Plus Minus Design was established in 2007.
The focus of the practice is building design. We are not interested in specialising in particular building types, rather we’ve found that thinking through ideas at one scale can productively inform work at another. Projects to date have varied from garage lofts through to high-rise, tower developments and this range of scale and type reflects our breadth of design interest and experience.
Urban design, landscape design and interior design are subjects that are happy distractions. While we have skills in these areas, we understand the limits of our expertise and gladly propose and welcome collaborations with other design and construction professionals when appropriate.
We decided to call the practice Plus Minus Design for a whole bunch of reasons. Wikipedia, at times, defines plus-minus as “the precision of an approximation” and we like the sound of that. We like thinking about approximation and tolerance in building. Some times things need to be precise or luxurious, other times it is not so important. Our first priority and objective for each project is to find an appropriate response.
Phillip lectures frequently and has taught architectural design, history and interior design at the University of New South Wales, the University of Technology in Sydney and Western Sydney University. He is an Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University.
Phillip is a registered architect in NSW (NSW ARB 10101) and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects.
20 Arthur Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Sydney, Australia
The Stealth Pavilion is situated in the gardens of Caerleon in Bellevue Hill, Sydney which is one of the finest residential examples of Queen Anne style architecture in Australia. Not only is the house heritage listed, but so are the gardens, gate posts and five specific trees.
The house was designed for Charles Fairfax by Sydney architect Harry Kent in Sydney and Maurice Adams in London and built in 1886. We have worked on its restoration and adaptation over a period of 12 years.
The current brief was to design a garden pavilion to house a home gymnasium that could be adapted to provide separate guest accommodation should needs change.
The rear garden had undergone several subdivisions in 1929 and 1960 and the site was also affected by a road widening in 1958, all of which made it problematic to find a suitable location for a garden pavilion.
We considered multiple locations, with the final position situated immediately inside the heritage-listed gates and within a grove of the five heritage-listed trees on the property, but well away from the house. With its established heavy landscaping providing screening from the house, this location has the least impact.
The form of the pavilion is determined not only by functional requirements but also by fitting the two wings of the pavilion between existing trees, while bronze mirror cladding reflects the surrounding foliage. While situated only 10 metres from the street, the pavilion is so well disguised that casual passers-by may not even notice it.
Rather than mapping existing tree roots, we worked with an engineer and arborist to design a structural system that could be adjusted on-site as required. A slab is suspended above the ground to transfer loads from the pavilion walls to concrete piles that were strategically located during construction to avoid roots. An added benefit is that condensation on the underside of the slab irrigates the trees regardless of the weather.
Functional requirements were carefully laid out to minimise the footprint. The plan has two wings off the main space: a bathroom and a room for cardio equipment that can be used as a bedroom if the gymnasium needs to be converted to accommodation. In guest house mode, the dumbbell rack becomes a kitchenette, and a sofa replaces the weights machine.
The budget was appropriate given the significance and dignity of the property. In addition to the bronze mirror cladding, it allowed for a timber-clad interior that matches the joinery and is durable enough to survive vigorous use, while also providing a warm and inviting residential space.
Large windows frame tranquil views of the garden, the gates, the house and trees , while a skylight looks up into the tree canopy. The pavilion is perfectly integrated into its surroundings and through sensitive siting, it respects, reflects and enhances its heritage site and its landscape context.
Builder, Robert Plumb Build
Landscape, Dangar Barin Smith
Structure, SDA Structures
Arborist, Jacksons Nature Works
Heritage, Weir Phillips Heritage
Planning, GSA Planning
