St Clair

SYNERGY is a more than apt name for a modern, award-winning house at the new St Clair development.

Built by APS Homes, the three-bedroom abode picked up the Award for Excellence in a Display Home in its category at the 2010 Master Builders Association Building Excellence Awards and also won APS Homes the Master Builder of the Year - Display Home Builder award.

APS Homes director Tony Schnaars says the intention of the design was to make a statement, evidenced by the house's unique façade.

"We wanted to capture the audience," he says. "One of the ways to capture the audience is to grab them from the outset.

"That 9.5m-high parapet wall to the stair well and on top that the flying roof that is cantilevered and protruding to the street... it's a statement."

Mr Schnaars says the name Synergy applies well to the design.

"Synergy means bringing everything together. The indoors and the outdoors, the material finishes, the linking of spaces..." he says.

"We tried to maximise the ceiling heights in the main living areas and get the transition from those main living areas to the outdoor areas which then lead out to the pool area."

The architectural design offers light, bright and expansive living over two levels. Downstairs features the master suite with luxurious en-suite and built-in wardrobes, a home theatre and the open-plan kitchen, living and dining area that flows seamlessly to an outdoor entertaining area with built-in kitchen overlooking the in-ground pool.

Upstairs are two additional bedrooms, a second living area or study, a bathroom and a balcony. Senior building consultant Steve Jones says the recipe for success boiled down to a team approach.

"Like most well-designed homes, APS Homes adopted a team approach drawing on consulting architects and designers to create an award-winning home," he says.

"The home was specifically designed to maximise natural light and cross ventilation, provide separate living and sleeping zones while building to the highest standards."

The judges of the 2010 Master Builders Association Building Excellence Awards agreed that Synergy was a fitting title for the property.

"The naming of the APS home at St Clair the Synergy is most appropriate as the home brings everything together in the most complete way through site, building, internal and external orientation and layout to maximise the benefits of heating and cooling through the natural environment," they noted.

"The use of multiple materials and finishes both internally and externally that have been assembled with the highest attention to detail and outstanding workmanship sets this home apart.

"APS Homes has demonstrated how environmental considerations, innovation and quality can be achieved in housing construction."

Mr Schnaars says St Clair is the ideal location. "St Clair is a five-to-10-minute corridor," he says. "It's only five to 10 minutes to the beach, to the city, the airport, West Lakes. Once the commercial precincts and infrastructure are all finished, the capital growth in St Clair is just going to be huge."

The house is used as a display home with lease-back arrangements available.

Article on Page 1 of the Real Estate lift-out -The Advertiser Saturday 11th December 2010