What does an Australian house really look like?
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Given it's Australia day, let's take a look at what makes a house an Australian home. We have a relatively short history of house building in Australia, and it can be hard to narrow down on what defines the Australian style. But we've got a few ideas:
Every country worth it's salt has a distinctive style of houses. A style that makes it obvious that you're in Greece and not in China. Though with more and more cities like this in China, it's getting harder to tell the two apart...
For example:
England has this...
http://sherimartininteriors.wordpress.com/tag/english-cottages/
The quintessential english cottage. The thatched roof and cottage garden say it all.
Italy has this...
http://toskana-blog.blogspot.com/2011/01/urlaub-in-der-toskana-und-umbrien-mit.html
Tuscan style villa. Più vino? Certamente.
Greece has this...
https://www.flickr.com/groups/housesandhomes/discuss/72057594084892891/
While you can't see the ocean from this angle, you know you're on a stunning island. I can almost smell the sea breeze.
The U.S. has this...
http://www.alpineholidayhomes.com/home-element/photo-traditional/photo-traditional-homes-3458.html
The flag probably gives it away. Can you imagine eating apple pie on that porch?
China has this...
http://www.pinterest.com/startupchina/places-to-visit-in-china/
The pitch of the roof is a dead giveaway, right? Ni hao, China!
Morocco has this...
Not every country has earth homes - but did you know it's the most common building material in the world?
The Netherlands has this...
Yes. Gorging on Gouda and Stroopwafels, sitting by the window overlooking the canal appeals...
I think you get the point.
But what is the typical Australian home?
The early settlers had this...
A simple home similar to their original abodes back in England, but made with locally sourced materials.
In the gold rush years we had this...
Still pretty similar to the Victorian-style homes from the Europe, but with some added flourishes to show off our new-found gold money.
Then around the time of federation we had this...
The turret gives away this style. It was an Australian take on the Queen-Anne style from the mother country. Often the lead-light windows had Australiana touches, like eucalyptus leaves or koalas. Fun.
Queensland came up with this...
A normal house on poles. Helps to get the breeze flowing in Queensland's sticky climate.
Post-war we had an awful lot of this...
Economical brick veneer construction in the standard 3-front floor-plan. Perfect for post-war growth.
And we still see a lot of this...
Very suburban, but pretty typical of the type of sprawling growth we've seen over the past few years. The Australian dream?
So out of all this, have we solidified an Australian style? Well, sort of. There are some traits that stand out as Australian-style. Namely:
Corrugated Iron
We love the stuff. It speaks to our colonial past and our homesteading traditions. It's cheap, reliable and versatile. It also looks pretty excellent, even in its natural, zincalume finish.
Timber
No, we're not the first country to use timber. But we do tend to use it in a very Australian way. Like this beach house, where the timber has been left to weather. This makes it more casual and rustic - and more Australian.
Indoor-Outdoor Space
If you've got it (the climate), flaunt it. No wonder so many Poms want to move here...
Skillion Roof
http://www.lighthome.com.au/green-design-blog/australian-design-sustainable-beach-house
I'm not sure why, but this combination of skillion roof and exposed corrugated iron is very Australian. Casual, but sophisticated. Which, coincidentally, is how I describe myself to strangers.
Incredible Swimming Pools
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Swimming pools are very common in Australia. Not all of them are as incredible as this one, obviously. But it's a very Australian feature of a home to have an opportunity for summer splash time. And with temperatures that reach 40 degrees + in Summer, so it should be.
Backyards
http://www.heleneyoung.com/2012/04/back-yard-blitz/
It's no secret that a house with a backyard is considered the Australian dream. Because you can't play backyard cricket anywhere else.
Holiday Beach House
http://theownerbuildernetwork.co/house-hunting/contemporary-homes/the-treehouse-separation-creek-victoria-australia/
Not all of us are lucky enough to have a summer beach house this fabulous. But it is very common for Australians to head to the beach for summer. And this type of relaxed, beachy-vibe home is exactly where we like to go. No other country in the world has as much coastline as Australia, so it figures that the beach house would be pretty typical to us.
What's your favourite Australian style? Are you a Federation-style fanboy or a beach-house babe? Or, if you were granted an Australia Day wish, which house from anywhere in the world would you pick up and drop in your backyard?
Looking to have your Australian home built? Speak to one of Service Central's pre-qualified Builders here /building/ or get Building Quotes here /building/get-quotes/
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