Property of the week: 32 Isaac St, Spring Hill

Spring Hill Enviro-Cottage is the ultimate fairytale of old meets new, an architectural marriage of two distinctly different eras that seamlessly come together in 21st-century Brisbane.

The Isaac Street home is one of Spring Hill’s original workers’ cottages that in 2010 was expertly transformed into a uniquely sustainable home with all the modern-day must-haves and plenty of boxes ticked on the wish list too.

While preserving the classic Queenslander, the 286sqm property has been reimagined to deliver an innovative and eco-friendly address.

Kitchen joinery has been crafted from reclaimed timber, there is environmentally friendly paint, a suite of energy efficient appliances, solar power, underground water storage, and an Eco Plunge Pool.

Although the charming period facade remains, the rear of the house has an ultra contemporary backdrop of patterned Corten steel privacy screens that minimise heat and create dappled light across the interior spaces. At night, the unique partition’s geometric laser-cut design provides a star-like feature in the main bedroom suite.

The considered passive design principles extend to the strategically located louvres, doors and windows that draw in cooling breezes, while a vast skylight over the dining area and kitchen allows for plenty of natural light in winter. Burnished concrete floors keep the ground cool and grand walls of glass peel back to reveal a seamless flow to the outdoors with a grassed and landscaped private courtyard.

Although the ground floor has been designed for everyday living and entertaining, the multi-purpose front room with ensuite is an ideal guest retreat or even a perfect ‘work from home’ space complete with a separate entry via the front patio.

Upstairs, a mezzanine lounge provides another breakout area for families, and the two first floor bedrooms open out to the traditional full-width balcony overlooking the street. These bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and desks with a shared family-friendly bathroom.

At the rear of the footprint, a freestanding two-storey pavilion features yet another living space next to the pool with an integrated bar. Above the space the top floor main bedroom has an ensuite and walk-through wardrobe.

A long list of bonus features include ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living areas, a thermostat-controlled whirlybird to extract excess heat, a 5kW solar system with a SMA Sunny Boy inverter, a 20,000L rainwater tank, a filtering and UV disinfection system and a solar hot water system with 450L storage tank.

Although there is a lock up garage, this city-fringe home is within walking distance of Roma Street Parkland, Roma Street Station and Victoria Park. Brisbane Central State School is also only two streets away.

In keeping with Queensland consumer law, properties going under the hammer cannot carry advertised price guides.

This Brisbane home at 32 Isaac St, Spring Hill is on the market with Ray White New Farm with an auction date set for November 30. For details contact agent Samuel Angus on 0411 044 949.

A bold architectural statement in Melbourne’s inner east, this unique Glen Iris home marries sculptural design with sophisticated family living in a remarkable real estate relationship.

Conceived by Pandolfini Architects, with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the custom-built four-bedroom, two-level home was crafted for its current owners but is now coming to market for the first time.

Listed via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Marshall White agents Rae and Hugh Tomlinson and Mandy Zhu, 8 Erica Ave is on the market with price expectations of $7.5 million to $8 million.

Its dramatic street appeal sets the tone for what’s to come, because beyond the contemporary façade sits a modern residence unlike any other.

Pandolfini’s team brief was to create an inviting home made from hard-wearing materials, with a palette inspired by ancient ruins and old industrial buildings.

The result is striking, cantilevered terracotta brickwork and a patinated copper-screened exterior that borrows hues from the classic neighbouring cottages.

One within the home, the Erica Ave property unfolds across three interconnected pavilions positioned along the deep block. Long gallery hallways are framed by floor-to-ceiling glass to showcase garden and pool views, making the most of the 886 sq m site.

Raw, heavily textured walls create an industrial aesthetic inside and out, while curious “upside-down” arched windows introduce a creative architectural twist.

At the heart of the home, the central living and dining zone is divided by a sculptural fireplace rendered in hard plaster. High barn-style spotted gum timber ceilings rise above bush-hammered concrete walls with Roman travertine floors, and American oak joinery.

In the marble kitchen, there are premium Wolf and Miele appliances, a butler’s pantry, an integrated study nook, and a bespoke curved window that wraps around a custom-made banquette dining space.

Walls of glass frame the north-facing terrace where a heated swimming pool and spa are enveloped by private landscaped gardens with an integrated barbecue setting.

Within the front pavilion, the large parents’ retreat features built-in and walk-in wardrobes, a dresser, and a travertine ensuite with a freestanding bathtub, rain shower, and a dual-marble vanity. Also on the ground floor is a second bedroom and a media room with a built-in daybed and a picture window overlooking the yard.

One floor up via the curved staircase with skylight, there are two more bedrooms with terrazzo bathrooms, study spaces, and leafy outlooks.

Car enthusiasts not only have a single lock-up garage on Erica Ave, but an additional rear showroom-style five-car pavilion or grand studio accessed via Irymple Ave. It has a high vaulted ceiling, a concealed in-floor Maha car lift, a workbench, and a sink.

Added extras include a mud room, laundry with side access, in-floor heating and climate control within the engineered European oak floors, deluxe joinery, and CCTV security.

The Glen Iris home is within walking distance of Central Park Village, Harold Holt Swim Centre, and Gardiner Station, as well as popular schools including Sacré Cœur, Korowa, and Caulfield Grammar.

The Pandolfini-designed house at 8 Erica Ave, Glen Iris is listed with Marshall White for $7.5 million to $8 million via an expressions of interest campaign.

Property of the week: 32 Isaac St, Spring Hill

Crafted by Pandolfini Architects with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the Glen Iris residence pairs industrial-inspired design with refined contemporary living and a five-car showroom pavilion.