By CASEY NEILL
A BERWICK designer is in the running for top housing awards.
Warren Jenkins from Design Unity studio is a nominee for a residential design award in the category for new houses valued at more than $1 million at the Victorian Building Design Awards (BDAV).
He is also in the running for the People’s Choice Award, which allows Victorians to choose their favourite design project.
The Building Design Awards celebrate Victoria’s best building designers across heritage conservation and residential, interior, energy efficient and non-residential design.
Mr Jenkins designed Isn’t She Lovely in Warragul about four years ago for a family of five.
“It’s an iconic building.
“I’m not sure they intended to have that when they started out.
“Everyone knows the Isn’t She Lovely home.”
He said it sat on a rural property with extended views to the east and to the north.
“They bought this parcel of land that was where they were going to build their dream home,” he said.
“They wanted something that was quite contemporary or modern.
“There’s some nice trees and beautiful rolling hills in the background.
“It’s a contemporary Australian sort of home, combining timber and render.
“It has a large lifestyle pool out to the eastern face.
“From the living room you look across the pools and out to the views.”
He said the home was angular and played with different geometric forms.
“It’s definitely not normal,” he laughed.
“They’ve got three kids so we tried to accommodate them from a now point of view right through the entirety of their lives.
“Their rooms are big enough to entertain in.
“It could work for a family of very young children right up to young adults.
“It met all their needs spatially but visually as well.”
Mr Jenkins said being a BDAV nominee was wonderful.
“We strive to do award-winning work with every project we do,” he said.
“This is an opportunity really to put us amongst our peers and get to be exposed to what other wonderful designs there are out there and how ours rates.”
“It’s something that is a cultural part of our business – trying to exceed expectations and create amazing buildings and homes for people.”
Design Unity has been around for 16 years and employs about 10 full time and part time staff ranging from building designers to architects, interior designers and draftspeople.
Mr Jenkins will learn his fate at the BDAV annual dinner on Saturday 25 July.
People’s Choice Award voting is now open at www.bdav.org.au and closes Monday 13 July.
