Inspiration for Facade Design

Posted: 29 July 2009 by Metricon Homes

Tags: facade, modern

In general terms, a facade is something skin deep that hides the truth of what lies behind. In housing terms, though, a facade is the very essence of a property, the impact it makes on the street, the first glimpse we get of the soul of a home. And it often reflects the structural realities behind it, too.

Inspiration for facade design comes from a variety of places. A designer can be watching a TV show about Ancient Rome and the next thing you know you’ve got doric columns all along the front of a home. Another designer heads off to the South Sea Islands for a break and comes back filled with enthusiasm for natural materials and slanting, shady roofs. A trip to the orient and before you can say “Chicken Chow Mein please” we have pagoda -style roof lines popping up everywhere. A day at the beach, and hey presto! Sinuous wave shapes and cool white colours are everywhere with sun-kissed timbers.

Of course, the marketplace makes the final call. Customers decide which style they like best, and there are often clear winners that get built more than others. The new Oakpark facade seen on the Metricon Imperial at Balwyn is a good example. With cantilevered eves, extensive use of both brick and render, and a magnificent portico entrance and grand balcony on the upstairs Master suite, it makes a powerful but understated statement on the street. It is proving extremely popular. Interestingly, this facade was inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, the noted American architect. Strong angular lines of both brick and render enhance the more organic feel of extensive glass in windows, French windows, and the front door. The home looks absolutely magnificent in its fine inner-suburban location, but it would be equally dramatic in one of the fine estates that ring the city. This fine home demands inspection by anyone wanting to see the best in modern urban design.

And here’s a quirky trivia fact, the facade was named after one of the first areas Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked in.

Modern, traditional, quirky, European, Asian, imposing, calming. It really is up to you and your family’s personal taste. Luckily, you will find that all good homes from large, reputable builders come with a choice of quality facades.

Just look for one that you think will look great 20 years from now, because it will affect your re-sale value. After all, it’s the first thing people see when they visit your home.