architecture + design
red blue
Why we believe in the Philosophy of Slow Space
The idea of Slow Space is derived from the Slow Food movement. Slow Food is based around fresh, local, seasonal produce, sustainable practices and leisurely dining with friends. It is not wholly anti-fast food; it seeks to encourage the enjoyment of regional produce, traditional foods - ‘enjoyment’ being the key word.
The Slow Food movement began in Italy in 1986 through Carl Honoré and led to the establishment of the Slow Movement, which seeks a cultural shift towards slowing down life’s pace.
Carl Honoré wrote, “It is a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. The Slow philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savouring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity in everything from work to food to parenting.”
Slow Space was started by an American architect, Mette Aamodt. The notion of Slow Space is focused on creating enduring and personal architecture.
Slow Space is about:
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designing your building to be a part of its environment, as opposed to designs that are created without a site,
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being focused on how you live or work within your building,
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listening to you about what you want from your building,
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allowing your space to be a haven away from the fast paced life we live,
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to design spaces that allow for ‘moments’, not just a cookie cutter approach to design,
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creating quality buildings that use sustainable materials and are sustainable by their nature,
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calm, careful, receptive, intuitive, quality over quantity, meaningful.
The qualities and the intent of the slow space movement represents who we are and what we want to provide. An architecture where your experiences are the focus. Every moment is precious and every memory is to be cherished.
The Importance of Site
There are a few items that drive an architectural outcome - the architects (obviously), the clients (that's you) and what it is you want and the site.
The importance of the site is often underestimated and yet it is often the element that has the greatest impact on the final design. This is the critical difference between a bespoke designed home and a project home. We have become conditioned into thinking that a pre-designed building is acceptable. Selecting the four bedrooms, media room, theatre space, triple garage option from the marketing brochure for your piece of land, is like selecting the meal for your anniversary dinner off the McDonald's website.
You will have taken a long time to decide on purchasing your site and there were important reasons why you selected it. Great architecture responds to the site by utilising the site's best attributes as well as protecting you from any of the site's detrimental aspects, such as privacy issues or noise.
We look to maximise how much natural light we can get into the house, catch the breezes and open up to views. At the same time we want to create privacy from neighbours, block out noise or protect you from bad weather.
Great architecture reacts and responds to the site in a way that project homes can't begin to imagine. The result for you are spaces that can be enjoyed year-round, spaces to relax in, spaces to entertain and spaces for you to grow into.
What Makes Us Special - We Understand You
Wendy and Craig Taylor started red blue architecture + design to explore design and creativity. They wanted to create beautiful spaces for their clients. As a husband and wife team they bring a unique approach. They understand your family and they understand how to create a home that is purpose built for your family. This uncommon work/life partnership brings you the benefit of being able to work with professionals, whilst being able to talk to us like family friends.
Their staff are carefully selected on their skill and personality. They enjoy working with like-minded people and Wendy and Craig are keen to help their staff grow and develop as they are constantly seeking improvement.
No one knows how you live like you do and no one can relate to your lifestyle the way that we do.
Craig Taylor
Director
Nominated Architect ARB 7413
Wendy Taylor
Director
B Arch (hons)
Elise Honeyman
Architect - Reg No 10155
M Arch (hons)
Teagan Crean
B Int Arch (hons)
Why Red Blue?
The red blue chair was designed by Gerrit Reitveld in 1917 and is known as one of the most recognisable pieces of the De Stijl art movement (1917-1931).
Artists most notably associated with De Stijl were Theo van Doesberg and Piet Mondrian.
De Stijl emerged largely in response to the horrors of World War I and the wish to remake society in its aftermath.
It embraced an abstract, pared-down aesthetic, partly a reaction against the decorative excesses of Art Deco. De Stijl's influence was perhaps felt most noticeably in the realm of architecture, helping give rise to the International Style of the 1920s and 1930s.
For us, it reflects a purity of thought and a focus of design from a period where its leaders believed that they were able to have a tangible influence on the lives of every person.
Composition II in Red, Blue and Yellow
Piet Mondrian 1930
