populuxe

I met this really cool Australian surfer/design guy named Nick Morris. He is building a mid century modern style home based on the home in the movie The Incredibles. Nick's home should be completed by July 2007.

Top Nick's home
Bottom The Incredibles Home

Nick Morris was nice enough to answer a few questions for Retro Info

More photos and interview after the jump

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Please tell me a little about yourself, what do you do as Creative Director at Anyhow?

----- As creative director at Anyhow I own and run a graphic design and art studio. We mostly do graphics for apparel - T-shirt prints and yardage prints. Our client base includes Rip Curl, Mambo, Mossimo, Stussy just to name a few. Our art can be seen at www.anyhow.com.au . I have built my life around art/design and surfing as I fell in love with both at the age of 6 and made it my goal to live and work on the West Coast of Victoria in Australia. We live about one hour from Melbourne in a small coastal town called Torquay, which is the birth place of Quiksilver and Rip Curl. Which coincidentally makes it a good place to live as graphic designer.

How did you get into mid century modern design?

----- I got into mid century design, both by having holidays down the west coast which was heavily established during the mid century. The Australian fibro beach houses from the period are some of the best architecture in Australia in my mind. I also became quite passionate about it as we create many yardages as graphic designers and look to the past for inspiration. I love all the old wall paper designs, curtain yardages and furniture coverings.

Does your love for retro modern design appear in your work?

----- Yes it does come up in my work. I wish I had more opportunity to design more of it.

Examples of Nick's work.

Tell us about the house you are building.

----- The house we are building is very much inspired by the house of the Disney/Pixar animated film The Incredibles and mid century Australian beach houses. We have plenty of windows facing the north as it is in Australia, to get plenty of sunlight into the house. It is also open plan and designed around outdoor living. We love to put a shrimp on the BBQ.

Did you help design it?

----- I am pretty much the designer and then I have a drafts person draw the plans up properly.

Last home Nick designed.

Where is it located? What is the neighborhood like? Are there others like yours or it a one of a kind?

----- It is located backing onto a reserve/creek with ocean views. The immediate neighborhood is not too bad, but beyond our street things get overall, fairly ordinary. There are some other retro inspired houses in the street.

Any special features of the home? Eco-friendly materials?

----- All new houses in Australia must have a five star energy rating so there are definitely eco-friendly materials and glass used. We also have to have your own water tank due to the drought we are currently experiencing.

Please tell us more about the fibro beach houses that inspired the design of your home.

----- Fibro cement was one of the cheapest forms of clading for houses in the fifties and sixties. A lot of it was asbestos based so it is quite a job to renovate or demolish houses due to the health risk. Much of it was used on beach houses as a cheap way to build them.

Londale house

Even though we live on opposite sides of the globe, Nick and I have a lot in common. We both get our inspiration in our home and work life from retro modern design. And we both love to catch the waves!

For more info on Nick Morris
Nick Morris
Director
www.anyhow.com.au
www.nickmorris.com.au
Anyhow Pty Ltd
15 Colina Court
Torquay Victoria 3228 Australia
Telephone 03 5261 7177