The Natural Artisan: Spring 2014

SPRING 2014

COSTA’S COMFORT ZONE

ETSU IZAKAYA: THE CHAOS OF JAPANESE DINING

STRAW BALE: A PERSONAL JOURNEY

GALLERY: THE MODERN ARTISAN Spring 2014

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The Natural Artisan

SPRING 2014

CON TENT S 04

COMFORT ZONE: COSTA GEORGIADIS

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CREATE. DO. INSPIRE

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ETSU IZAKAYA: THE CHAOS OF JAPANESE DINING

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STRAW BALE: A PERSONAL JOURNEY

Venetian Plaster sawn off log mural by artisan Ray Hall. Photography: Ross Eason.

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Spring 2014

CONSIDER YOUR HEALTH WHEN BUILDING OR RENOVATING

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GALLERY: THE MODERN ARTISAN

SPRING ISSUE

Cover Photography: Ross Eason

EDITORIAL

Editor: Rebecca Park

Design: Tiam Whitfield

Contact: editor@thenaturalartisan.com

The Natural Artisan: bringing together ‘the creators’ of all kinds to celebrate and share the art of crafting beautiful spaces and objects.

We do this with a collective intention to live in tune with nature.

As Tolkien said in The Fellowship of the Ring: “We put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.”

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COMFORT ZONE Costa Georgiadis Vibrant change maker, connector of people, lover of nature and well-loved TV host.

Being in a garden detangles you from the day-to-day. It disengages you from the demands, and the conscious and subconscious pressures of who we are and what we do.

A garden is a place you can come to and switch off quickly….it’s not like you need to apply for holiday leave! Here I can disengage for fifty seconds, five minutes or five hours. Taking fifty seconds each day to take food to the chickens can easily become five minutes. The regularity of disengaging is the important thing. In our society, everything is so time-driven and a garden doesn’t speak that language.

It doesn’t have to be my garden.

It can be someone else’s garden, stopping to look at a tree in a street or a flower over a fence, or appreciating the resilience, strength and mongrel ability of a weed to be itself and express its weedness even in the most unpredictably harsh landscapes like cracks and concrete paths.

“IN OUR SOCIETY, EVERYTHING IS SO TIMEDRIVEN AND A GARDEN DOESN’T SPEAK THAT LANGUAGE.”

It’s a place that harbours and engenders a capacity to appreciate the detail in the little things…and they are not as little as we think they are.

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Photography: Rebecca Park. Location: Yandina Community Gardens

THE POWER OF GOOD DESIGN The people at Jardan furniture recognise that there is no machine that can truly replace the human hand or eye. Every Jardan piece is crafted to order in Melbourne with care and precision, by hand.

An Australian family-owned business run by brothers Nick and Mike Garnham, Jardan is driven by the power of good design to transform everyday living. Their sofas, chairs, tables and beds are all constructed from high quality materials and the organisation has been certified carbon neutral through the government’s National Carbon Offset Standard. Many of their products are also GECA certified including our favourite, the sleek and funky Van sofa (pictured).

More at www.jardan.com.au

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JULES HUNT: THE WARMTH OF LIGHT, THE BEAUTY OF NATURE Jules Hunt is an award-winning ceramicist and photographer based in Byron Bay, NSW. Jules creates stunning, functional ceramic works with a unique aesthetic inspired by nature.

Each fine ceramic pendant and lamp is created using hand cast clay and is intricately carved by Jules to create her distinctive style. We love the gorgeous plays on light that each piece casts on the surrounding walls and the subtle ambience of her seamless shapes.

More at www.juleshunt.com

STUCCO SOPHISTICATION FOR THE STOKEHOUSE The Stokehouse is a stunning contemporary building on the Brisbane Riverfront at Southbank with sweeping river and city views. With indoor and outdoor restaurant dining and a stylish, casual approach, it’s one of the city’s favourite places to relax and dine.

Its elegant, sophisticated interior was achieved with the help of a stucco finish created by the talented artisans at Idea Creations.

More on the Stokehouse at www.stokehousebrisbane.com.au

MUDMOB COLLECTIVE Mudmob is a collective dedicated to natural building. Mudmob specialises in a wide range of building techniques such as cob, cordwood, straw bale, earthship, mud brick as well as earthen plasters and paints. A focus is workshop style building projects - they can even host one at your home or your local community garden.

This versatile collective sees members deliver their earth-inspired building techniques across the country for benches, pizza ovens, garden walls and sheds, cob cabins, earthship benches, straw bale houses and even adorable domes and vaults for little critters.

More at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Mudmob-Natural-Building-Collective

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ETSU IZAKAYA: THE CHAOS OF JAPANESE DINING “Loud, bustly and a little bit chaotic” is how Mitchell McCluskey, co-owner of the new Etsu Izakaya restaurant at Mermaid Beach describes the new venue.

Etsu Izakaya, Mermaid Beach, QLD | Photography: Ross Eason Bar: Marrakesh | Artisan: Michael Symington, ilfe Spring 2014

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ETSU IZAKAYA: THE CHAOS OF JAPANESE DINING

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nspired by traditional Japanese izakaya bars where men gathered after work to sit around, talk, eat and drink sake, the Gold Coast’s newest dining venue has certainly captured the same intensity of a frenetic Japanese eating place.

Mitchell McCluskey and his wife Nerissa are already well known on the Gold Coast for their café, Commune. For this venture, they wanted something a little different – a restaurant where the decor played a big part in the overall experience, and where people were brought together by communal eating.

“Izakaya venues are big in New York and becoming more popular in Sydney. Before we launched we researched the style of the Sydney spaces and drew on our experience of snowboarding in Japan every year,” Mitchell said.

A key aspect of the transformation from a fish and chip shop to the Gold Coast’s most unusual Japanese restaurant was the bar which was always going to be the most dominant feature, taking up half the width of the space.

“We wanted the biggest bar in the world where people could sit, drink, snack and chat as well as talk to staff behind the bar. So the first thing was to figure out the bar area and the rest literally took shape around that.”

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“WE WANTED THE BIGGEST BAR IN THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE COULD SIT, DRINK, SNACK AND CHAT AS WELL AS TALK TO STAFF BEHIND THE BAR.” Spring 2014

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ETSU IZAKAYA: THE CHAOS OF JAPANESE DINING “We just love concrete spaces and bars. They look interesting – big, solid and unyielding. We wanted texture, cracks and different colours throughout and the Marrakesh has delivered exactly the look we sought.”

The remainder of the interiors are finished in concrete, veneer and recycled timber. A tree sourced from council forms the centerpiece of the main dining area. Murals of a bonsai tree and Japanese street art painted by a local artist adorn the walls.

Mitchell McCluskey

Outside, the restaurant stands out from its neighbours with recycled timber and old barn doors. At night, a red lantern is hung outside to indicate that Etsu Izakaya is open for business. According to Mitchell, people walking past are intrigued by the light and the music coming from inside, peeking in to have a look.

Etsu’s dishes are designed to be shared and served steadily during the course of the evening. Guests can choose from sushi and sashimi, tempura dishes, salads and meat and seafood from the Robata grills. Although the venue only opened in mid August, it is already filling up on week nights, with the bar space in high demand for reservations.

PROJECT DETAILS:

Etsu Izakaya Restaurant 2440 Gold Coast Highway Mermaid Beach, QLD Owners: Mitchell and Nerissa McCluskey

Artisan (Marrakesh bar): Michael Symington from ilfe Spring 2014

Photography: Ross Eason

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STRAW BALE a personal journey

If the concept of a straw bale home conjures up images of a hobbit home in your mind, then this story may just change your perceptions. Builder Ken Longshaw has built a striking, comfortable family home from straw bale. Looking from the outside, you would never know this contemporary style home has walls made from rice husks and that’s exactly what Ken and his family intended.

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by Rebecca Park

rom the warmth and quiet of his lounge room in the Southern Highlands, builder Ken Longshaw recalls the long hours of sitting in Sydney traffic day after day as time that could have been better spent with his family.

Almost two years ago, Ken and his young family made the decision to leave the hustle and intensity of city life far behind, making a tree change to the quiet village of Bundanoon – a new town, new home and new life.

Bundanoon was chosen for its beautiful location, and the fact that Ken and his wife Emily, loved the feel

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of the village and the local school. An open-minded community with an appreciation of green building sealed the deal, with Ken assured that there would be a keen interest in his eco friendly building business, ES Build, established 14 years ago.

Ken’s industry knowledge and research into building options meant the decision to build a straw bale home was a no-brainer. “We explored many options including mud brick but we knew the most important element of building a comfortable home here would be insulation and the thermal properties of straw bale are out of this world – nothing beats it,” he said.

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Wall structure: braced panel

“Also it is quite quick to build and lends itself to selfexpression, an interpretation that can be personalised for each project and that appealed to us.”

The Longshaws wanted to build for the long-term, considering space needs now and with flexibility for change as the children grew up.

“I am appalled at the syndrome of project homes here in Australia where we build homes for 20-30 years livability or less. In Europe they design for 500 years.

Ours is a short-term philosophy and it has implications for so many things – from energy consumption to space issues,” explained Ken. “When I was working in construction in Europe, I saw a home being built from oak and at the same time they were planting oak trees so in 150 years they could replace some of the timber. That foresight is missing in Australia and those things inspired us when we planned our own home.”

Ken believes that when a home is planned for the long-term, the cost of living in the building over time becomes more important than the cost of the building itself. For example, if a family only plans to live in a place for five years, air conditioning may not be considered a large expense. Thirty years on, putting more thought into ventilation and insulation at the outset could have negated a significantly higher expense.

A home design was purchased from architect Peter Lees, an advocate of living in roof spaces to promote a sense of comfort and safety. The plan was then adapted for the block and family’s needs. Key features are two large water tanks under the living room, giving the home its thermal mass, and double-glazed windows to provide added insulation.

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Day two of installing the straw bales Spring 2014

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BUILDING BY HAND The hands-on nature of straw bale building appealed to Ken. As a professional builder, he approached the project with a “get it right the first time” attitude and chose a post and beam structure for its sturdiness and longevity.

“Traditionally, straw bale homes are built with the roof sitting on top of the bales which makes them load bearing. I didn’t want to be coming back in two years to patch cracks from movement so went for a structurally sound post and beam construction where the straw bales fill the gaps between the posts rather than form part of the frame.”

Once the foundations were laid, water tanks installed and posts and beams in place, Ken called on friends and family to help with the rest - everything from tying and trimming bales to rendering. This practical support along with using straw bale for insulation and sourcing clay from the site resulted in significant cost savings compared with a standard building.

The entire family was involved with finishing the walls. The first layer of clay from the site was sprayed on then rubbed in by hand to seal the straw.

“It was tremendous fun. Our boys have had such a blast here. They already want to build homes of their own!”

Ken applying lime paint over fresh lime render

“Many straw bale homes have round, continuous surfaces, hence the perception of straw bale homes being like hobbit homes. We decided we wanted sharp corners and could easily achieve that.”

– Ken Longshaw

The hands-on process also meant they were able to shape their building in a way that suited the preferred style.

“Many straw bale homes have round, continuous surfaces, hence the perception of straw bale homes being like hobbit homes.

We decided we wanted sharp corners and could easily achieve that. With the interior clay walls, you can do amazing sculptural work if that’s what you desire. All the effects can be achieved without compromising the insulation or quality of the build.”

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Lime render was used for the final exterior coat of the building with a combination of clay and lime on the inside to promote healthy indoor air. Clayset with carnauba wax was chosen for the lounge room walls, bringing texture and ambience.

“The flexibility, the colours you can achieve, that organic personal expression and the vibrance that you get out of a natural product like Clayset as opposed to paint, was ideal for our home.” said Ken.

ONE YEAR ON Almost a year since the family moved into their new home, they are thrilled with the benefits that straw bale construction has brought.

Sponging lime on the exterior

“Not everyone was as convinced about the advantages of straw bale as I was,” Ken says as the sun blazes into his lounge room on a chilly four-degree day. “Now, everyone is ecstatic we did it. Our energy bill just came in – just over 10KW. That’s less than the average usage for a household of one person and we have five people here during the week and seven on weekends.”

The family is currently installing a 4kW power system and could easily go “off the grid” if desired.

Ken is also amazed at the indoor air quality, which he attributes to the fact the entire walling system of the home is vapour permeable – from the clay and lime interior walls, through the straw bales and exterior render to the outside.

Finished exterior walls

“The walls breathe. Moisture generated inside through the use of the kettle, stove and bathroom is expressed outside. This natural transpiration of moisture keeps the house healthier and cooler on a humid day. Using clay on the interior walls also helps to suck in moisture and alleviate mould.”

Looking back on those long days in city traffic, Ken is satisfied with his family’s choice. “It’s a beautiful home that costs next to nothing to heat and run. That translates to more time at home and more family time for us,” he said.

Clayset on clay render on the interior walls

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Elise Corcoran is a Building Biologist offering a Healthy Home Consultancy Service for clients embarking on building new or renovating. Elise co-owns Natural Designer Homes, a Multi- Award Winning Building Company operating in Northern NSW and Gold Coast regions. Elise is passionate about building homes which are both healthy for the occupants as well as the environment.

By Elise Corcoran

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here is much to be said about building a sustainable, energy efficient home. In fact, we should all be striving to achieve this. However, I would argue that focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency in isolation could be detrimental to the health of the occupants. The reason being that building a sustainable, energy efficient home considers the health of the environment only. No consideration is given to the health of the occupants. This is where building biology comes into play.

BUILDING BIOLOGY

Given that the home and workplace are considered to be like our third skin (clothing being the second), building biologists analyse the products we use, the air we breathe, the water we drink and bathe in, electromagnetic fields, the building site, design and building materials. Building biologists help us to recognise hazards and recommend the most practical solutions to overcome them.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY Most people spend 90% of their time in a building, whether it be the home or the workplace. It is therefore interesting to point out that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialised cities.

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This is not surprising when we consider that inside our buildings we have bombed, sprayed and squirted in order to clean, maintain or repair. When a home is new or has been recently renovated, the problem is often amplified.

A house may be fully insulated and have double or low emissivity glazing to prevent heat transfer from the windows. In fact, it may be so well sealed that when windows and doors are closed, there is no allowance for fresh air. When this sealed home is combined with the standard building materials we use today predominantly filled with volatile organic compounds (or VOCs), we are essentially creating a vault full of toxins.

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (EMFs) We are all electrical beings and we are surrounded by natural terrestrial radiation. However, with so many devices in our lives, especially wireless devices, we must consider how much exposure to radiation is too much for our bodies to cope with?

The healthy home should not alter the natural electromagnetic background or introduce man-made electromagnetic fields that pose a health risk (Bijilsma, 2013). Problem areas lie with high level radio frequency fields from wireless technology including mobile phone towers as well as extra low frequency electromagnetic fields from AC electronic devices (what we plug in).

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BUILDING DESIGN

MATERIAL SELECTION

Placing a pre-drawn design on just any available block of land will often result in the operational failure of a building. It may even look odd as it has not been designed to suit the climate, microclimate or surrounding area, let alone the occupants. It may be uneconomical to maintain and could very well have an adverse effect on the health of occupants.

Building materials can play a major role in the health of the building and need to be carefully selected with reference to the climate zone, indoor air quality and the electro-climate of the home.

According to Rudolph Steiner, the role of the architect is “to find for every structure the unique form that expresses the essence of the building’s function while sustaining every activity that takes place within it.”

This quote sums up what we should strive to achieve when designing a new home. Adhering to this principle would ensure that each home was unique and suited for its purpose. If careful planning is put into the design stage, then there is not the constant need to renovate, extend, or repair the dwelling thus saving resources and energy. We must be mindful to design for minimal impact on the planet, for peace of mind and the spirit as well as the health of the physical body.

Ask these questions. Where are the materials sourced and what effect does this have on the environment in terms of embodied energy (the sum of all the energy required to produce the goods)?

Are the materials suitable for the climate or area the home is being built in? With regard to paints, glues and sealants, these can all be highly toxic. Yet there are healthy options available.

See the guide below for some tips on what to consider when you are building or renovating.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Allocate time to choosing the right block of land for your intended use. Before purchasing, search Google to find mobile phone tower locations.

Carry out a physical search of the area to check for power stations and rubbish tips. Even golf courses and well maintained parks can be a problem in terms of chemical use so consider everything. Research past uses of the land and if in doubt, test for contaminants in the soil.

• Consult the Bureau of Meteorology to research climate zone, sub zones and microclimate. This will assist with the design process.

• Your Home Technical Manual is an excellent resource that contains a sections on healthy homes. It is available to download for free at www.yourhome.gov.au/ technical.

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• Engage a builder who is knowledgeable about healthy buildings. If this is not possible, find a building biologist www. aces.edu.au/links/find-aconsultant/building-biology who will work alongside your chosen builder and designer. Extra vigilance must be taken when wiring a home for someone who is electrically sensitive and careful consideration must be given to the plumbing for anyone who has a skin condition such as eczema or an allergy such as asthma.

• Investigate materials: Ask where they come from, how they are processed, what will be used to fix them in place and how long they will last. Consult the Healthy Building Network www. healthybuilding.net. This website was established in the US in 2000 with the aim of sourcing materials with the best environmental, health and social practices.

• Have your appliances tested for EMFs before purchasing them. This is best done by a Building Biologist who has the correct equipment. The alternative here is to steer away from wireless appliances completely.

Keep all appliances away from sleeping areas and limit them in areas of high use. Design with your appliances in mind: EMFs can be high at a bedhead where a fridge is on the other side of the wall, and sleeping upstairs directly above a ceiling fan located downstairs can be problematic.

• Further reading can be done in the book Healthy Home, Healthy Family referenced below.

References

Bijilsma, N. (2012). Healthy Home, Healthy Family. (2nd edition). Joshua Books, Australia.

Bijilsma, N. (2013). Wireless technology - a danger we can’t live without… ACNEM Journal, Vol 32(1), 17-20 19

GALLERY

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rying to envisage how a product or finish will look on a wall from a small sample can sometimes be challenging. Artisan Ray Hall has drawn on his experience working with solid plasterers around the world to open his own feature wall gallery, with life-size samples so people can experience the true beauty of natural finishes.

It’s hard to believe this gallery space is actually a medium sized industrial shed in Bundaberg.

Upon entering, it is difficult to know where to look first because there is so much to see: a moody, gothic-inspired bedroom space; a stunningly graceful seamless bathroom; a distinctive television unit with a marble-like lustre and plenty of striking samples that you just want to reach out and touch.

“Everyone who walks in sees something different,” says Ray. “In modern architecture, render and plaster is rarely a talking point in a space because they are so common. With natural materials, walls become remarkable…something to talk about, to look at over and over again and see something different every time.”

Ray’s gallery space is interactive. Visitors can view a variety of clay and lime finishes, check out colour options and then wander throughout the gallery for ideas on how they can be used for furniture, feature walls, bedheads, bathrooms or even a fireplace.

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Ray Hall’s feature wall gallery 20

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Artisan Ray Hall

Seamless Marrakesh bathroom including vanity, finished with Black Soap and Carnauba Wax (walls only).

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“I work closely with the client to determine their needs and add my ideas to theirs. Ultimately I become the medium for creating a unique piece of art in their space. The beauty is, no two jobs will ever be the same. The process is fluid and the finishes have life. You can’t achieve that with paint,” enthuses Ray. Decades of experience working with solid plasterers from all over the world means Ray draws inspiration from some of the world’s most historic and unusual buildings.

After completing his apprenticeship doing restoration work in New Zealand, he went on to work as a plasterer in London, Liverpool, Germany and beyond.

Venetian Plaster with oxides finished with Carnauba Wax

“Everywhere I travelled, I went out of my way to uncover the secrets of the solid plasterers. South America, Brazil, Italy, Amsterdam, Istanbul – products, techniques and finishes were different in every country and the exchange of skills was such a great way to learn.”

Ray’s passion for what he does is infectious, a true artisan who understands and appreciates the value of the skills passed down from the ancient solid plasterers.

“An artisan is someone who really loves what they do, that respects the product and cares about the outcome. You need to have the skillset, the knowledge, the passion and an understanding of the product,” he says.

Television unit: Marrakesh finished with tight skin of Venetian Plaster

“My passion for it draws people in. What I see amazes me every day and when you are passionate about what you do, to amaze yourself is almost more impressive than amazing someone else.”

The Modern Artisan: Ray Hall

Shop 5, Number 8 Woondooma Street, Bundaberg, QLD. Phone: 0402 350 837 22

Photography: Ross Eason

Sawn off log mural: Venetian Plaster with oxides.

Fireplace and shelf: Marrakesh The Natural Artisan

Bedhead: Venetian Plaster with black and red oxides. Pillars: Marrakesh finished with Carnauba Wax.

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Contact: editor@thenaturalartisan.com SPRING ISSUE FEATURED ARTISANS: Michael Symington, ilfe create.ilfe.info@gmail.com

Ken Longshaw, Eco Sense Building esbuild.com

Ray Hall, The Modern Artisan raymond-hall@hotmail.com

Elise Corcoran (Building Biologist), Natural Designer Homes naturaldesignerhomes.com.au

Ross Eason, Eason Creative Photography easoncreative.com.au

NATURAL MATERIALS ARTISANS

GORAN RUZIC

RUZIC RENDER (GOLD COAST)

JULIEN FANTONE

ALAN KING

PLASTACRAFT (AUST-WIDE)

RYAN LOWSECK

IDEA CREATIONS (AUST-WIDE)

IDEA CREATIONS (BRISBANE)

JAMES MIDDLETON 24 RECOMMENDED RENDER (QLD)

JOHNNY DE BOUCHERVILLE (QLD)

SHANNON WHITEHILL

AUSTRALIAN ARTISANS (AUST-WIDE)

PAUL GEACH

CR8IVE SURFACES (ACT)

KATE OGDEN

MUDMOB (AUST-WIDE)

RALPH STUART

PLASTACRAFT (AUST-WIDE)

BRAD BENTON

4E SYSTEMS (NSW/QLD)

MARK DOLBEL

PLASTACRAFT (AUST-WIDE)

LUKE RUSSELL

PETER HOLMES

IDEA CREATIONS (AUST-WIDE)

TADELAKT SYDNEY (NSW)

BRUCE ALLEN

COREY LAFAITELE

B & H SOLID PLASTERING (QLD)

SOUL TRAIN (QLD)

MICHAEL SYMINGTON The Natural RAYArtisan HALL ILFE (QLD)

THE MODERN ARTISAN (QLD)