Its design inspired by Brutalist architecture and radiating minimalist grandeur, this remarkable residence, dubbed Riviera and built by Mactech Constructions, won the highest accolade at the 2022 HIA–CSR Queensland Housing Awards — Queensland Home of the Year.
Claiming a sought-after location at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, this open-plan, uber-luxurious family home, designed by Brisbane architect Joe Adsett and completed in 2021, features a simple, pared-down palette of materials that the judges praised for “belying the scale of the project and complexity of the project”.
Class 1 off-form white concrete is the dominant feature and shapes virtually every aspect of the structure, from the thick slab roof to the smoothly contoured walls and floors. The home draws on the rough Brutalist beauty of concrete to make a strong design statement, yet counterbalances and softens the effect by the use of natural timber throughout.
Flawless blackbutt shiplap cladding is used to powerful effect, curving along the home’s facade and warming the communal and private areas of the five-bedroom, three-bathroom one-storey abode. The same timber can be seen in the detailing of the precision-built custom cabinetry.
Mactech Constructions, under the guiding hand of director Nick McDonald, who was integrally involved every step of the way, cleverly elevated the home and used 3.5m-high recessed Vitrocsa glass sliding doors to ensure uninterrupted ocean views. An internal courtyard and pool subtly partitions the large kitchen, dining space and living area from the three-car garage and pool room, adding to the open feel of this spectacular beachfront property.
A home designed and built with a view to enjoying the finer things in life, including lavish entertaining against a stunning ocean backdrop, it also provides the family with everything they need for day-to-day living and more private activities. There is a cinema room for relaxed movie nights, a gym for staying trim, and a study for those business matters that can’t wait until the next working day.
Thanks to the generous size of the site (1194sqm) and frontage, it was possible to build the residence on one level, but due to the C-shaped design of the home, it is somewhat deceptive when viewed from the street. From kerbside, all you see are the off-form concrete gates but as you travel along the driveway to the internal courtyard, the ocean vista opens up and is all-encompassing.
It’s worth pointing out that while the simplicity of the off-form concrete is what makes the architecture of the home so intriguing, the process involved in its creation is far from stress-free because the result you get is what you have to live with. When everything goes to plan and you get it right, as Mactech Constructions did here, the outcome is stunning.
The goal of the annual HIA–CSR Queensland Housing Awards is to acknowledge and celebrate the skill and commitment of the state’s builders and reward exceptional workmanship as demonstrated in a variety of projects that push the boundaries of design and construction innovation. Mactech Constructions — and Riviera — ticked these boxes, as did the project for which the company won the Queensland Townhouse/Villa of the Year award.
Mactech Constructions is an innovative, multi-award-winning company specialising in the construction of custom luxury homes. Each individual home is tailored to meet the client’s unique needs and is delivered with the company’s customary personalised service, transparency and integrity. Mactech Constructions was founded over a decade ago and with its uncompromising commitment to quality and craftsmanship, it has developed a reputation for building some of the Gold Coast’s finest, most lavish homes, each displaying meticulous attention to detail.
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