiple pallets full of dressed granite which had been rescued from several historic building demolition sites in the Cooma region. The pallets of granite located on the tennis court site was crying out to be used to create the new studio building.

The plan of the studio was informed by the grid of the garden tennis court, maintaining its structured layout and providing a north-facing courtyard. The building walls were aligned with the court grid and stainless-steel strips were inserted into the engineered floorboards and the enclosed courtyard, preserving the historical grid of the garden tennis court.

The two distinct elements of the building, the studio space and the storage/ancillary spaces, are clearly articulated by the use of different materials. The studio space enjoys the rich humility and honesty of the reclaimed granite, whilst the storage and ancillary spaces are defined by the juxtaposed discipline of the horizontal banded fair-faced blockwork.

Continuing the sustainable architecture and design of the building, the use of upcycled materials is extended through to the long bench nestled against the enclosing wall to the courtyard. The timbers were reclaimed from a local timber vehicular bridge that had recently been demolished.

Photographer: Patrice Riboust

Blairgowrie Studio
Blairgowrie Studio
Blairgowrie Studio
Blairgowrie Studio
Blairgowrie Studio
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Blairgowrie Studio

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About the
Professional

Our Story.

Founded by Regan VanderWert-Walsh and Paul Lucas in 2011,

Cradle Design is a team of dedicated architects and interior designers committed to helping clients exceed their project vision.

What began as a garage start-up with two qualified architects, quickly evolved into a successful boutique design studio.

From residential, workplace and hospitality, to commercial and industrial buildings, Cradle’s original and inspiring architecture and interior designs can be seen across the entire industry spectrum.

Owners Regan and Paul bring a refined design sensibility to the business, as well as a wealth of knowledge and ideas. They are supported by a skilled and experienced team who take pride in collaborating closely with clients, listening to their needs and guiding them to achieve their desired outcome.

With a wealth of experience and the ability to create spaces people truly connect with, Cradle is extremely proud of its accomplishments and looking forward to designing their next client's dream space.