Design
Trends.

Our Top 5 Interior Trends for 2023

The post-pandemic years are bringing significant shifts within the interior design space, with greater importance being placed on spaces for socialising, personal style, and curating for comfort.

Read on as we reflect on 5 interior design styles that we believe will dominate in 2023, to help inspire you with some creative ideas and insight.

1. Modern Maximalist Design 

The trend of maximalism seems to be staying in 2023, with interiors reflecting the personality and uniqueness of those within.

Maximalism is all about showing your individuality, intertwining contemporary design features with trinkets and personal heirlooms, to create a modern yet homely space that brims with meaning.

Maximalist design is deep-rooted in history, with people throughout the ages tending to showcase their affluence through their possessions. In modern times, the adaptation of maximalist design centres on showcasing the styles, accessories and homewares that people love, to add flair and personality.

Our Fish Creek House is an excellent example of modern maximalist design, with the home mindfully designed to reflect the client’s individuality and personal style.

With a distinctly Australian aura, the interiors have been coated with Dulux Army Fatigue, creating a calm, nurturing space to relax. The green hue harmonises effortlessly with blackbutt timber floors and copper, tan, and matte black accents, to create a delightful mix of modernity and charm.

3. Colour Trends for 2023

2023 is the year of self-expression, with bold and lively colours set to explode in popularity in the design industry. Some of our top picks include:

Pantone – Magenta

Pantone has announced their colour of the year as Viva Magenta 18-750, describing it as ‘vibrating with vim and vigour.’ The shade is rooted in nature, descending from the red colour family and is seen as an expression of strength and determination.

Dulux Shades of green

Dulux Nephrite, a beautiful shade of eucalyptus green, has been chosen within the Balance Dulux colour palette of the year. Pairing well with neutral colours such as White Duck Half or Terrace White, the shade can work as a main wall colour both internally and externally.

Neutral Hues

With the importance of serenity and comfort in our homes, the natural colours of wasabi, stone and charcoal will continue to be seen throughout 2023. Drawing inspiration from hiking, gardening and cooking, these tones speak of calm, comfort and connection.

5. Comfort Core

After the turbulent last few years, the longing for connection, comfort, and safety within our spaces will continue to grow with importance within 2023.

Our homes have become havens for us to feel safe, relaxed and to connect with our family and friends. The inclusion of calming interiors has become almost a necessity to alleviate the stressors of everyday life.

Comfort core explores the idea of how a home feels, rather than how it looks. This means introducing comfort into our space through the use of tactile textures, natural materials and organic shapes.

Another way of introducing comfort into your home is by creating spaces dedicated to reflection and mindfulness, to counteract the chaos of modern life. Allocate a quiet spot within your home with a comfy chair, free of technology and clutter to simply sit and relax.

Looking to introduce some comfortable additions to your home?

Looking to add some relaxing additions to your home? Our top 3 comforting homewares perfect for any space, are:

1. Hommey Big Boucle Cushion in Natural 
2. Fenton & Fenton Luna Throw Blanket in Luna 
3. Bed Threads French Flax Linen Bedspread in Stripe 

Have a project
in mind?

Looking to start your design journey? We’d love to help. Arkular tailors each design to create a unique architectural home. Get in touch today for more information.

Green
Living.

Arkular partners with Carbon Neutral on their Plant-a-Tree Program

Arkular partners with Carbon Neutral on their Plant-a-Tree Program. Carbon Neutral has over 20 years of experience in creating innovative large-scale reforestation projects to preserve biodiversity and restore our precious landscapes. Read on to learn more about Carbon Neutral and how Arkular contributes to this important initiative.

The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor

The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor once had vast amounts of Salmon and York gum trees within the area, but by the early 1900’s more than 97% of the vegetation had been cleared for farming.

The program aims to link small patches of remaining vegetation and 12 nature reserves to create a large green corridor. Read about some of the positive impacts, extracted from the Carbon Neutral Fact sheet below:

Positive Impacts

– The project has injected over $8 million into the community, supporting 140 local businesses.

– Five aboriginal heritage sites discovered in archaeological surveys are now registered with the Department of Indigenous Affairs Registry.

– Creation of wildlife habitats and the reintroduction of plants and animals, including over 30 species of conservation-significant native plants, 13 conservation-significant bird species and 100s of insect species.

– Combatting desertification by protecting and stabilising the ground with vegetation, reducing soil salinity and erosion by wind and water.

The Gold Standard Certification

The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor is the only project in Australia that’s achieved certification from Gold Standard for globally recognised best practices in carbon project development.

Carbon Neutral’s innovative approach to mixed species native reforestation is transforming degraded landscapes into green corridors, writing a new chapter for threatened ecosystems.

Join their mission to create a more sustainable world for future generations. Carbon Neutral is proud to be helping organisations measure, reduce, and offset their carbon footprint and spark their climate journey

Read more information or get involved with the Carbon Neutral Plant-a-Tree program.

Have a project
in mind?

Keen to get started on a new project? We’d love to help. Talk to us today for Free Advice.

Sustainability
trends 2023.

Sustainability Trends and Influencers in 2023

At Arkular, we prioritise sustainability and eco-consciousness in our design and manufacturing processes to enhance both planetary and human health. Read on to see our top 5 sustainability trends, ideas, and influencers for 2023 that will shape eco-driven design and architecture.

1. Biophilic Design

The importance of Biophilic design will continue to grow in 2023, with the need for spaces to have a synergetic relationship with our external environment integral to supporting mental and physical well-being.

Biophilic design connects people to their surrounding built environment and is an expression of the relationship between nature and buildings.

The foundational thinking of Biophilic design centres around the philosophy of being experienced – not just used, allowing individuals to achieve the benefits of living in spaces that encourage a meaningful connection to the environment.

2. Resilient Building Design

Resilient building design involves implementing strategies to ensure buildings are prepared for natural weather events including bushfires and flooding.

This means implementing building resilience techniques into the design and construction process, including:

• Building sites strategically away from vegetation
• Using non-combustible construction materials
• Choosing water-resistant materials
• Constructing elevated floor levels

The BAL rating measures the severity of a building’s potential exposure to direct flame contact, radiant heat and ember attack. Our Flame Zone Home is a flame-proof concept customised for the most extreme level. Click here to view more information about our Flame Zone Home.

3. Organic, Earthy Textures –
Design trend to love in 2023

Textural materials, tactile homewares and earthy, organic finishes will dominate the design and architecture space in 2023, with a continued priority on creating a synergetic connection between our home, the environment and our surrounding landscape.

Textured walls generated through methods such as Venetian Plaster and Limewash will continue to be a popular choice, pairing well with other raw textural elements such as timber and concrete. Tiles with added tactility will also be favoured in 2023, adding life and dimension to interior spaces.

4. Eco-driven Construction Methods 

Sustainably focused construction methods will continue to grow in both popularity and importance in 2023.

Globally, the prefabricated construction market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 7.1% from 2020 to 2026 and by 2026, will reach USD $174 billion (Zhang et al., 2022).

Dramatic shifts towards prefabrication will continue to be seen within Australia, due to its time-saving, waste minimisation and improved quality benefits. In Sweden, over 84% of detached houses have prefabricated elements compared to only 5% in Australia and the UK.

Prefabrication and modularisation offer multiple advantages as a method of construction, including energy saving, reduction of on-site construction waste, general cost saving and scheduling benefits.

5. Low Embodied Carbon Materials

The built environment sector is responsible for one-quarter of Australia’s emissions. At Arkular, we are always looking for new eco-friendly materials to lessen our home’s carbon footprints.

Kobe Board is an environmentally sustainable composite material that combines wood and cement’s best properties. By being a highly compressed mixture of sustainable plantation eucalyptus wood particles, Portland cement, mineralising agents and water, it’s a material that centres the design within the landscape while also giving back. Paired with the iconic Australian Silver Top Ash, it grounds the whole structure in the coastal Shoreham environment.

Have a project
in mind?

We’d love to help. Talk to us today for Free Advice.

Arkular
Modular.

Flexible Modular Design by Arkular

At Arkular, we believe in holistic, mindful design. That means defining your place in the home and your home’s place in the world. Through the use of sustainable materials in Arkular homes, we’re ensuring our designs centre on healthy families now, leaving a positive legacy for generations to come. Read on to see four of our current and completed projects that have been consciously designed to harmonise with the natural surroundings.

1. Southern Highland House

3 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Modern Rural Design

The Southern Highland House has been designed to maximise its surroundings and enhance the view towards the Tarlo River and National park.

To utilise passive design principles, the house has been positioned perfectly on the acreage to ensure plenty of cross ventilation and maximise the breeze that comes through the valley. This also makes the most of the northern sunlight to deliver a bright home and reduce cooling and heating costs.

See the Southern Highland House for more information and floorplan here. 

2. Fish Creek House

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms

The Fish Creek House was designed to maximise liveability and sustainability, with light-filled spaces naturally ventilated using passive design principles.

Expansive decks lie to the north, with an outdoor bath located to the south for relaxation amongst the native bush setting. The house has been mindfully designed for the enjoyment of the property and to reconnect with nature and the community.

View the Fish Creek House here for more information. 

3. Drummond North House

2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms

With the park-like surroundings creating the ultimate tree escape, the Drummond North House has been designed to provide relaxing, meaningful moments for years to come.

The elevated position and carefully considered orientation of the kitchen, open dining and living areas, provide an abundance of natural light throughout every part of the home. The house has been consciously designed to embrace the natural landscape, providing a peaceful sense of place.

See the Drummond North House for full design details. 

4. Alphington House

3 Bed, 2 Bath, City Design

Walking distance from the iconic Yarra River, Alphington House is designed to connect the exterior and interior seamlessly.

The house is surrounded by productive native gardens, with double-glazed windows providing views of the lush green outdoor setting. Passive solar design has been utilised for sustainable heating and cooling, whilst a spacious kitchen space and arbored alfresco dining area allow for perfect modern riverside living.

See the Alphington House for more information and floorplan. 

Have a project
in mind?

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Smart,
by design.

A home that loves the outside.

We are excited to unveil the newest renders for the Wilsons Promontory Beach House, a design that just moved into the construction phase in the Victorian facility, we are excited to see this take shape and be transported to the site in the coming months.

The design sits among the beach trees northwest of Wilson Promontory, an off-the-grid holiday home that eschews clichés of traditional beachside escapes – a sustainable haven where land meets the sea. For a client who understands that simplicity is where true beauty, efficiency and functionality meet.

Functional design

Designed to maximize sustainability & liveability. Careful positioning takes full advantage of natural cooling, heating, and lighting. The sleeping module was placed on the northwest side to provide privacy, views, and protection from cold winter winds. The living zone takes advantage of cooling summer cross breezes thanks to accurately located windows and glass sliding doors.

Colour Choice

The off-white base with the accent colour of green grounds to the overall home to the sandy beaches that surround the area. The open living dining area on the second level with these colours brings the outside landscape into the space and promotes an indoor-outdoor living

Layout and feeling

At Arkular, we use flat lays so that the client and the Architects can both understand and agree on the design concept and how the materials work together.

The contemporary home maintains a striking street presence and has been set very sensitively into the landscape. The introduction to the home is welcoming and creates a sense of expectation. The floor plan over the two levels is clever and generously proportioned, providing multiple living areas and a brilliant division between the private and social spaces. By being a Modern coastal Arkular design, it employs passive solar principles and thermally efficient materials, including comprehensive insulation in walls and ceilings, a north-facing orientation and expansive double glazing; the home reflect serious consideration of sustainability, style and function.

Wilsons
Promontory

What makes Wilson’s Prom so special? 

The client fell in love with the area and well it’s pretty easy to see why. Wilsons Prom is a truly beautiful spot, with granite peaks and a wide array of wild natural spots and is one of the most beautiful places in Victoria. There are many physical activities from hiking, biking, and bird watching to surfing but with plenty of beaches one can also laze about on the sand and ocean and each morning and night enjoy the picturesque sunrises and sets.

Hikes 

The clients love to walk and explore and this home looks at the wonderful landscape which motivates them to. There are over 45 self-guided Wilsons Promontory walks ranging from gentle strolls to more difficult multi-day hikes. There are simple short walks that didn’t take more than a few hours but there are a few wonderfully serviced longer hikes that are believed to be incredible. Check out All Trails and organise a hike for the summer ahead!

Fish
Creek

Fish Creek House

A completed home nearby is the Fish Creek House. The home is split into two zones – entertaining and rest, connected together via a central entryway. This entry acts as an airlock, assisting in the climate & noise control within spaces. The whole home is light-filled and naturally ventilated by using passive design principles. Oriented towards the north to capture sunrise and moonlight. This careful positioning takes full advantage of natural cooling, heating, and lighting, reducing the need for artificial sources. With a priority for outside living and entertaining check out the full range of images on the completed projects page of Arkular.

Biophilic
Design.

Fresh Perspective  

At Arkular we place care and thought into the relationship of a home with its environment. Every project is designed and positioned to provide an ideal prospect, a safe refuge and an enduring sense of mystery.  As such both this design and our old build although do not look similar they share manly of the same priorities in regard to the way it reacts to the Wilson Promontory landscape.

Room with a view

Biophilic design ideas were employed to create a well-balanced atmosphere. Spatially, the final product exhibits careful consideration of its owners and the land. Each zone feels large enough for personal privacy but small enough that it encourages family relations and is easily maintained and budget-friendly. It was important that a self-sustaining garden would surround the house, therefore, large sliding doors framed by semi-sheer curtains, invite sea breezes, and plenty of light and lead to an expansive wrap-around deck, where the owners could double their liveable space, enjoy the gardens and encompassing views.  

Creating a mood of Mystery 

Building a sense of anticipation and mystery provides an incentive to explore. Embedding the home into the landscape, or situating it on a hill where it will be hidden from the road, adds a sense of exploration during the journey to the house. Obscured views, curved edges and play with shadows and light are some of the ways an Arkular design creates mystery.

Have a project
in mind?

We’d love to help. Talk to us today for Free Advice.

Flame
Zone
Home.

Flame Zone Home Design 

Welcome to Arkular’s first featured home designed for a BAL Flame Zone site. The most extreme level of fire rating requires the highest possible level of safety in the home.

This flameproof home concept is designed for a specific site, but changes can be made to fit across sites in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The Flame Zone Home design affords its occupants sweeping views of the ocean/ farmland and prioritises peace of mind with all essential safety elements required when living within a Flame Zone area.

Building in a Flame Zone 

What Does a Flame Zone Classification Mean?

For a site to be classified as a flame zone, in layperson’s terms, it has been identified as having an extreme risk of bushfire with a high chance of property damage. The area is directly exposed to potential bushfire flames, with a heat flux greater than 40kW/m2. Therefore, to build a BAL Flame Zone home, one must expertly follow the requirements laid out by the state. Please read our blog on Fire Zones for more information.

Safety Can Not Be Overlooked

Everyone can remember at least one of the major bushfire disasters of recent years. As a result of these unfortunate events, tighter controls have been implemented to assist in building recovery efforts and keeping our communities safer. When considering this concern, you first need to check whether you are in a bushfire-prone area.

A bushfire-prone area is recognised by the presence of, and proximity to, bushfire-prone vegetation. It includes both the area containing the bushfire-prone vegetation and a 100m buffer zone immediately surrounding it. So for those seeking or living a Rural or Coastal life, some crucial factors affect one’s design by living in these areas.

Flame Zone Homes Features

This Flame Zone house concept has the features for approval; however, changes and alternations are made for every design as this process is site-dependent.

Each bushfire-prone site rated Bushfire Attack Level 40  or Bushfire Attack Level Flame Zone (BAL-FZ) requires submission of a development application (DA) to the local council, demonstrating how the development meets the design and construction standards required.

Some of the bushfire safety features included in this home are the following. This design shows that a beautiful home can still be built despite all the different regulations.

Arkular’s Flame Zone Home Design 

How Does Arkular Create a Modular Flame Zone Home?

• Firstly we surround ourselves with experts and work collaboratively and methodically with a high level of analysis of the property’s early stages and expect bushfire consultants we know how to make the site work for the client.
• The design is customised to the site, with necessary changes always required to meet individual requirements. For example, modular construction can be moved to the right spot to reduce bushfire risk. Arkular also can work with landscapers to figure out what planting and potential removal must be achieved to form a fire blocker, not a starter.
• The overall design extrudes over the veranda, so there is a refuge and protection from the elements.
• Fitted with thicker glass windows and sliding doors (Commercial fire-rated doors and windows) than standard with the highest quality finish with a priority to maximise safe solar gain and views.
• In this case, the exterior is clad in Fire Crunch, a lightweight material that resists fire, water, sound, termites, impact and mould. Click this link to see how it withstands the heat. Or continue reading to learn more about this Australian-created material!
• Use DecoDecking, an attractive yet fire-safe alternative to the traditional timber deck, Or use fibre cement decking.
• External shutters are concealed behind all openings, and fire collars are to all penetrations so the home can be locked down safely.

Fire Crunch – An Australian-made Material 

Insight into the Fire Crunch Material

This material is an Australian-created product that will change the prefab modular design. It is not only loved by us but also comes highly regarded by the CSIRO.

Meeting and Exceeding Requirements

Bushfire-safe building is essential and choosing the right type of fire-tested and Fire resistant building materials is mandatory for the survival of your home in Bushfire building areas such as BAL FZ.  FireCrunch meets the maximum requirement protection level of (Bushfire Attack Level) BAL FZ Flame Zone, Fire Tested by the CSIRO and AS 3959.

Keeping you Safe with Fire Protection Products

FireCrunch is a new type of fireproof building board material which is a magnesium oxide building board, MgO board and features a total fire block to intensive fire storms over 1000 deg C. This bushfire-safe building board product has been tested and certificated to the BCA Australian standard FRL 90/90/90 which means 1.5 hours at a continuous 1000 deg C and meets the Australian Standards AS 1530.8.1 and 1530.8.2 FRL 30/30/30.

Fire-resistant and fireproof building board exterior and interior for all bushfire-safe buildings. It is fire-tested compliant and ideal for boundary firewalls fire separation walls in detached homes townhouses semi-detached duplexes.

Interior/exterior wet areas, decking, floors, etc.

FireCrunch has several additional benefits over Gyprock alternative and gyprock paper-based plasterboard board, it can be used in all aspects of home building where fire-resistant building boards are required. Withstands fire, floods, termites and impact.

Apart from being a much better gyprock alternative for interiors as it is much stronger, it will also not gather mould and mildew in wet areas and bacteria cannot survive on FireCrunch magnesium oxide MgO board so your home becomes a much healthier place also.

Customer satisfaction

FireCrunch has been able to create a strong image by offering these new CSIRO Fire tested and fire-resistant magnesium oxide building products of the highest standard all CSIRO Australian fire tested. Protecting homes from a bushfire attack and determining that a bushfire-safe and fire-safe building plan is made much more affordable with FireCrunch fire-resistant building and fireproof fire separation walls and boundary firewalls.

This information has been taken from the FireCrunch Blog post click the link to be taken to their site.

Don’t forget about the Fire Shutters! 

Fire Shutters are incredibly durable with fire-resisting materials, making them the ultimate defence against fire. They also help minimize smoke and provide you with much-needed time to make the right choices in times of immense stress. These fire shutters will be made according to design needs and electronically operated to allow for quick shutting promptly so no matter this home is prepared.

Style is still there

Arkular uses a wide range of fire shutters that come in a wide range of attractive and sleek designs that are hidden away seamlessly when not in use. And when out easily contribute to the overall aesthetic look.  In detail we take in all our designs we even think about the attractive surface textures and colours, making them blend in with the surrounding décor.

Have a project
in mind?

Has your site been labelled flame zone? Wondering if it is? Or simply looking to buy and wondering about the costs associated with building?  We’d love to help. Talk to us today for Free Advice.

Fish Creek House BAL 29 Rated

Bushfire Zone
Now What?

A Rural or Coastal move can be a significant change of pace, but there are some crucial factors when living in these areas. Below we look at ‘Bushfire Resistance’ as a major point when purchasing land or renovating an existing home in a rural or coastal setting.

Bonnie Doon House BAL 12.5 Rated

Bushfire
Resistance

Everyone can remember at least one of the major bushfire disasters of recent years. As a result of these unfortunate events, tighter controls have been implemented to assist in building recovery efforts and keeping our communities safer. When considering this concern, the first thing you need to do is check whether you are in a Bushfire Prone Area.

A Bushfire Prone Area is recognised by the presence of, and proximity to, bushfire-prone vegetation and includes both the area containing the bushfire-prone vegetation and a 100m buffer zone immediately surrounding it.

Victoria & NSW Helpful Hints

Victoria.

You can find out if your Victorian property is in a Bushfire Prone Area by entering the address on VicPlan and creating a free planning property report. You can also use land.com.vic.gov to generate a similar report.

New South Wales.

If you’re looking at property in NSW, you can check NSW Rural Fire Service to check for bushfire prone areas.

Bushfire Management Overlay.

In Victoria, if your land falls within a Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO), a planning permit will often be required, depending on the council. This would entail detailing your home’s appropriate measures to protect itself from the potential bushfire risk. Check this through the free property reports mentioned above.

Clydesdale House BAL 12 Rated

What is a BAL Assessment?

At Arkular we are able to work with most sites, with a range of different BAL ratings, including ‘Flame Zones’ (FZ) which is the highest rating you can get. The extent of the changes to the design, materials, and engineering will vary according to the site’s rating*.

Every new home built or renovated in a bushfire prone area must undergo a BAL assessment as part of the application for a building permit. The site BAL assessment determines the construction methods that must be used to better protect properties from the threat of bushfires.

A BAL assessment is an inexpensive report which is conducted by a suitably qualified assessor to determine the Fire Danger Index (FDI), the slope, exposure to ember attack, radiant heat, direct flame contact and the type of vegetation on the property and it’s distance to your home or site. There are six BAL ratings, from LOW to FLAME ZONE, and each of these have different requirements when it comes to the construction and materiality of your home. As the risk of bushfires impacting your property increases, so do the construction requirements for your new home.

My Property is in a Bushfire Zone Now What?

No need to panic, as design has come along way in implementing materials and methodologies to still help you achieve a beautiful home which meets regulation. However, you will need a BAL assessment to determine the level of risk and therefore, the level of compliance you need to achieve.

All new homes constructed in a Bushfire Prone Area, must be built to a minimum BAL 12.5 to help withstand ember attack.

This includes sealing roofs, sealing around doors and windows and screening windows.

Materials.

Arkular homes are built using durable materials as a standard, but can certainly accommodate all BAL ratings all the way to Flame Zone by simple substitutions in materials and structural design changes. Below are material recommendations and inclusions which come part and parcel with an Arkular home.

Landscaping.

Depending on your BAL rating and council regulations, we recommend leaving a 5m wide path between the house and the garden and choosing plants that are fire retardant or fire resistant and will survive the bushfire season without dropping small branches into gutters, increasing your risk. Always monitor the growth of trees and shrubs so that pruning is maintained, dead limbs removed, leaves put into compost bins with lids.

We suggest positioning pools, paved areas and lawn breaks between the house and the direct fire threat to further reduce risk.

Water tanks should also be included dependant on the BAL ratings. However, restrictions for storage, access, signage and water tank configuration, among other things can vary between states, your location, the size of your property and the type of dwelling.

Image: Gold Dust Wattle | By COPbiodiversity

Image: Red Velvet Kangeroo Paw | By Tuffy Plant Collection

Flame Zone House

Our ‘Flame Zone’ house fully complies with the most extreme BAL rating. Some of the bushfire safety features which have been included in this home are external shutters to all openings, commercial fire rated doors and windows, and fire collars to all penetrations.

Flame Zone House | By Arkular

Content source: Bushfire Prone
Content source: CFA
Content source: Victorian Building Authority

Let’s start a
conversation.

Our friendly architects are happy to help answer your questions and put you on the right track to designing and building a beautiful, high-quality Arkular product.

Arkular has the capacity to build straight away in both Victoria and New South Wales, with a lead time of just 12 weeks. Let’s get started!

Keen to get the ball rolling? Go to our “Contact Us” page to start the conversation.

0477 143 711
hello@arkular.com

What was required for the design?

I know a bit abstract, but the local Banksia Trees have heavily influenced this floorplan and design shape. So have another look if you can’t see it. This design factors in a semi-retired active couple who love sharing their home with friends and family. An inside-out living experience required a sizeable outdoor decking area perfect for easy, stress-free entertaining and relaxing. The overall home is positioned with angles and cuts to ensure framed landscape views and maximum northern light in each room. The Banksia-inspired design perfectly harmonies with its environment and resonates with the couple who will call it home.

Careful selection of materials.

The materials were chosen with a priority of grounding the home in the landscape and being sustainable and long-lasting. A new material created by a Melbourne business is Kobe cement bonded wood composite. A local company’s environmentally sustainable composite material combines wood and cement’s best properties. By being a highly compressed mixture of sustainable plantation eucalyptus wood particles, Portland cement, mineralising agents and water, it’s a material that centres the design within the landscape while also giving back. Paired with the iconic Australian Colorbond and Silver Top Ash, it grounds the whole structure in the coastal Shoreham environment.

Respectfully designed home

Shoreham is a seaside surfing town on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, with a 700-metre long Honeysuckle beach with areas for picnic barbecue and a boat launch access. Set just back from this is where the residence of Shoreham resides. Whilst predominantly the refuge of private homes and farms, there are various accommodation options such as B&B, a caravan park, and camping sites. Arkular and the client wanted a home in keeping with this evolving area’s past and future. Holding this idea close is why sustainability principles and Arkulars designs are respectful. Not only because the prefab construction allows for minimal damage to the surroundings, and the minimising waste techniques employed throughout the offsite construction are a priority. But the future-proofing application to every Arkular building is of the highest standard as a home should be a home for tomorrow; beautiful and sustainable is the Arkular way.

Indigenous cultural heritage values

Shoreham lies within the traditional lands of the Bunurong tribe. The Bunurong tribes belonged to the inter-marriage network and language ties group known as the Kulin that inhabited areas around the coastline from Inverloch to Werribee. At the time of contact the Kulin nation was made up of the Bunurong, Woiworung, Jajowrong, Taunguong and Wathaurong (Presland 1994: 40). The Bunurong clan whose estate included Shoreham were the Bun wurrung balug meaning `Bun’ speaking people and their territory is thought to have included the area around Point Nepean and Cape Schanck.

Today, the members of the Bunurong community actively participate in management of cultural heritage sites within this former clan’s estate. The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation & Boon wurrung Foundation Ltd maintain that the Mornington Peninsula is the traditional land of their ancestors

Source: Management Plan for Shoreham
Art: Maloga Art

Just landed, Installation.

We are pleased to say we have recently just delivered the modular and formed them on site. This is such an exciting day for the client and us, and we cannot wait for the landscaping and decking to be completed to show you the build. It’s an exciting time to be following Arkular, that’s for sure.

Have a project
in mind?

We’d love to help. Talk to us today for Free Advice.

The Luxury
of Less.

A multi-use Ergonomic Design that Celebrates The Luxury of Less

At Arkular, we embrace the philosophy that less truly is more. The Agricultural Lakehouse is designed for maximum efficiency, with the thoughtfully considered layout incorporating Japanese design principles to minimise wasted space.

As a modular architect firm, we have been involved in designing large and compact homes that both require flexible spaces. Over this time, our architects have concluded that the more rooms you have, the more stuff you will collect to fill them with.

Homes are becoming more expensive, with clients wanting an increased size; at Arkular, that isn’t the only option. With the knowledge that designed spaces in your home can have multiple uses and provide you with the optimum solution without extending or increasing the size of your house.

To make these spaces work, they need to be flexible and easily converted – without effort. If it takes great effort to change the space’s use, it won’t work and will revert to its intended primary use. Hence, Arkulars structures are all highly ergonomic; here is an example of what we preach in practice!

Bedroom or Yoga Fitness Studio? You Decide

When the bed folds away, this room transforms from a single space into two distinct areas, each serving a unique function.

We have designed a versatile space that can function as a guest bedroom at night and a multi-purpose yoga studio during the day. This primary multi-use room is essential for adapting to the needs of its occupants, as clients seek a space that can be transformed to meet their requirements.

Sleep Your Way to The Top

Clever use of joinery with a fold-away bed by Wall Beds Australia allow for a free-flowing space and generous multiuse area. For extra comfort, the iAdapt mattress range made of 100% natural latex has been designed without compromise.

Benefits of Fitness

We love getting physical at Arkular and understand the benefits of contently moving your body no matter your age.

With a bed that folds away to become a workout and yoga studio, and for that extra sweat, add the beautiful, functional fitness equipment from Bala that will change the way you move from within this beautiful design. It’s up to you. Overall, a space that evolves depending on your needs.

16 Benefits of Yoga That Are Supported by Science

While modern media and advertising may have us think that yoga is all about physical poses, the entirety of yoga includes a wide range of contemplative and self-disciplinary practices. Such as meditation, chanting, mantra, prayer, breath work, ritual, and even selfless action.

The word “yoga” comes from the root word “yuj,” which means “to yoke” or “to bind.” The word itself has numerous meanings, from astrological conjunction to matrimony, with the underlying theme being connection.
Yoga asana is the physical practice and postures of yoga.

Source: Healthline.com

Love Your Home, Body and Mind

The scientific research into yoga’s benefits is still somewhat preliminary. Still, much of the evidence so far supports what practitioners seem to have known for millennia: Yoga is incredibly beneficial to our overall well-being.

1. Yoga improves flexibility
2. Yoga helps with stress relief
3. Yoga improves mental health
4. Yoga may reduce inflammation
5. Yoga will likely increase your strength
6. Yoga may reduce anxiety
7. Yoga may improve quality of life
8. Yoga may boost immunity
9. Yoga can improve balance
10. Yoga may improve cardiovascular functioning
11. Yoga may help improve sleep
12. Yoga may improve self-esteem
13. Yoga may improve bone health
14. Yoga can promote better posture and body awareness
15. Yoga can improve brain functioning
16. Yoga can help with burnout

Source: Healthline.com Read more here.

The Architectural language.

The Agricultural Lakehouse exterior is reminiscent of its bush surroundings. The house’s exterior includes a combination of sustainably sourced natural timbers and Colorbond Nailstrip.

These materials are not only aesthetically pleasing but hardy, bushfire compliant, and extremely low maintenance, making them the ideal choice for the rural/coastal environment. As a result, you can spend more time working on yourself and doing the things you love and less time on the things you don’t.

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Less House,
More Home.

Smart by Design & Building Ties to Nature

Arkular set designs are a collection of modular floorplan options thoughtfully designed to cater to the Australian rural, coastal and urban environments.

Our set designs are suited for those who understand that simplicity is where true beauty, efficiency and functionality meet.

They are prefabricated to maximise efficiency, minimise time frames and streamline the rewarding and exciting process, with different floorplan options across three iconic Australian landscapes.

All designs can be transformed to suit the individual site and local environmental conditions; we believe our set design range has something for everyone.

Read on to learn more about our carefully crafted range of Arkular set designs or view the full range here.

The Advantage of Choosing an Arkular Set Design

We stamp all our designs with the Arkular guarantee of high quality modular architecture, price security, and streamlined and efficient building processes.

We took the time to formulate our floorplans – so you don’t have to! With the ability to be built in as little as 12 – 20 weeks depending on complexity by our allied construction partners, our homes will appear at your doorstep fully built with impressive standard inclusions. It just makes sense.

Architecture that Maximises the Australian Landscape & Lifestyle

These designs respect and reflect the stunning nature around them.

Arkular set designs are thoughtful and low-maintenance, creating a home base to support you through the complexities of life. With a back-to-basics approach, each design is crafted to be big on function and comfort with a reduction in excess space. Whatever your tribe looks like, we have a home base for you.

What Arkular Change Are You Looking For?

Tree

Change (noun). A person seeking the openness of the countryside, with the wish to start fresh in the picturesque Australia bush.

Sea

Sea Change (noun). A person seeking an ocean escape, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city, packing up to embrace the refreshing windswept Australian coast.

City

City life (noun). A desire to be closely connected to city life. Seeking the hustle and bustle of the city, with all the benefits of closeness to work, family, friends, services and amenities.

Tree.
Ark T2.

The Ark T2 – Balancing Quiet Spaces with Social Living

The T2 provides the perfect balance within its considered energy-efficient T-shaped footprint.

At 126m2, the Ark T2 Design is all about balancing private time and socialisation. Offering two bedrooms, one which is a master suite with walk-in robes and ensuite, master bathroom, euro laundry, a retreat/study, open plan living, dining & kitchen with island bench.

View more about the T2 design

Sea
Ark S2.

The Ark S2 – Establishing strong Connections to Nature

The ‘H’ shape floor plan establishes strong connections through arms that reach out into the site offering the opportunity to visually & physically connect to its environment.

Additionally, this shape provides a clear separation of public and private spaces. With Private wings sitting at either end of the entrance to the home, this airlock is perfect for gathering and circulation throughout the house.

View the Ark S2 design.

City
Ark C2.

The Ark C2 – Considered Spaces for Connectivity

The Ark C2 captures with careful consideration all things essential to happiness and connectivity within the home.

Boasting a generous open-plan kitchen and living area, the design is excellent for social entertaining or anchoring inwards from a fast-paced world. The living area opens onto an optional expansive deck, which allows for a seamless connection to nature and outdoor barbeques with family and friends.

A well-designed master bedroom with ensuite. This format is so suitable for family city life. View the Ark C2 design details here.

Modular Homes are Flexible!

Flexibility is the true strength of modular designed homes. Every site presents its own unique challenges and opportunities.

Our custom designs can use an Arkular set design as a starting point, with your preferences as our inspiration. We tweak and tailor the design until it’s made to fit you, to the location, budget and lifestyle. For a home every bit as unique as you. This is your chance to create a space that’s only limited by your imagination. Designs can also be modified for tight and steeply sloping sites.

Have a project
in mind?

We’d love to help. Talk to us today for Free Advice.