Malouf Residence

In 1963, Nicolas Calile Malouf and his wife Edna Olga Malouf, purchased just over one rood of land on the Lamb Estate, Holland Park. As a member of the successful Brisbane retailing family, the Malouf’s, and youngest son of patriarch, Calile Malouf, Nicolas  made a name for himself in Brisbane’s business industry and was recorded in the 1968 Electoral Rolls as a company director. Prior to Nicolas and Edna Malouf moving to Holland Park, they resided at 9 Edmonstone Street, South Brisbane and during the 1950s at 34 Brisbane Street, Annerley. 

After purchasing the Holland Park property, Malouf acquired a building approval for a new dwelling in 1967. The new house was estimated to cost $60,000, a considerable amount of money for a house at the time. Malouf commissioned the architectural firm, Bligh Jessup Bretnall to design the new house. Architect, Graham Bligh, who had worked with the firm since the early 1960s, was responsible for the then, modern design.

Bligh had graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Queensland in 1957 and completed his training with respected firm, Conrad & Gargett before working in London for Fry & Drew. On returning to Brisbane, he secured a position in the practice of Bligh Jessup Bretnall in the early 1960s where he made significant contributions to Brisbane’s architecture throughout the second half of the twentieth century. In 2008 Bligh was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Queensland for his contributions to architecture. His work was described as:

sharp, functional, modern and deceptively simple with its minimalist and clean-edged structures and exciting usages of metal, a courageous departure from the brick-on-slab houses colonising Brisbane in the 1960s. He was committed to creating ecologically sustainable structures long before the concept was part of society’s everyday language … he was awarded Queensland Architect of the Year Award for 2002 from the Queensland Board of Architects1           

Amongst his work were architectural achievements such as World Expo ’88, Colonial and Australian Stadiums in Melbourne, Queensland Supreme Courts (now demolished), Brisbane International Airport and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. 

Bligh was one of a number of innovative architects designing modern buildings throughout the 1960s, including Hayes & Scott, Robin Gibson, Geoffrey Pie, John Dalton, Peter Heathwood and Graham de Gruchy. The Malouf house is a significant example of architect-designed residential architecture from the late 1960s in Brisbane. In Peta Dennis’ thesis, “Innovative Architecture for Living: Brisbane architect-designed houses of the 1960s”, the factors influencing the ‘modern’ architect-designed Brisbane house of the 1960s were outlined:

Factors such as general prosperity of the population, the popularity of indoor/outdoor living, and the increase in car ownership all helped shape the design of the house. New methods of using existing building materials and technology, like the use of the concrete slab-on-ground and the modular window system, changed the form and setting of the house to connect with, rather than rise above, the garden landscape.

These elements are all considered in the design of the Malouf house. 

In 1968 Nicolas and Edna Malouf were first recorded in the Electoral Rolls at the Berkeley Street address. One year later, the house was nominated by the Queensland Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects for the Bronze Medal Award. 

In 1974 the swimming pool was built and was recorded in the Brisbane City Council’s Building Cards as a ‘pleasure pool’. The house remained in the Malouf family until 2013.

The subject area of Holland Park mostly developed in the Postwar period onward and is demonstrated in a strong residential character which displays a mix of scales and styles with some later modern infill buildings. Berkeley Street contains single and two-storey dwellings with moderate street frontages and medium sized yards.

The house is located halfway along the south-east boundary with equal size front and back yards. The front yard contains a swimming pool and small lawn area, the backyard is mostly lawn. The site is enclosed by a rendered wall and stained timber batten pedestrian and driveway gates. A concrete driveway extends the length of the north-west boundary to the garage at the rear of the house.

The north-east elevation is almost entirely glazed. Half of the façade consists of aluminium framed glass sliding doors. The other half features a blonde brick planter bed with sliding windows above and fixed panel top-light windows between all roof beams. Sliding windows and fixed top-light windows are a common feature across the house.  

The north-west elevation consists of face brick walls with a timber front door at the centre. The rear of the house has face brick walls with casement windows at the upper level and garage doors at the lower level.

The south-west elevation has a large balcony with aluminium and glass balustrades. Face brick walls continue along this elevation with an extruded section containing the kitchen. Large sliding windows are either side of the extruded wall. 

The central courtyard of the house features planter beds and a water feature. All of the adjacent spaces in the house open to the courtyard through glass sliding doors or windows. 

The interior features timber floors throughout with tiled finishes in the bathrooms and courtyard. Simple stained timber skirting boards line the plasterboard walls. Stained timber chamferboard walls are found in the kitchen and the living room. All ceilings feature exposed timber beams. 

The house is largely in original form and changes have been limited to modernising or reinstating fixings and finishes. The changes have compliment the house’s contemporary high end design. Malouf’s house is in excellent condition.

1. University of Queensland, Citation, ‘Mr Graham Bligh’

2. Post Office Directories.

3. Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificate of Titles

4. Queensland Electoral Rolls

5. BCC building cards

6. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Maps

7. Dennis, Peta, Innovative Architecture for Living: Brisbane architect-designed houses of the 1960s, Queensland University of Technology, Thesis, 1999

8. Realestate.com.au, 35 Berkeley Street, https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-holland+park-124977358