It isn’t often that a single house showcases the opportunity & versatility of recycled Australian hardwood as well as this recent Canberra home designed by Ben Walker Architects. 

Architect - Ben Walker Architects

Builder - Ewer Constructions

From the re-milling of old timber saved from the original house demolition, to the design and construction of custom joinery and furniture pieces we were delighted to be able to help out with this great project!

While it’s not uncommon for old Canberra homes to be built out of mixed hardwood species, what was unusual in this project was the particular mix that was salvaged from this Canberra home—with significant quantities of high quality ash, spotted gum and ironbark.

For us this project is a particularly good example of respect being shown by a project team (homeowner, architect and builder) for the wealth of value that so often resides within the walls and structure of our old homes and is a stunning example of the many ways that new life can be given to old wood.

Timbers from the original house were carefully disassembled with timbers being removed, detailed, stacked, measured, counted and sorted on site by the team at Ewer Constructions (some of the timbers pictured below) before being delivered to our workshop.

Back in our workshop we sorted the timber into species and sizes. The timbers must have originally come up from a coastal sawmill, as there was a high proportion of durable spotted gum and ironbark.

Ben Walker Architects, the homeowner and our designer David Scerri were able to work together to specify the durable timbers for some of the stock to make the external cladding, decking and screens, and use some of the less externally durable ash and the special pieces of beautifully grained spotted gum for furniture pieces for the new home.

EXTERNAL TIMBER BATTEN SCREENS MADE USING IRONBARK SALVAGED FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE PREVIOUS HOME.

The external batten screening is a striking feature of the house. It runs right across the front of the building, and can be opened up to let breezes and sunlight into the front garden, or closed to create a more private space.

SHIPLAP EXTERNAL CLADDING & DECKING INCORPORATING IRONBARK SALVAGED FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE PREVIOUS HOME.

The timber joists and bearers were cut down and re-milled as cladding to help make up the exterior cladding.

TIMBER SPECIES Ironbark / Dense Reds

SOURCED FROM On-site demolition & Sydney house demolitions

FINISH Clean dressed

Head to the cladding page to learn more about our available recycled products - or click the button to enquire now.

RECYCLED IRONBARK DECKING

We were happy to be able to supply more recycled ironbark for the decking.

CUSTOM JOINERY - BED MADE OF AUSTRALIAN ASH SALVAGED FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE PREVIOUS HOME.

A quantity of quality ash saved in the demolition was used to create this custom bed.

TIMBER SPECIES Recycled Canberra Local Ash

SOURCED FROM On-site demolition

Head to the furniture page to learn more about the available timber species & finishes - or click the button to enquire now.

CUSTOM DINING TABLE CONSTRUCTED OF SPOTTED GUM SALVAGED FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE PREVIOUS HOME.

There was also just enough spotted gum salvaged for us to make this custom feature dining table.

TIMBER SPECIES Recycled Spotted Gum

SOURCED FROM On-site demolition

Head to the tables page to learn more about the available timber species & finishes - or click the button to enquire now.

We enjoy projects like this — where we can help a client and design team complete the cycle of timber reuse, help to give new life to old timber and help do our part in creating homes and one-of-a-kind furniture and joinery pieces that will be valued for years to come.

If you would like to learn more about this project you can visit Ben Walker Architect’s project page here.

Photography Rohan Thomson

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