Coledale, 2018 | Dharawal Country

Located under the escarpment, but close to the sea, this new home now accommodates a family in the main house and visitors, family and guests in a granny flat on the street corner.

This project is in a residential area undergoing gentle transformation, where miners cottages mix with more recent homes. It was built on a vacant corner block with south facing slope, and with views and sun at odds to one another.

As a response a simple building volume runs north south creating a larger area for outdoor living to the east. To collect the sun, the western elevation is composed of strong blades, opening to the north and protecting from the afternoon heat from the west. The east elevation continues the guiding of views, and filtering of light through a covered, planted verandah.

The eastern openings and western blades with their north facing glazing track the path of the sun throughout the day, marking time.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray

Builder _ Owner Builder & Andy Staig Constructions
Engineering _ Northrop Engineers
Joinery _ Paiano Custom Kitchens & Forrest Furniture
Windows & Doors _ AHJ Architectural Hardwood Joinery

Photography _ Shantanu Starick

Robertson, 2017 | Gundungurra & Wodi Wodi Country

A Southern Highlands pavilion home sits on an escarpment platform sheltered by the Yarrawa Brush to the west and looking out over Kangaroo valley towards the coast.

The building in two parts is designed to resonate with the beauty of the Australian landscape. The property is a unique and iconic one. It sits high on the escarpment with easterly views towards the ocean, offering a powerful vista across the foreground, a valley landscape - ever changing in colour as the sun rises and falls, and with many moods created by the shifting weather patterns.

The west of the site is formed by a dramatic hillside of untouched rainforest ‘Yarrawa Brush’ with a number of unique species of flora and fauna. This landscape wall to the west forms a delightful protected setting and the building was sited to make the connection between the rainforest and the view.

Two pavilions create an external courtyard around the knoll, a manicured man-enhanced landscape featuring a deciduous native tree - a welcoming entry for visitors, and a place to unwind, and be protected from the wind.

Anchored by a wide protective services/entrance gallery along its western facade, in the main building all internal spaces open to the east taking in the breathtaking view while highlight glazing brings in the beautiful light filtered through the rainforest behind.

A simple palette of appropriately robust materials are used - fieldstone from the site, rough sawn timber cladding, fibre cement sheet, custom hardwood window joinery, composite timber and steel beam with personal accents showing the owners love of mid century design.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray

Builder _ Bricon Projects
Engineering _ Geoffrey Pryke
Joinery _ Advanced Kitchens & Forrest Furniture
Windows & Doors _ Acacia

Photography _ Shantanu Starick & Takt Studio

Thirroul, 2018 | Dharawal Country

Located on a large, north facing site of epic proportions within the town, but just below the Illawarra Escarpment; this extension creates a new living area for a family of four and their guests.

Concentrating private spaces within the existing house and adding the new north facing living pavilion allowed for the retention of the 1950s brick bungalow in its entirety making best use of the tighter spaces within.

The open living area and its recycled hardwood windows and doors is surrounded by a steel exoskeleton that lifts the roof to admit northern sun deep into the space.

The kitchen as the heart of the family home has been constructed as an integral part of the house with the same materials: hardwood, concrete and cement sheeting.

The existing bungalow has retained echoes of its past with a rounded corner cabinet and hardwood picture rails. Crafted and personal interiors reinvigorate the rooms while the exterior has been given a dark coat of render to blend in with the green surrounds.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray, Adam Hogan

Builder _ Jason Miles Builder
Engineering _ Geoffrey Pryke
Joinery _ Jason Miles Builder
Windows & Doors _ AHJ Architectural Hardwood Joinery

Photography _ Shantanu Starick

Thirroul, 2017 | Dharawal Country

Just above sea level, perched on a sandstone platform surrounded by the Illawarra escarpment, this site enjoys northerly views and sunlight. 

Elongated east west and maximising shelter from the south, a simple two storey plan sees sleeping accommodation perched over a living space connected directly to its outside garden. This ground floor undercroft is defined by a rhythmic concrete post and beam structure, which continues into the landscape to blur inside and out.

Views are carefully orchestrated - to the escarpment to highlight connection between earth and sky, and to the ocean to the east.

The front entrance is framed by hardwood screens that provide privacy, shade and a framework for plants peaking through the neighbours fence.

A flexible plan incorporating a separate entrance to one bedroom and associated facilities, ensures a great flexibility for the current and future owners. It is easily adapted to a home business, teenage retreat, or multi-generational living.

All materials are chosen for their inherent texture and appearance with clear finished timbers, raw and waxed concrete and burnished steel giving the house its character.

Project team
Katharina Hendel, Brent Dunn

Builder _ Bricon Projects
Engineering _ Northrop Engineers
Joinery _ Advanced Kitchens

Photography _ Shantanu Starick

Bowral, 2019 | Gundungurra Country

Located in the Bowral heritage precinct this project started out as an extension to an existing cottage. The construction process revealed that there was extensive structural damage forcing a near complete rebuild.

Living areas are now housed within the original footprint, but the cottage opens up to capture northern light through a slot in the roof section with reflections playing across the canvas lined ceiling space, while other openings are veiled by hardwood screens.

A brick garden room connected to the cottage by a utility verandah offers framed courtyard views and a space to retreat to for the creative endeavours of the occupants.

Life plays out between this private courtyard space and the front verandah greeting neighbours passing by.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Tom Gray, Katharina Hendel, Adam Hogan

Builder _ Bricon Projects
Engineering _ Geoffrey Pryke
Joinery _ Forest Furniture

Photography _ Ingvar Kenne

Cobargo, Ongoing | Yuin Country

This building is imagined as a crafted home for stories and memories related to the tragic events of the 2019/2020 bushfires. It offers a journey of education, inspiration and remembrance, in a suitably calm and uplifting series of spaces.

The experiences within the building are gradually revealed. From the street, the Bushfire Resilience Centre presents an intriguing bay window of crafted, yet raw timber construction, and suggestive glimpses of a mysterious inner. The core of the structure is wrapped in a perforated outer skin to engage the senses and provide a buffer to outside conditions.

A central entry gallery, skylit from above, connects the street with the landscape to the West. Cloaking, ticketing and welcome occur here, the journey begins.

First, an exhibition space for quiet consideration of exhibits such as pre recorded stories of the even, for introduction and explanation.

A transition into the second room - an immersive yet intimate theatre offer an immersive learning experience for individuals or groups up to 30 people.

The third major space is created between the interior exhibition rooms - a reflective garden. This is the heart of the proposal. A symbolic echo of the heart of a town that was lost, yet, uplifting as a place to enjoy simple beauty - in planting, reflection, water, art, music. The calm after an engaging educational experience.

Other associated functions are accommodated within a second wing to the north - A small cafe space occupies the entry gallery, a perfect place for post visit reflection, but also a destination in itself; a retail space at the street frontage to engage with pedestrians passing by, a flexible commercial and administration space with terrace upstairs in order to cater for events, talks, gatherings and visitor groups including research teams, functions or artist programs; as well as lift access, back of house storage, amenities and parking.

The simple material palette of timber, and steel is honest, robust, low maintenance, and chosen to age gracefully.

Understanding that the building should not exacerbate the underlying climate change impact that forced its inception is key - it is planned as a sustainable green star building with ongoing support from the Green Building Council.

The building strives to provide both - making a connection to the wider landscape and engaging with its surroundings while also providing an interior space focused on itself for contemplation - just as the centre itself contains the memories of the tragic events that preceded its inception, while also looking toward our future in a changed environment.

Project team

Katharina Hendel, Brent Dunn, Daniel Rivers, Emma Gaal

Thirroul, 2019 | Dharawal Country

An adjunct to Takt’s studio this pavilion hosts a meeting space, coffee kitchen and amenities. An evolved offspring of the studio’s construction, it solves a multitude of challenges in a tiny footprint.

Fully operable to the garden, its openings can be adjusted to take advantage of the benign Illawarra climate, when it turns into an inhabited verandah. In winter the garden outlook is filtered through simple translucent shutters.

A flexible space for thinking, sharing and dreaming.

Built by Takt
Brent Dunn, Tom Gray, Daniel Rivers, Katharina Hendel, Yves Marie Elies

Mount Pleasant | Dharawal Country

Situated on the foothills of the Illawarra escarpment, under the sandstone cliffs, a small courtyard house provides a back drop for everyday life.

Sheltered within suburban bushland the building perimeter is wrapped by earth, a place of protection and refuge. The walls provide a continued datum encouraging privacy, sound attenuation and protection from harsh weather.

Thick earthen walls and native gardens entice pull you from the street as you and form a protected northern courtyard. Winter sun floods the garden and fills the large glazed areas surrounding the courtyard edges. Deep eaves project to shade against the high summer sun.

The interior focuses on a central dining and Island bench that hums with life during large gatherings. Southern walls twist to capture views out over the Islets and horizon - connecting Geera (Mt Kiera) with her five sisters, engaging directly with the Illawarra Five Islands dreaming stories.

Large trees both Yarr-warrah (Blackbutt) and Boorea (Turpentine) trees occupy the site. The rear deck and music studio carefully wrap the large Boorea tree planted by the clients parents - establishing a secondary courtyard. The southern deck, a shaded spot in summer connects the dwelling with the rear garden and significant Boorea tree.

A garden home, for the owners and their extended family to immerse themselves in the experience of their place, adjustable across changing seasons.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Daniel Rivers

Builder _ East Built
Engineering _ Northrop Engineers

Congo, 2023 | Yuin Country

Takt basecamp at Congo, South Coast New South Wales, Australia.

In the lee of the headland, a gently north sloping site at the lowest point in the landscape. Forest red gums (Eucalyptus tereticornis) defining the edges of the former creek which runs to Congo Creek.

Originally occupied as a summer retreat, a minimal tarpaulin kitchen and dining deck was established, and which in turn led to a desire to build as simple as possible of a house. Camping was comfortable during summer, and in winter the need for sunny protected space was key.

After Black Summer bushfires, the role of this place expanded and the encampment grew into a south coast studio for the practice, as they became involved in community disaster rebuilding projects in the region.

This work led to a permanent relocation of its main studio and the design of a studio / house. Multiple futures for the site were imagined, but all returned to an open, covered central room, bridging the watercourse. Echoing the pattern of the former camp.

Singular, and yet connected to surrounding bushscape by sliding walls and clerestory walls of sky, this space imagined enlivened by family, friends, conversation, music and everchanging light.

To reduce the ecological footprint and address the challenge of remote site construction, a Cross Laminated Timber construction method was chosen, enabling a compressed build timeline to lockup and dry.

Built by Takt with Dean Dawson, with invaluable assistance and advice from Mark Loader and team, and with amazing family and friends. CLT by KLH.

Project team

Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Daniel Rivers, Emma Gaal, Ben Beattie

Engineering _ Geoffrey Pryke Design

Windows & Doors _ AHJ Architectural Hardwood Joinery

Photography _ Shantanu Starick & Takt

Thirroul, 2023 | Dharawal Country

Thirroul, a delightful coastal village south of Sydney, has seen rapid development in recent years. Population pressure, even prior pandemic, due to its beachfront lifestyle and easy city access has seen traditional building stock unceremoniously bulldozed for denser, arguably less detailed and certainly less handcrafted buildings.

Owners of this lovely Federation home were charmed by the frontage of their home - hardwood detailing, articulated brick pointing, and considered proportions. It speaks of a life well lived.

However, challenges of the home to suit contemporary family life were acutely felt. The rear severely compromised, with a series of unsympathetic alterations that resulted in kitchen and living cut off from rear garden and light generally.

This renovation project set out to subtract anything detracting from the opportunities of living in this place. Only then, after careful renovation of the existing (as an inherently sustainable solution), were additions considered.

The rear walls opened, allowing strong axial connection to the garden. Entry now a journey, through period entry hall, across glazed link, to light filled kitchen and living spaces. Family gatherings happening now in a separate garden pavilion, jacaranda limbs framed, sun though upper branches setting up delightful shadow play, shaded in summer, sunny in winter.

Project team

Katharina Hendel, Brent Dunn, Daniel Rivers

with Hamish Ginn Architect

Builder _ Cove Custom Build & Design

Engineering _ GP Design

Photography _ Paul Jones

Austinmer | Dharawal Country

Nestled on the slopes of the Illawarra escarpment, the project emerges from the client’s desire to renew the amenities of the existing two storey home. A new garden room is introduced to intimately connect with the backyard and rear sclerophyll forest.

In response to a high BAL rating, the design employs materiality restraint, using cost efficient masonry blockwork to protect the occupants from bushfire threat and meet the retaining requirements of the steep site conditions.

The threshold from the old to new is defined by a dark vertical volume, creating a space of shadow that accentuates the shifting light throughout the day. Within this zone, all amenities are strategically placed for efficient servicing and program clarity.

Upstairs, the garden room is wrapped with honed blockwork, offering a smooth, refined finish to the otherwise raw material. A room curated for reading, savouring a feast, while bathed in the afternoon glow of western light filtering through the Eucalyptus forest above.

Project team

Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Daniel Rivers

Unbuilt

Farmborough Heights | Dharawal Country

On the foothills of Mt Keira, overlooking Lake Illawarra, in the embrace of the weather making Illawarra escarpment.

A family home with the brief expanded to include an interlocking series of variously scaled spaces for frequent gatherings of the large extended family.

Closely connected to the earth, in part embedded. Sunken courtyards puncture the volume of the house, admitting winter sun, providing privacy, and folding landscape inwards.

Topped by a strong horizontal roof plane, an imagined geological stratum - ancient and eroded. This waffle slab construction is efficient, it enables large overhangs, and openings become skylights to illuminate the moody interior.

An extensive garden covers the roof, making the building more of the earth than apart from it, with all the thermal benefits this brings. Through this, a veiled upper level mezzanine room emerges, offering connection to the broader landscape.

The interior is simply finished in local hardwoods, contrasting to the mass of the concrete, and accented with the shadowy gleam of metal fittings.

A home for the family and their family, over generations ahead. A place to connect the life within to the landscape beyond.

Project team

Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Daniel Rivers, Emma Gaal

Under construction, Owner Builder

Woonona, 2012 | Dharawal Country

This project dubbed 'The Pod' by its owners, is a modern interpretation of the traditional timber framed fibro granny flat. It helps a family of four plus grandparents from overseas, who come to stay with the family over summer, meet their unique needs with a minimum of new building work.

It is separate from, yet part of the house. It is a garden pavilion, linked by a covered deck. The creation of a glazed sun trap transforms the living experience in the whole house. It's openings connect to the greater landscape and frame a beautiful view of the escarpment, allowing an experience of the ever changing mood of weather against the mountain. Together with the existing verandah the pod provides a range of living spaces for different seasons and different activities.

The main design element is a series of charred hardwood portal frames. Those are used to give rhythm to ones movement along the space; closer together near the more private functions, further apart in the more social space, eroded at the connection with its garden surrounds.

Project team
Katharina Hendel, Brent Dunn

Owner Builder _ with Mark Loader
Engineer _ Partridge Partners

Photography _ Shantanu Starick

Coledale | Dharawal Country

A new home for a family of four and their chickens too. This is a creative refuge, imagined to enable the pursuit of passions - a base for a busy practice, and for individual artistic endeavours.

A unique corner block, three sides street facing providing opportunity to engage in three directions.

Long facade to a laneway, and with a desire to relate to the landscape, this becomes a long house, platforms engaging with different levels and a dramatic linear and gentle staircase organising all movement up and down. Between a living area for entertaining, a central zone for making, and the rear sleeping pavilion.

Not unusual for this area along the coast, the the southerly views mean the solar access from the north is a challenge. A combination of courtyard gardens and clerestory windows ensure it will enjoy a sweep of sun deep into the spaces throughout winter.

A single roof pitch reflects the pitch of the natural slope, and frames the escarpment beyond. A single volume overall, materiality of the lane facade is mixed and layered, allowing multiple opportunities for planting and engagement with the lane. Battened windows filter sun through the day and illuminate at night.

The ‘growing' house is reference to a development that unfolds strategically over time. This project has begun on site, now undertaking a portion to start, with the rest to emerge when economics and needs align.

Project team

Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Emma Gaal

Photos by Takt

Coledale, 2020 | Dharawal Country

WorkLife is a company that facilitates a series of co-working spaces in small towns along the NSW South Coast. This site is located in Coledale, on the Northern Illawarra Coastline.

In 2020 COVID brought immediate demand for working from home, however this cannot always be accommodated at ones home. Co-working spaces can fill this gap allowing access to shared facilities and resources and offering a range of workspaces on a demand driven basis.

This project came up as a unique opportunity to establish the first of such spaces in the northern suburbs of Wollongong. The commercial space had to be adapted to create a desirable and efficient arrangement for a variety of work environments, catering for different needs and personalities.

WorkLife prides itself on its ability to foster community and the space was also intended to host the regular events from networking to art exhibitions, the company hosts.

Key consideration to atmosphere, light, sound, longevity and flexibility were key to this projects success.

Project team

Katharina Hendel, Brent Dunn

Builder _ J2 Build

Photography _ annamul

Austinmer + Thirroul, 2012 | Dharawal Country

The prototype of the Takt Studio range, this building provides studio workspaces and meeting / model making room for Takt | Studio for Architecture. It exists in two incarnations, as its modular parts were initially constructed on a site in Austinmer and then moved to its current location in Thirroul.

The building explores the possibilities of reduction to the bare essentials of shelter. Naturally cross ventilated, yet well insulated and with minimal services, it is not much more than a crafted encampment. As such it is a demonstration of the core principles of Takt - build less, build lean, but ensure the quality and utility of a smaller building is higher. This reduces the overall embodied energy of the building, and allows the occupants a direct relationship to outside seasonality.

Its structure is milled from recycled electricity poles in Australian hardwoods, oiled with Lanolin. The columns are formed by back to back window sections so the structure itself forms the window frames. Internally clad in E0 plantation hoop pine and externally in galvanised steel sheets over bracing cement sheets, all elements are fixed with exposed fixings, allowing a reading of the bones under the cladding. 

The studio was built to be completely demountable. This proved invaluable during its transfer from Austinmer to Thirroul in 2013 when disassembly took three days and assembly about two weeks including foundations.

A similar relationship with the steeply sloping land and the escarpment to the west allowed us to construct it again with only minor modifications in the entry area. In addition all materials can be reclaimed and reused easily due to avoidance of nails and glue. Panels are sized to standard sheet sizes, and to control weight to be liftable by two people for assembly.

Since then the fit out has included custom timber batten joinery doors made by Stuart Robinson, new door handles and desktop linoleum work desks.

Built by Takt
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Stuart Robinson
Rebuilt by Matt Park and Takt

Builder: Architects with family and friends
Engineer: Northrop - James Sutherland 

Photography _ Takt Studio

Welby, 2017 | Gundungurra Country

This extension for a family of four adds a new living area to a small little cottage in the Southern Highlands.

The design strategically locates all private spaces within the existing cosy, but darker cottage and moves the new gathering space into the extension.

Located in a south facing backyard the roof sweeps up to siphon northern sun into the new space where a brick wall provides some much needed thermal mass. A new deck under construction makes the transition to the family garden.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel

Builder _ Owner Builder & Bricon Projects
Engineering _ A&R Engineering Design

Photography _ Takt Studio

Cobargo, Ongoing | Yuin Country

Community hall and disaster refuge, this dual purpose building is understood as a new building typology. It is the intention that this building is to become one of the first community fire refuges in NSW once suitable legislation becomes available, and thus an exemplar for future resilient community facilities.

The design of the community hall embraces the simple vernacular of Australia’s wonderful timber and steel rural buildings. Utilising this simple form, roof, underside and walls are wrapped in fire resistant cladding. The outside verandah line is skinned in layers of movable ember mesh and bushfire shutters, enabling a large space to be cost effectively protected as a single unit. Roof top sprinklers add to the defensive arsenal. The outer defensive layer is designed to be used day to day as shading / evaporative cooling / wind protection and blockout for the events within.

By siting the new building over sloping land overlooking the dressage arena, difficult to use land becomes instead an asset. It allows uninterrupted views from the northern public verandah over the showgrounds, creating outdoor, protected sunny space, activating a new quarter of the Showground ‘townscape’.

Concealed partially in the ground, the lower level of the building holds 400,000 litres of water and plant and equipment to run the building for a number of days in a disaster without power, with up to 468 people inside during an emergency. Key resilience features of the services includes innovative usage of the stored water as an energy source, coupled with a geothermal ground loop technology which enables internal air to be cooled and kept clean during high pollutant periods - eg fire / dust - with an extremely low energy footprint for sustainability and low ongoing costs.

The building is conceived as an onion skin, a Matryoshka. This multilayered design has been adopted as it provides layers of fire protection while also being suitable for the performing arts and other events, where acoustic separation is required. The central performance and gathering space is a room within a room. A cocoon of sound insulation, warm timber cladding and details. A discovery, that unfolds upon passing through the outer verandahs into the core. Large sliding wall panels throw the space back open to the arena and forecourt post show, or can be left open throughout to admit skylit warmth and natural daylighting.

Administration, kitchen and bar, back of house, storage, loading, amenities have all been included in surrounding layers to support the primary use as a community hall, serving double duty when being operated as an emergency refuge.

The hall is imagined as a performance place. A gathering place. A meeting place. A thinking place. A talking place. A singing place. A dancing place. A viewing place. A dining place. A sheltering place. A refuge. A flexible background for the life of the Showgrounds, connected directly to its landscape surrounds.

A community place - with inspiration and safety at heart.

Project team

Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Daniel Rivers

Coogee, 2012 | Gadigal Country - Eora Nation

The copper house in Coogee was designed as a beach holiday retreat. Its site was extremely tight and steep, resulting in a small footprint. Stepping down the hill, the three sections of the building follow the contour. A butterfly roof allows both views and admits winter sun while privacy for its occupants and neighbours is maintained.

A dark concrete slab defines the platform for living, providing a sensuous surface with its hand waxed finish. A steel structure enabled the roof to be constructed first, and all fit out work completed under its shelter. The exterior copper cladding is a response to the coastal location and the effect the salty and humid atmosphere has on surfaces. It has already developed a patina that will only improve with age.

Internal walls of artist canvas speak of its hand made character, as do the many finer details such as leather clad front door handles, which entice one to experience the calm within.

This building was designed to replace an existing 1890's cottage, with aspirations to continue the history of the site for many years forth.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel

Builder _ Mark Loader
Engineer _ Partridge Partners
Furniture _ Takt + Craft Design Realisation

Photography _ Shantanu Starick

Cobargo, Ongoing | Yuin Country

After the significant damage of the 2019/20 bushfires Cobargo’s main street no longer provided the essential facilities to sustain the economic and social wellbeing of the community. This project aims to deliver a new town centre that focuses on the communities needs for the client CCDC that represents the majority of business owners in the area, in order to address the lack of available commercial and residential space in Cobargo, while also commemorating and acknowledging the events leading to this rebuild. Takt has been involved in a continuing community consultation process to understand the communities needs and refine the scope of the project.

The scope for the main street includes 3 sites with 3 distinct programs brought together by an overarching plan for the town centre: the Village Square with tourist facilities, commercial, retail and residential spaces; the new Post Office; and the Market Hall including retail, hospitality and training facilities; connected through courtyards and green spaces.

The design for these projects seeks to respond to their contextual setting and history, both ancient and recent; and incorporates extensive sustainability measures including integration with other projects aiming to create a fully sustainable Cobargo. The projects encompass community shared spaces, innovative co-working space, training facilities and commercial space to also assist the economic development of the town within a tight framework to deliver value for money outcomes. Overarching design principles seek to connect new facilities with green space, activated outdoor spaces and Council facilities in development.

Project team

Katharina Hendel, Brent Dunn, Daniel Rivers

with SJB Architects for the BLERF funding application

Bangalow, 2018 | Arakwal Country

This 2 bedroom home was designed customising the modular building system of our sister company Joint Modular to suit the particularities of the site while being easy to transport and construct.

On a steeply sloping block near the Bangalow heritage conservation area and overlooking the hinterland, the new home needed to comply with certain design requirements such as a particular roof pitch. Two basic Joint modules form the private spaces while a custom high ceilinged section between them creates the living areas that open to both the front and rear gardens.

The home was largely constructed in a workshop in Wollongong and then transported to Bangalow for assembly. Modular wall panels with plywood cladding form the shell with a composite metal roof, while hardwood screens throughout provide privacy and shading.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray

Builder & Joinery _ Joint Modular
Engineering _ Geoffrey Pryke

Photography _ Takt Studio, Owner and Pampa (Victoria Aguirre)

The Conjola Connected Communities masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Design have been prepared on behalf of the Conjola Community Recovery Association. These are documents to assist the future redevelopment of the area following the catastrophic bushfires of 2019/2020. A link to the full document version is available for the Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and the Yooralla Bay Plan.

These are ideas about how the rebuilding of a special place like Lake Conjola could become a key part of the recovery and healing process. It is a vision of a community that becomes more resilient, more inclusive and more sustainable than it ever has been.

It is a collection of perceived needs, urgent adaptions required and potential opportunities. An overarching plan that can be used to identify important improvements, and to develop the story about a collective of community places and connections. All to revitalise Lake Conjola’s villages and to care for the lake and bush.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

All future modules and projects that are part of this masterplan will follow common guiding design principles derived from the research contained in this plan.

All projects commenced as part of this plan will need to consider five themes and ask the question if the project will benefit and improve all of the following areas:

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

Does the project improve the community generally and benefit a large section of community members?

Does it offer ways for the community to come together, to share, to enhance lives?

NATURAL BEAUTY AND ENVIRONMENT

Does the project offer sustainability benefits?

Can it help to improve and heal the environment?

Matters to consider are flooding, bank stability, environmental corridors, biodiversity amongst many others.

RESILIENCE

Does the project contribute to building community resilience both in terms of natural disasters as well as future community development?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Can the project assist the economic development of the area and deliver benefit beyond its immediate use?

BEAUTY AND DELIGHT

Is the project enhancing everyday life?

Does it contribute, compliment and not detract from the natural beauty of the Conjola area?

Projects that answer the above questions positively will ensure that Conjola continues to be acclaimed for its stunning environment and natural charm. The area will become an inspirational model of a community living and working together to adapt and respond to natural hazards and reach common and sustainable solutions which protect and conserve the lake and its catchment for future generations.

The concept design for Yooralla Bay at the western edge of the lake includes a lake front shelter to be utilised for community events that also contains a storage area for shared equipment to increase the villages resilience to future disasters. While the larger masterplan for the area details the lake edge bike path, community garden, playground and more, it also suggests a possible memorial on the lake to commemorate the devastating fires.

Moruya, 2019 | Yuin Country

A sanctuary for a friend giving enclosure to his more delicate work within a warehouse space that functions as a workshop, concert hall and bike track.

Constructed over 2 weeks, this pod contains a computer workstation and more fragile objects. Designed to be transported on the back of the truck, this studio found a new home in 2021.

Project team + Building team

Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Marcus Piper, Matt Williams

Photography _ Marcus Piper, Matt Williams and Takt

Thirroul, 2017 | Dharawal Country

Recent years have seen a surge in demand for secondary dwellings as housing affordability and population increase have seen many reassess the value and potential utility of their property. Inherently sustainable, small buildings that are well built can activate community and enhance the landscape of urban lots as density increases.

In response to this demand, Takt founded a sister company - Joint Modular in partnership with a builder to offer a design-lead construction service.  A modular, semi prefabricated building system has been developed, with various user options to accomodate differing budget requirements.

This small garden home is a free standing pavilion, set on the south boundary of an existing home. Separated by an active food forest and vegetable gardens, it makes the most of a sunny outlook and views to the Illawarra escarpment.

The building was largely prefabricated in the Joint workshop. The timber structure was then assembled on site atop its red coloured concrete slab base and is now used flexible as accomodation for family or a studio for creative endeavours.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray, Daniel Rivers

Builder _ Joint modular
Joinery _ Joint modular
Windows & Doors _ AHJ Architectural Hardwood Joinery

Photography _ Takt & Marcus Piper

Kiama, 2018 | Wodi Wodi Country

On a tight, steeply sloping site, this small extension hovers above the entry and workshop to afford a family space to grow.

Its hard steel shell encases a warm plywood interior from which to look out through the trees and across the native front garden.

The new open plan of the existing house allows glimpses between spaces and to the outside and facilitates interaction between all living areas while offering opportunities to retreat when desired.

Project team
Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray

Builder _ Jason Miles
Engineering _ Geoffrey Pryke
Joinery _ Jason Miles

Photography _ Takt Studio

Milton, 2017 | Yuin Country

Built through JOINT modular, Takt’s sister company specialising in modular design build projects, this rural home invites the northern sun and overlooks the properties horse paddocks.

It was largely constructed off-site in the JOINT workshop and is now slowly finished by the owners.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel, Tom Gray

Berrima, 2011 | Gundungurra Country

This project involved work with many stakeholders within the community to create a new teaching kitchen for Berrima Public School as part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program. Built by a local builder and parents of the school it represents a balancing act between the different forces influencing a project.

Takt particularly enjoyed the working relationship with the students and the engagement with the community during the design and fundraising phase of the project. The kitchen classroom and associated facilities remain a very important part of the school and are used by students, community groups, for local markets and events.

Project team
Brent Dunn, Katharina Hendel