Studio Studio by Brave New Eco
Set at the back of a Brunswick East family home, Studio Studio by Brave New Eco is a sustainably focused free-standing studio that meets a lifestyle brief for both separation and connection.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Marnie Hawson I Interior Design: Brave New Eco I Builder: In Outside I Landscaping: Daily Gardener
‘The studio is full of natural light and warmth, highly insulated and perfect for work, play and guests,’ says Megan Norgate.
The window seat was inspired by the client’s existing Laddarax shelving system, with storage both underneath and above to create an open luggage rack for extra bedding.
‘We love the pop of mandarin cabinet colour inside the joinery which was partly inspired by an orange vintage Garfield phone the clients owned and loved,’ says Megan Norgate.
The batten detailing on the plywood walls avoids the feeling of a ‘white box’.
The owners of a dilapidated garage at the back of their Brunswick East family home had a vision – to turn the space into a freestanding studio and a zone where their teenage children could study, they could have a space for family to stay from interstate and also a retreat to escape to with their children.
‘The clients had a large disused area at the back of the garden with an old garage. They needed another living area (and when required a spare bedroom), and a second bathroom/toilet, to be able to socialise concurrently with their teenage children, without being on top of one another,’ says Megan Norgate, Brave New Eco founder and design director.
Megan and the Brave New Eco team set about to create a space with increased energy efficiency, reorientate the studio so it has a view of the backyard, make a direct connection to the existing home and also create a space that was people-friendly inside and bee and bird-friendly outside.
The existing garage was demolished and replaced with the new 27-square-metre studio, featuring an open floorplan including a day bed, study nook and a bathroom. ‘We stacked function by creating one space that serves multiple purposes and meets a lifestyle brief for both separation and connection, rather than adding a large extension,’ says Megan of the design decision.
Inside the studio, Brave New Eco focused on the application of sustainable material alternatives, including timber battening sourced from Ceres Fair Wood, which avoided the feeling of a white box. ‘One of the advantages of a small and contained solution is that you can go that extra distance with materials due to the quantities not being an onerous cost,’ shares Megan. ‘It was also our mission to use as little plasterboard as possible in the interiors of this studio.’ Cork flooring was also used internally for its low-emission and durability qualities, as well as being cosy and welcoming.
Inspiration for the interior colour scheme of the studio was drawn from mid-century aesthetics to create a palette of charcoal, orange and blue. There’s also a fun pop of mandarin applied to the cabinetry, which was partly inspired by an orange vintage Garfield phone the clients owned and loved. A favourite design element in the studio for Megan is the bathroom, ‘We love the colour of the orange tap and the orange ceramic light! The bathroom is simple, vibrant and utilitarian.’
Re-designed by Miri Ransom of Daily Gardener, the new courtyard garden is now central to the main house and the studio. ‘The reorientation of the new studio with a view to the improved backyard has transformed the way our clients live in their home, giving them a multi-use space for living, working and entertaining that is connected to nature,’ says Megan.
‘The reorientation of the new studio with a view to the improved backyard has transformed the way our clients live in their home, giving them a multi-use space for living, working and entertaining that’s connected to nature,’ says Megan Norgate.
“The connection to the outdoors is a unique element of the design. We were able to capitalise on northern orientation and activate a new courtyard garden, creating a sort of internal garden room between the two buildings.”
‘We were able to capitalise on northern orientation and activate a new courtyard garden, creating a sort of internal garden room between the two buildings.’
The new garden is ‘more bee and bird-friendly, and more people-friendly.’
