Picard Residential Design

An architecturally designed new home proudly referencing South Beach’s industrial heritage.

Sitting on a street of white rendered, pitched roof suburban houses, this residential project couldn’t be more different, its architecture proudly referencing South Beach’s industrial heritage and providing its owners with a robust and generous ‘warehouse for living’.

More than simply a gesture to the site’s history, however, the house’s form and materials respond to an ambitious brief that called for a large home on a deep, narrow block for a family with teenage children. Working closely with clients, engineers and builders, Cast Studio developed an architectural approach that created simple, robust spaces that avoid the use of expensive materials.

Using a saw-tooth typology that was once common to the area, rooms are filled with light and air, their materials and finishes tough but not without domestic comfort.

Houses Awards 2019, New Houses over 200m², Shortlisted
Houses Awards 2019, Sustainability, Shortlisted
Houses Awards 2019, Sustainability, Commendation

This review is well overdue to say the least.  However, it probably carries more weight as it hasn't been written in the immediate "honeymoon period" where everything is likely to be unrealistically fantastic.

However, I'm delighted to report that after moving in some 2 years ago, it is absolutely fantastic!  We simply could not be happier with the home David Barr designed for us, and his careful oversight during the build stage.  Right from the initial planning meeting, it was clear we had landed on the right team.  David very quickly understood what we wanted and was more than happy for us to generate ideas and collaborate along the way. 

David's ideas and suggestions were excellent and anything but cookie cutter.  We pretty much adopted all of his ideas. His selection of materials and critically, his suggested builder (Interstruct), ensured what we all thought was achievable became a reality.  There's always going to be some compromise when building, and we had to rein ourselves in at times, but working closely with David, we found a way and didn't end up with any regrets. 

From a back office perspective, everything was completed with utmost professionalism, including plans, approvals, accounts, etc. 
If you are reading this and want to work with someone who genuinely gets it, and is as invested as you are in your dream home, look no further.  Thanks again David and team!