Distinctive Rooflines Become a Signature for Popular Designer

One of the most successful home designers on Sydney's Northern Beaches claims the curved steel roofs for which he has become well known are among the last things he considers when commencing a new design.

"I concentrate on a floor plan which works and then I consider the roof which will suit," Peter Downes said. "The only reason I can work that way is because of the design flexibility you have when you work with a lightweight steel roof. When you design a home for the Northern Beaches you are generally dealing with a topographically challenged site," he said. "You have restrictions such as building height, building envelope, overshadowing and view loss."

Peter Downes, whose first architectural endeavour was a major makeover of his own home, decided that the simple solution, a conventional flat or near flat roof, was not in keeping with his design ideas.

"Just a few subtle curves can make all the difference," he said. "You don't see straight lines in nature, so I was determined to go for organic shapes such as you can achieve with LYSAGHT CUSTOM BLUE ORB® cladding.

"Most times the radius which I specify for the curves is large enough for them to be created on-site as the material is fixed. Costs are contained but the results look outstanding."

There has been ample opportunity to prove the value of this approach. In just over 15 years Peter Downes Designs has completed more than 1,000 projects large and small for clients mainly in Sydney's north.

With 20 awards to his credit he is one of the most awarded building designers in New South Wales. He is also the president of the Sydney chapter of the Building Designers Association of New South Wales.

Peter Downes points to one house designed for a site with a 16 metre fall as an example of what can be achieved by using the flexibility of curved steel roofing.

"Basically the house zig-zagged down the block in three major elements between substantial trees," he said. "The LYSAGHT CUSTOM BLUE ORB® profile roof in each section went from convex to concave. You could not have done that in any other material."

He says the benefits of using curved steel roof cladding such as LYSAGHT CUSTOM BLUE ORB® are apparent even on sites where the conditions all but hide the roofline.

"Even when you know the roofline is not going to be a feature there are very good reasons for going with a curved CUSTOM BLUE ORB® roof," he said.

"The light weight of the cladding and the roof structure allows big open areas between supports and that gives the flexibility in floor plan options. You can also add a lot of interest to the interior of the home if the ceiling follows the curves of the roof. Architecturally you get the benefits of the roof geometry."

The signature curved roofline, often featuring LYSAGHT CUSTOM BLUE ORB® profile in COLORBOND® steel, can also be the key to other not so obvious benefits according to Peter Downes.

"It's one of the factors which makes for interesting design," he said. "Over the years I've found that the good builders are the ones who like a challenge and don't just want to erect conventional project style homes. Sometimes clients will have their own builders, but I generally find that the best work comes from tradespeople who are enthusiastic about what they are doing."

Peter Downes is encouraged by emerging trends in residential architecture. He says Australia has developed its own architectural style designed for our climate and our lifestyle, using our building materials.

"I can't think of a better example of that trend than the increasing use of corrugated steel cladding such as the LYSAGHT CUSTOM BLUE ORB® profile," he says. "It is absolutely iconic."