28 August 2011

RESPECT-1

we have been very fortunate to have help from a family of amazing joiners - the Turners
always willing to help
always full of life and good humour

boat builders
traditional heavy timber framers
ecologists in the real word

they have my utmost respect and love

andrew created the amazing traditional japanese joinery in the salvaged oregon beam structure that supports our main bedroom.
mortise and tenoned, spline joints
dove tail was my little addition to his craftsmanship

i learnt so much working alongside andrew.
his oldest son Rye is an accomplished luthier as well

much respect



a nice aside is that the beams are 300x150mm and average 7.2m long.
they were 15 m long when pulled out of the old army warehouse in sydney!
I love the contrast of a strong structural element against the simple white palette.

images by:
claudia gabriel lim

SIMPLICITY

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
Leonardo da Vinci








our house...
learning the language of architecture
a reflection of the beautiful local trees

detailed timber work is our forte
key is creating a clean simple palette to allow the details to present themselves

salvaged oregon 12x6" beam
salvaged brushbox flooring
natural paint finishes
all natural lighting

images by:
claudia gabriel lim

25 August 2011

ART

Martin Worthington is my hero!


I have been enthralled by his work for as long as I can remember being interested in surfing. I recall seeing my uncle's 70's Surfing World magazines with crazy ad's for Hot Buttered boards with Martin's Psychedelic work.

I've met him several times and he has been so humble about his work, which I consider part of the evolution of Australian surf-lore.
I'm fortunate to have several boards with Martin's amazing work on it.



Love a gun, especially TF's shapes



 Typically most people think that his work is only on Hot Buttered boards, but actually he has been the production sprayer for many well known labels over the years. I have a very cool Aloha sprayed by Martin in '82 ( thanks Adam), and a beaten up classic Tom Curren Channel Islands also sprayed by him.
Great Greg Clough shape with textured deck and Worthington 80's spray



Martin graciously signed this one for me
Dig the rockets!


Quirky almost bonzer fin set up - early thruster experiment

Check out Kye Fitz's blog for a cool insight into Martin and his work. There are some seriously nice boards ridden beautifully by Kye!
http://www.doublewingflyer.blogspot.com/

Here's one of Kye's own boards; A 5'10' Modern Drifta
Shaped by the man himself - TF, with inspirational spray by Martin!


20 August 2011

IMPERMANENCE

Always the same....
As sad as this may seem, I always marvel at how it only takes a short while before nature reuses it's resources. And every year more come on the same journey.

We tried to save them one year, they refused food, rested, but really didn't recover well. Upon release one took off never to return, the other was harried by the local sea eagle, despite our best warding off attempts. Foolish of us to interfere.

I have left them alone from them on, despite how forlorn it seems.

Next season we had more luck helping a beautiful sea snake that had been washed down the coast by the strong NE storm swells that time. They are amazing - so colourful, so feared, yet harmless to humans and absolutely beautiful to see it the ocean.

18 August 2011

SPACE

always searching for new expressions of space
private and intimate are coveted
peace from the madding crowds

as our life becomes ever increasingly public, I crave the cubby house above the trees, or a little cave, hidden that I can peak out from to watch the days travails.



Solace in nature

TEXTURE

walking at the beach with dog and son
sky held a real sense of foreboding
sand was crisp
ocean was raw yet warm

when we reached the rocks, i found a treasure trove of tactile joy


how to transplant these into a building?

MOOD

so often a feeling is what drives an idea
how to describe that
that's the challenge