Chimneys still have a place in new homes

Few things are more tempting than a roaring fireplace when the weather’s crisp, and this winter they did more than keep Sydneysiders warm.

Despite our coastal city’s relatively mild temperatures, people still desire the traditional feel of a fireplace. “A fireplace visually defines a room,” says Sam Elbanna of CPM Realty. “A hearth that complements the surrounding decor acts as a room’s focal point, making a statement of style within the home.”

The elaborate style of the Victorian era heralded the appearance of graceful, ornate chimneys in Australia, which today are still an important part of Sydney’s domestic architecture. They are often found in conservation areas as they contribute to the traditional qualities of a building and the character of a streetscape.

Fireplaces are still included in homes built from scratch these days, but the flue is more likely to be made of metal than brick. “It’s rare to see brick fireplaces in modern homes unless they’ve been renovated from an earlier period,” Elbanna says.

These brick fireplaces of yesteryear have re-emerged in Sydney’s South at a $40 million development in Brighton-Le-Sands. The recently launched ‘Brighton Village Terraces’ comprises 45 luxurious homes, offering a unique blend of the 19th and 21st Centuries.

The development combines the exquisite elements of Victorian Sydney with state-of-the-art creature comforts. Each of its terrace homes includes an energy efficient Aurora gas log fireplace with an ornate timber mantelpiece and a marble hearth. From the home’s exterior, an elegant, two-tone cream chimney is visible amidst a sharp, angular roof and wrought iron-style friezes and valances.

The 19th Century theme continues through the home’s interior with 2.7 metre-high ceilings, ornate cornices, solid timber doors and timber architraves. While maintaining the character of traditional terraces, the homes are kitted out with state-of-the-art creature comforts.

At the centre of the village, a Tudor-style clubhouse offers a unique communal meeting point for residents and guests with a traditional English bar and a fully equipped gymnasium on the mezzanine level. A large, gas log fireplace adjoins a beautiful masonry chimney which towers gracefully above the centre’s slanted roof.

“‘Brighton Village Terraces’ focuses on providing optimum levels of comfort, which is why each home has a fireplace,” Elbanna says.