Morningside single-level custom home
A low-maintenance, single-level home for a couple approaching retirement, with easy street access, a big rear yard for the garden, and a flexible space for their adult daughter.
Location
Morningside
Type
Custom home
Scope
Single level
Builder
QBCC licensed
The brief
A low-maintenance, single-level home for a couple approaching retirement, with easy street access, a large rear yard for vegetables and garden, and a separate area for their adult daughter to use as a bedroom, office and storage.
The challenge
The site sat on old swamp land, which called for extensive sub-surface engineering, around 55 piers at three metres deep. We built the block up to achieve fall for stormwater to the street, while keeping the single-level, easy access the owners wanted.
The outcome
A genuinely low-maintenance home. Neat face brickwork removed the need for external painting, engineered timber flooring keeps the interior clean and simple, and high ceilings give an open, light-filled space the family makes full use of.
- Single-level design with easy street access
- Around 55 piers at three metres to engineer the swamp-land site
- Face brick and engineered timber for low maintenance
- Separate flexible space for their adult daughter
Inside the project
Can you build on old swamp land in Brisbane?
Yes, with the right sub-surface engineering. The Morningside site sat on old swamp land and needed around 55 piers at three metres deep. We also built the block up to achieve fall for stormwater to the street while keeping the single-level, step-free access the owners wanted.
How deep do piers need to go on poor ground?
That comes out of the geotechnical work, not a rule of thumb. Morningside needed around 55 piers at three metres. It is one of the reasons we price after investigation rather than putting a number against ground nobody has tested yet.
What actually makes a home low maintenance?
Material decisions made early. At Morningside, face brickwork removed the need for external painting and engineered timber flooring keeps the interior simple. Low maintenance is chosen at design stage, not added at the end.
Picture your own home like this
Tell us about your project and we will send you a short questionnaire, so we understand the detail before we talk numbers.