The colours and features of the local landscape are often a source of inspiration for building designers. This starting point was a key element for this year's eight winners in the National Building Designers Association Awards for Design Excellence.
The eight category winners were selected from 53 finalists out of an initial pool of 500 entries. The top designers impressed the judges with homes in which lifestyle choices, spatial harmony and indoor-outdoor flow were combined into a single seamless design.
Queensland designer Rod Butland won the category for residential alterations and additions less than $125,000.
His design addressed several issues, such as a narrow patio, small living room, lack of shading and the pool being located too far from the home.
The existing patio was extended using a Dutch gable flattened slightly so as not to block the view from the first floor master bedroom. A new set of stairs improves access from this bedroom to the pool.
The judges remarked that Butland's design solutions were in harmony with the existing structure, and provided good linkage between indoor and outdoor living areas.
Another Queensland designer, Chris Vandyke, won the single residence with an enclosed floor area of up to 250m² category, with a tropical lifestyle home.
With its combination of Asian design and the traditional Queensland vernacular of a veranda, this house consists of three pavilions that branch off a central spine. Rich, natural timber posts and walls, and slate grey roofs complement the natural earthy tone of the rendered block walls.