ARCHITECTS TURN TO BRICK FOR DURABILITY, DESIGN FLEXIBILITY & CLIMATE PERFORMANCE

Brick continues to play a significant role in contemporary Australian residential architecture, with a series of recently highlighted projects demonstrating how the traditional building material is being adapted to meet modern design expectations and environmental demands.

The case studies focus on three homes in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, where brick has been used to balance aesthetic considerations with practical performance benefits such as durability, thermal efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements.

At a suburban residence on Badgery Avenue, pale-toned brickwork has been used to reinterpret established streetscapes through a more contemporary architectural approach, with uniform masonry emphasising sculptural curves and clean structural lines.

In regional Queensland, a rural property known as Springdale demonstrates brick’s ability to withstand challenging environmental conditions.

The use of textured brickwork helps the home blend with its natural surroundings while providing strength against heat, wind and long-term weather exposure.

“Australian homes ask a lot of their materials, and brick has always been one of the few that can deliver beauty and performance in equal measure,” says Brickworks spokesperson, Brett Ward.

“These homes show just how versatile brick can be — whether it’s creating a striking façade, providing year-round comfort, or offering the kind of durability that stands up to the harshest conditions.

“Brick gives homeowners confidence. It’s a material that looks incredible on day one and continues to perform for generations.”

Thermal performance is also highlighted in a coastal home at Point Leo on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where brick has been used both internally and externally to help regulate indoor temperatures.

Its density also contributes to acoustic insulation, supporting quieter living environments in both coastal and urban settings.

According to Brickworks, the featured homes reflect growing interest in materials that combine architectural versatility with long-term resilience and passive design benefits suited to Australia’s varied climate conditions.

Alexander Phillips has unveiled his first newly launched trophy campaign since establishing Ray White Phillips & Co, with the landmark Randwick estate Earlswood being offered with a guide of $10.5 million.

The listing is an early statement for Phillips’ new Woollahra-based agency. Less than a month after opening, Ray White Phillips & Co had already secured more than $30 million across a series of booked auction campaigns, including the $9 million sale of 92 Ocean Street, Bondi, and sales in Waverley, Bronte, Clovelly, Paddington and Coogee.

Phillips also recently sold 9 Kenneth Street, Tamarama, for $20.25 million, the highest reported Eastern Beaches sale of 2026.

The latest addition to the agency’s books is one of the eastern suburbs’ more distinctive estates.

Occupying 778 sqm at 54 Dutruc Street, Earlswood pairs a restored Victorian Italianate manor with an adjoining two-storey contemporary residence designed by X-PACE Design Group.

The original home was built in 1891 and is a locally listed heritage residence within Randwick’s St Marks conservation area. Its restoration retains much of the formality and detail expected of a grand Victorian property, including a substantial entrance foyer, frescoes by Augusto Lorenzini, four-metre ceilings, marble fireplaces and a series of reception and entertaining rooms.

Four king-sized bedrooms are arranged on one level, while an attic retreat captures views towards the ocean. More recent additions include a custom kitchen with Gaggenau appliances, a butler’s pantry, Spotted Gum floors and ducted air-conditioning.

Next door, the second residence takes a distinctly contemporary approach. Off-form concrete, wide oak floorboards and clean architectural lines establish a deliberate contrast with the ornate historic manor.

The modern home contains three upper-level ensuite bedrooms, two living areas, a designer kitchen, courtyard and north-facing rooftop terrace. Villeroy & Boch-appointed terrazzo bathrooms and Italian lighting continue the detailed finish found throughout the estate.

Although architecturally different, the two homes have been designed to operate together or independently. Each has its own entrance, while both connect to a four-car basement containing a vehicle turntable, wine cellar and internal lift access.

The configuration lends itself to multigenerational living, accommodation for adult children or extended family, or a principal residence with a separate income-producing home. The properties have also been prepared for possible future title subdivision, subject to council approval.

The estate spans approximately 717sqm of internal floor area and has a 39-metre frontage to Rae Street, as well as landscaped gardens and dual-street access. It last changed hands for $10.75 million in November 2023, according to publicly available property records.

Earlswood arrives as Phillips begins the next phase of a 24-year career in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. He has been ranked among Australia’s leading residential agents for more than a decade, with his team reported to transact more than $1 billion in property annually across more than 400 clients.

Phillips said his decision to launch Ray White Phillips & Co was driven by the industry’s increasing reliance on technology, data and network reach, while maintaining his team’s focus on the eastern suburbs.

For Ray White, Earlswood provides an appropriately high-profile introduction to its newest prestige operation: a rare dual-residence property that offers both a carefully preserved piece of Randwick’s history and a markedly contemporary way of living.

Earlswood at 54 Dutruc Street, Randwick, is being marketed by Alexander Phillips of Ray White Phillips & Co through expressions of interest closing November 5.

ARCHITECTS TURN TO BRICK FOR DURABILITY, DESIGN FLEXIBILITY & CLIMATE PERFORMANCE

Three Australian residential projects highlight how brick is being used in contemporary home design to support comfort, resilience and long-term performance.

Restored Victorian Italianate manor Earlswood combines two substantial residences on 778sqm and leads the prestige offering from the newly established Ray White Phillips & Co.