House of Leisure
INA COLLABORATION WITH NS BLUE SCOPE LYSAGHT AND SINGAPORE TA TL ER HOMES, ARCHITECTURAL INTERIOR DESIGNER MASHA KAYA OF SKETCH THE SPACE DESIGNS A DREAM VILLA THAT REINVENTS THE STEEL FIRM’S MOST ICONIC PRODUCTS
Corrugated steel roofs may look utilitarian but in Australia, they are an iconic element of the country’s architecture. The origins of this distinct look can be credited to John Lysaght, an Irishman who in 1857 saw the potential in corrugated iron sheeting and began exporting it to Australia. Its weatherproof and sturdy qualities quickly caught on and builders soon began using it widely in local homes and commerical buildings. Since then, NS Bluescope Lysaght has manufactured products that have quite literally shaped the nation from iconic corrugated roofs to large commercial and industrial projects; in Singapore, the firm has worked on iconic projects such as the Esplanade. Besides roofing, the brand’s steel coated products include walling, fences and structural formwork. With a resurgence in industrial-inspired design around the globe, Lysaght’s coated steel products have become ever more popular as designers and architects work to incorporate these metal panels to add a rugged edge to their projects. With such a wide range of Lysaght products to draw upon, we ask architectural interior designer Masha Kaya to design a glamorous home that showcases the modern appeal of the brand’s steel-coated products.
ROMAN ENCOUNTER
When Kaya, founder of boutique practice Sketch The Space, first saw the square-corrugated steel roofing and walling cladding by Lysaght, she drew an immediate connection with Roman architecture. “When I saw the Spandek material in the showroom, I thought it was a great idea to create ionic fluted columns from Roman architecture by using this Lysaght product on the walls and freestanding columns,” says the Russianborn British designer. “From there, I decided to combine Neo-classicism with an industrial touch, to make it look more contemporary and have more freedom in the design process.” Spandek is one the brand’s best-selling products—this squarecorrugated roof and wall cladding is durable and impact-resistant, ideal for both commercial and residential applications. It features bold ribs that add to its strength and durability, factors that Kaya decided to use to her advantage.
CINEMATIC INFLUENCE
In the entertainment room beside the indoor pool, Kaya created a crescentshaped sofa inspired by the seating sections of the Roman amphitheatre. The addition of plush cushions makes this space perfect for lounging while a movie is being screened. The library on the mezzanine above the cinema ingeniously leads to the pool slide, and features trapezoidal steel cladding Spandek panels along the protective railing. These panels are also used in the lighting pieces that resemble film reels while reflecting a soft glow in the entertainment area. The perimeter of the cinema is lined with fluted Roman columns designed with a contemporary twist. The columns have been created with vertical Spandek sheets in a Zincalume steel finish, to achieve a trompe-l’oeil effect. Kaya also created similar free-standing columns at the outdoor terrace with the same Lysaght Spandek roofing material, which are topped with Italian Carrara marble. The terrace is shaded with roofing in a Greek meander motif. “It creates an amazing shadow play on the floor while providing shade during the day,” she explains.
ROOFTOP LIVING
For al fresco-style dining, Kaya has designed a rooftop lounge complete with daybeds and grass lawns. The Neo-classical meander pattern lines the walls of the rooftop in a mosaic that uses three Lysaght components: Spandek sheets as well as Prestige Panel in glittering gold and Klip-lok (an interlocking roofing or walling panels with concealed fixing clips) in gracious grey. In keeping with the Neo-classical theme, Kaya incorporated pilasters along the perimeter of this space. These architectural elements give the appearance of a supporting column but have only a decorative function. Like the free-standing columns on the first floor, these are constructed out of Spandek; the roof of this abode was also designed with this material.
VILLA VIBE
The result is a villa with varied spaces for leisure and merrymaking, without compromising on the aesthetics. “I was absolutely stunned by the wide range of colours and textures to choose from, as well as the durability of the materials which allowed me to create a long-lasting design for the interior and exterior,” says Kaya. “I was very happy that I could experiment with materials beyond their usual purpose and combine them in eclectic ways—the corrugated steel panels can look cool and trendy so why not explore a familiar material but use them in a different way?”