Dowel House by FMD Architects involved the refurbishment of an existing single fronted terrace internally. The layout remained as is, with a central study given the flexibility to also act as a third bedroom. A clerestory skylight remained but became a point of focus over the dining area...
"Our design strategy is always to celebrate the particularities of the project. While exploring the functional opportunities of opening and closing the windows in the skylight as well as incorporating shading devices, the use of the timber dowel offered an opportunity to become the rod to open the louvres as well as a decorative chandelier over the dining table. The chandelier can be reconfigured, with the coloured elements highlighting which dowels can be removed and repositioned to change to dowel display." -
The use of the dowel then extends to the kitchen as an art display device, shelving and support legs for the concrete benches. The dowels are used as display ledges for the client’s extensive art collection, door pulls, towel rails and wall hooks amongst many other things. The colours selected within the interior have been drawn from the collection to personalise the design response. These colours are applied to the dowels within the chandelier as well as dowel elements which punctuate the space.
Circular cut-outs featured in the sliding study wall panel, robes and panelling to the skylight and the TV cupboard also repeat the dowel motif throughout the spaces.
The dowel establishes a consistent design approach through each space, while varying its function in each and every space. This humble material is elevated to a higher level, as it blurs the boundaries between the functional, the decorative and art. The series of spaces create a holistic yet diverse experience.