A world of influence: Buildings that celebrate diversity and define our story

Canberra’s multiculturalism is one of its greatest assets. Influences from every corner of the globe enrich our art, our restaurants and, indeed, our architecture.

From the classic cottages that populate our heritage precincts, the contemporary Asian-inspired buildings that are popping up in Braddon, to the clean Scandinavian interiors that are welcomed into our homes, our properties are as diverse as the people who inhabit them.

As a result, Canberra streets that have a Hamptons house sitting alongside an English cottage and a Japanese zen garden are not unusual and are being embraced by buyers, according to Luton Properties Canberra City director James Carter.

“I think there is a need in the marketplace for a different style of home from the typical modern designs we are seeing,” Carter says.

“Having streetscapes that are complementary and have a combination of material and design is invigorating.

“If you drive down Masson Street [home of this week’s cover property], you have a good combination of architecture from modern and heritage, to internationally inspired designs. Architecturally, it’s complementary and it’s good to see one of Turner’s best streets having a combination of designs.”

It’s a method developer Nik Bulum has adopted throughout his curation of Braddon’s Lonsdale Street.

“Each of the developments I’ve done draws inspiration from somewhere else in the world,” Bulum says.

There is Yamaroshi, where jagged angles spliced with lush greenery take their design cues from the Japanese god of the same name.

Palko is named after the Scandinavian word for pod and infuses European design into a classic Canberra build.

“It’s minimalist, but we’ve given it that Canberra reference to big buildings made out of concrete,” Bulum says.

“Scandinavia and Japan are the masters of contemporary, classic design that doesn’t date. I admire it and I’m a big fan of it, but you always have to relate it back to where you live to make it practical.”

Wherever influences are lifted from and as distinctive as these buildings appear, a timeless design that ties these elements together is at the front of Bulum’s mind.

“Buildings get left in a city and define a city’s story,” Bulum says.

“We need to invest in timeless, quality buildings. If you do something cheap and nasty, they age horribly.”

Renowned local architect Terry Ring agrees and says it all comes down to character. Whether it’s a Tudor-style house or a modern masterpiece, a house has to feel like a home.

“Houses are becoming very commercial, many of them are becoming like a commercial office building, but you don’t want to live in an office building – you want to live in a house,” Ring says.

“The hard thing is getting a house to feel like a home. People are getting fed up with the box look and it’s the main thing we see at the moment.”

Ring says the flat-roof box design can be a successful piece of architecture, but life has to be injected into the form to prevent it from becoming sterile.

“Some of them look really good because it’s new to your eye, but you’ve got to make them a home, not a building that you work in or go to a function in,” Ring says.

“The character of a home – we’ve lost that in a way.”

It’s one of the reasons classic architectural styles are more popular than ever. They evoke the feeling of something that is often missing in modern design, something that can be pushed aside in favour of a cheap, easy conveyor belt approach to development.

“A home doesn’t have to be big or expensive, it just has to be put together in a way that gives it that homely feel,” Ring says

“The space that you’re in enhances your whole life.”

Forever in fashion

• Hamptons: Classic features never go out of style and that is why Hamptons architecture will always endure. A crisp colour palette, high ceilings and timber details will always have their place.
• Scandinavian: Thank the Nordic gods for this minimalistic style. The clean lines of Scandinavian architecture provide a timeless, uncluttered look that is easily adapted to changing trends.
• Mid-century modern: Though its name is time-stamped, mid-century modern architecture is continually embraced. Large windows, open-planned living spaces and a good connection between indoor and outdoor spaces remain fixtures of today’s architecture.

Different inspirations

New York, Japan, Scandinavia and Egypt have each influenced the latest spate of Braddon developments, yet there is something uniquely Canberran that ties them all together.

Nik Bulum, pictured, the man behind Lonsdale Street’s renaissance, says thinking outside of the box is the most important part of building design.

“Architect Nathan Judd and I start with the craziest idea and then strip it back to make it practical to Canberra,” Bulum says.

Ori takes its inspiration from Japan, but behind its origami facade, Canberra creatives have set up shop in the lower levels.

Soon to hit Lonsdale Street, Nibu’s commanding presence will conjure up images of the pyramids, while the Branx will introduce Braddon to the Bronx.

“It’s a multicultural city so it’s nice to grab influences from different parts of the world, but you always have to relate it back to where you live,” Bulum says.

Cover property

56 Masson Street, Turner
$2.25 million-plus
5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 parking spaces
Auction on Saturday, October 29 at 1pm, onsite.
Inspect on Saturday, from 12.45pm-1.30pm and Tuesday, from 6pm-6.30pm
Agent Luton Properties Canberra City, James Carter and Richard Luton 0413 974 912 or 0418 697 844

There’s something warm and comforting to be found in this Hamptons-inspired house in Turner.

Though its architectural influences are drawn from the other side of the world, the five-bedroom home’s elegant design is the perfect fit for its position overlooking Haig Park.

Architect Terry Ring says his clients loved the idea of a Hamptons-style home – a classic design that would stand the test of time.

“It brings back memories of older houses – the verandah, the decoration, the trimmings around the window – and that will be exactly the same in 20 years,” Ring says.

The interiors also embody that classic Hamptons style, enhanced with solid timber flooring, a marble gas fireplace and grand staircase, yet they’ve been given a modern twist.

“The design still allows the sense of space internally for a flowing floor plan as well as all the mod cons,” Luton Properties Canberra City agent James Carter says.

The formal and informal living areas boast tranquil garden and courtyard views and enjoy an effortless flow to the alfresco spaces, making it the perfect entertainer.

The kitchen is well-equipped for catering with stone benches, a butler’s pantry and Miele appliances.

Agent James Carter says it’s hard to put a price on such a distinctive property, however, bidding is expected to commence from $2 million.