Dream Build

Black Box (2x7)

Data di messa in onda: Giu 23, 2013

The owner of The Black Box is a self-confessed "boy from the 'burbs" who wanted to make his architectural mark - in the suburbs. Wayne Timms’ home prompts passionate debate about privacy because its front consists of 4 see-through tilt-up doors covered in a perforated black mesh. The architect wanted the house to open fully to the street so the home and its owners would engage with their neighbourhood. And the concept works! Beyond the front screens, the house opens up even further. The core of the home has no roof: a courtyard that’s part of all living areas. Wayne’s wife, Leisa, speaks of only one area (the bathroom) having 4 solid walls. External curtains are used to control space and privacy. There’s also a one-of-a-kind attic. The home’s exposed timber, steel and brickwork highlights the desire of architect James Russell to make the building structure part of the home’s aesthetic. In many homes it’s rendered, plastered or painted out. In the episode, the architect & owners talk about the need for good design in the ‘burbs, notions of privacy and connection to the outdoors, and their desire to avoid having a sprawling home with multiple rooms that fracture family life.