ARCHITECT SWOOPS ON AWARD FOR BURLEIGH ALTERATION

COLETTE McCool likens her renovated Burleigh home to a “work of art” and architectural experts clearly agree after bestowing national kudos on the visionary who made it a reality.

Rising architect Matthew Eagle was acclaimed at the 2017 Houses Awards in Melbourne for his reimagining of the ‘Burleigh Street House’, with the property named the top ‘House Alteration and Addition over 200sq m’.

Eagle’s firm ME, which he founded in 2013, was also named Best Emerging Architecture Practice at the ceremony, which celebrates Australia’s best residential projects.

The awards add to a growing list of honours for the 33year-old who, according to judges, is “pushing boundaries and reconsidering the suburban status quo” of the city he’s called home since birth.

“Growing up here has heavily influenced my work,” said Eagle, who attended Bellevue Park State School and All Saints Anglican School and is an assistant professor at Bond University’s Abedian School of Architecture.

“I obviously have national and international influences but the humble, fibro, modest buildings that were built here in the 1950s and ’60s have really impacted me.”

The ‘Burleigh Street House’ saw the transformation of an existing singlestory bungalow via the addition of two new pavilions, with a main living space linking the three structures.

“It’s a beautiful home ,” Ms McCool said.

Picture: GLENN HAMPSON Architect Matthew Eagle has won a national award for his reimagining at this residential property at Burliegh Heads.