2017 saw the construction of what could be argued to be Kennedy Builders most impressive home to date. Measuring in at over 1000 square-metres under roof and having at least 4 carpenters on site at all times, this 12-month build was certainly one to remember.
A previous client of Kennedy Builders approached us in January 2016 with ideas for a statement home on the banks of Lake Mulwala in Silverwoods Golf and Lifestyle Resort. The following 10 months were filled by consultations with Engineers, Architects, and the client to draw up the home the client had envisioned.
The first step of this build was to cut over 150 cubic metres of soil from the block, to obtain a level base for our lower-level slab construction. Once our split-level slab was boxed we had our Heating and Cooling contractors come in to install the in-slab hydronic heating system before the pour. Using a white cement and white aggregate, the polished concrete basement floor would be a showpiece in any other home. In this home, however – surrounded by a multitude of beautiful product choices and brilliant execution – it simply blends in.
This home also features a suspended slab, the garage floor that was formed using BONDEK, and now supports 4 cars every day.
Once the floors were poured, tilt panels and structural steel were plumbed and propped into place, it was then time to begin framing the basement and cellar levels. The following 10-week period saw the home start to take shape, with all frames and trusses being completed. Being unable to have trusses accurately measured and manufactured, we decided we would hand-cut and pitch approximately 60 percent of the roof framing. Working closely with Focus Engineering, we erected 5 massive steel feature trusses and framed them back into the roof. The home now started to look like more than just a collection of steel columns hanging into mid-air and concrete slabs.
The next 2 weeks were spent ensuring every single stud was perfectly straight on the outside, to give our weatherboards a totally straight finish. We also clad the entire house in 8mm plywood to further strengthen the building.
Although it is impossible to say in a home of this calibre, perhaps the centrepieces of the exterior of this house are the flawless lining of Cypress Pine to the front portico and rear balcony ceilings, the 290 square-metre deck surrounding a massive pool, or the fact that the pool is partially shaded by a cantilevered section of the ground floor balcony.
Inside the ground floor of this amazing home boasts 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a foyer, entry hall, lounge, and a kitchen/dining/living area which opens through a 6 metre wide stacker door onto the 120 square-metre balcony. The views of Lake Mulwala on show from inside this ground floor are amazing, but once outside on the balcony the views offered are simply unmatched.
Descending the stairs in the void to the basement level, we find a further 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a shed-type storage facility, an office, fully functioning bar with a servery, and an entertainment area opening onto the 290 square-metres of decking surrounding the pool.
Down another small set of steps you will find the wine cellar, the gym, and the 3-level theatre room. Located directly underneath the garage, these 3 rooms are essentially concrete bunkers and offer amazing insulation.
The finishes throughout this home are consistently top-shelf, with stainless steel balustrading on the balcony, a glass pool fence, floor to ceiling tiles throughout all bathrooms, double glazing throughout, flush-open doors, coffered ceiling in the living area to complement the built-in gas fireplace and TV unit, and hand-cut cathedral ceiling in the lounge area which seamlessly blends into the outdoor ceiling through the raked windows.
The architect and client definitely thought of everything possible when dreaming up this masterpiece of a home. Every turn you take or door you open, you are bound to find something that you weren’t aware of last time you looked. We have received huge amounts of positive feedback on this house, during construction and since completion. It truly is an amazing home and one that Kennedy Builders and our client can be equally proud of for decades to come.