Director
Timeless design is like a classic melody – it never fades. It remains relevant, adaptable, and consistently appealing, much like the enduring charm of Queenslander homes and mid-century gems that have weathered changing trends with grace.
Coming from an architect firm, we may be leaning into this topic with a certain level of bias here, so let’s just put our cards on the table right now. In our business we love timelessness and it’s something that we strive for in all our designs. And why is that? Well, that’s an easy one – for us timelessness actually goes hand-in-hand with sensibility and practicality. In a way, what makes something timeless is its ability to deliver on its functional needs and serve its purpose in a practical and pleasant manner over time. If a home continues to do this (or remains flexible enough to adapt with the times) then it will continue to stay purposeful and relevant.
To put some context around this, let’s consider all the home styles here in Queensland (just for example) that continue to remain timeless throughout the years. The three main house styles that have stayed strong through the years and attracted top dollar sales figures would arguably be the classic Queenslander, the postwar ‘worker’s cottage’ and the typically mid-century styled home. There are of course some elaborate examples in each of these categories, however for the most part these homes are typically humble in stature and quite basic in their form.es that elevate living spaces within budgetary and siting constraints.
One other defining feature of these homes is the fact that they were built to function in a practical manner and prioritized flow and practical purpose over trying to be something special. Even their external forms are quite basic as they are inherently designed to enhance buildability. For the most part these homes are not much more than simple boxes with pitched roof forms that serve a practical purpose in shedding water away from the home. Another thing that makes these homes desirable is their relative ease to modify and extend upon. Being lightweight in structure, they can be moved on a site, lifted, shifted, extended and rearranged much more easily than some other building types.
Overall, these homes appeal to the masses because they were inherently made ‘for’ the masses. In a way it is this sense of ‘attainability’ that allows these homes to be accepted and ‘welcomed’ by many, while maintaining their level of charm as time passes by. In addition to being practical though, these homes are also cost-effective. Being basic in form and materiality, they are generally cheaper to build. On the flipside, their appeal also means that they will always maintain good results when it comes to resale.
Not all homes exude these timeless traits, however. In today’s world we find ourselves holding on to the concept of timelessness when current trends and modern fashions seem to strive toward the very opposite. The Architectural trends of today are heavily focused on interior design, building finishes, complex shapes and ‘wow’ factors such as oversized robes and luxurious over-the-top master suites and ensuites. It seems to be the ever-growing “Butler’s Pantry” syndrome where excess and ‘showmanship’ are out-staging practicality and sensibility in home design. Homes that strive for the ‘wow’ factor are more often than not enslaved to current design trends. Their ‘relevance’ in years to come would have to be questionable as tastes change and ‘fads’ come and go. We may even look back in the future and wonder why we built a separate kitchen for our ‘butler’ when we can’t even afford the cost of childcare on a dual income.
As time continues to push forward, there seems to be a growing need to re-embrace the concepts at the foundational core of ‘timelessness’ in project design. This does not mean replicating old Queenslanders, but instead understanding the principles that made these homes so iconic and focusing on the creation of simple, purposeful and pleasant homes that will serve the functional needs of their occupants for generations to come.