KEW RESIDENCE

This is the third refurbishment of my family home over twenty-five years of ownership, corresponding with the ebbs and flows of life. The opportunity was to design spaces for socialising and for retreat; to tailor spaces for specific objects of importance, beauty and meaning. My study features a corner window arrangement and is a direct reference to a composition of the window seat in the living room of the Fisher House in Pennsylvania by Louis Kahn, a favourite of mine since student days.

There are tiles throughout the house – in the kitchen, living room hearth, two bathrooms, and powder room. I am always looking out for beautiful, original shapes, colours and textures. The tiles we used in our house were all quite varied and each bought a different character to each of the spaces, from earthy to very refined finishes they are used to highlight and contrast features. This time, I made original tiles with Tajimi Custom Tiles for the kitchen and powder room.

"This tile was chosen for its shape, colour and finish. The concave shape of the tiles and the textural finish add depth and interest to the walls. Can you explain your thoughts and ideas that led to this particular tile design? In the kitchen I used simple but beautiful materials – timber, stone and ceramic tiles. The quiet colour selection though the kitchen allows the focus to be on the qualities inherent in each of these materials. We pay attention to the size, shape and finish of each, and appreciate the way they individually bring the space together as a whole."

"The tile used in the powder room has a very striking and original texture. Each tile is individual. The shape intrigued me, and the variant shades of green were also an important feature. I used this tile because the combination of effects in this space were very pleasing to me. Can you explain your thoughts and ideas that led to this particular tile design? Part of the refurbishment included the addition of a new powder room on the ground level. It features an exceptional tile that has been resurrected from a rare sample I was shown this particular sample by an acquaintance during a visit to one of the Tajimi factories. Each tile displays irregularities and unique qualities of the process of making, the handmade glaze further highlights many of these peculiarities. The quality of light changes the colour and shades of the tiles. Please tell us about the design concept for the tiles you used. In a small space I was interested in creating a feeling of immersion and calm. This tile embodies the feeling of the outdoors which is a clean, fresh and peaceful place for me, almost like a bamboo forest centered within the house."

Each custom-made tile has its own unusual character, being able to see the evidence of the maker in the tile is fascinating to me – the scoring process and the application of glaze is different in each tile. I consider it a piece of art.

Learning the craft of making tile, its uses, As an architect I am fascinated with the handmade and the traditions that go along with making of these things. I am particularly attracted to ceramics in all forms as they can show moments in time, various technologies and exhibit the cultural practices of their era.

We use tiles extensively in our projects at John Wardle Architects. One specific project comes to mind which is the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne where we embedded hand-made ceramic tiles into the pre-cast concrete façade, in a pattern evocative of musical notation. The idea was to make this large public building more meaningful by using a small handmade tile. Their scale is something others can connect too.

What attracts me to these Tajimi tiles are their individuality. I love being able to see the work of the maker in each tile, and that no two are the same.