The pandemic has created some left-field, wacky and wonderful house addition requests

The pandemic has changed the wants of homeowners who are converting their houses into lifestyle retreats with gyms, virtual training rooms and day spas. SEE THE INCREDIBLE PICTURES

A render of a golf driving range simulator, alongside a wine cellar, is being installed in a house in Red Hill. Picture: Shaun Lockyer Architects

An underground tunnel connecting neighbouring houses, a glass-walled garage to display a prized-car collection and a virtual golf driving range are some of the left-field architectural design requests in a ‘post-Covid’ world.

Lockdowns and movement restrictions have meant homeowners are now wanting retreats and not just a place to sleep and eat, says high-end architect Joe Adsett.

Bowling alleys are still in, but exceptionally rare, and home cinemas are so yesterday while living rooftop garden entertainment areas on the rise, he said.

A massive glass ‘wall’ provides optimum viewing of a prized vehicle collection at a house on the Gold Coast. The vehicles can be seen from a private bar and the outdoor pool area. Picture: Joe Adsett Architects

“There is a real emphasis on lifestyle and creating that lifestyle within one‘s home,” Mr Adsett said.

“The investment in lifestyle has been brought on by having their liberties taken away and they don't want that to happen again.”

One of Mr Adsett’s latest designs in New Farm includes a 125sq m basement gym with a sauna, spa, pilates studio and a workout room with multiple gym machines and weights rack.

Under construction on the Gold Coast, is a house with a glass ‘wall’ to allow a prized-car collection to be viewed by guests in a private bar and pool area.

A render of a golf driving range simulator with seats and a wine cellar being installed in a house in Red Hill. Picture: Shaun Lockyer Architects

“We call it nesting, with people moving to larger houses and setting it up so they can stay home and do everything and it’s because of the pandemic,” Mr Adsett said.

“We had one request where two mates, who lived next door to each, wanting a secret tunnel that connected up to a man cave so they could meet up in secret.

“We had another client who wanted a man cave under the house but he did not want it included in the drawings but they never got built.”

The cost of adding a purpose-built gym, depending on its size and location, can be costly, said Rob Gray from designers Graya.

Renders of a purpose-built gum and sauna have cost about $200,000 to integrate into a new build at Hamilton. Picture: Graya Constructions

Graya has designed a superb all-in-one basement, catering for half a dozen cars, a large gym and a sauna in Hamilton that is also under construction.

“We are customising gyms in homes that don’t have a multipurpose use,” Mr Gray said.

“Just to fit the gym (in Hamilton) would cost about $30,000 for equipment and for this house, it‘s cut into the side or a hill, and could easily add $200,000 for the structure.“

Also in vogue are car turntables, that cost upwards of $30,000, for problematic homes on busy roads or on smaller blocks where turning circles are extremely limited, he said.

A photo of a finished wine cellar and games room in a house at Noosa Heads, part of the growing post-Covid trend to make homes self-contained retreats. Picture: Shaun Lockyer Architects

Multi-purpose rooms have been replaced with virtual-games areas while Shaun Lockyer, from Shaun Lockyer Architects, said golf simulators are growing in popularity and expansive gyms to cater for one-on-one training sessions.

“The substantial gyms have space for pilates, stretching areas, spas with steam rooms, infra-red saunas and massage areas,” Mr Lockyer said.

A living rooftop garden, which is also a place to relax and overlook the ocean, at Sunshine Beach. Picture: Shaun Lockyer Architects

“We are doing are golf simulators and indoor driving ranges with seating, so it’s a decent-sized room to allow a golf club to be swung unrestrained and space for people to gather around for a virtual game of golf.”

And what’s happening in the home is being duplicated in residential towers around southeast Queensland said Nicholas Stevenson, director of design at Urbis.

The selling point for new residential towers has moved on from rooftop entertainment areas and pools to day spas with ‘recovery’ rooms.

A day spa for a residential tower in First Ave, Broadbeach shows how much detail developers are paying to the post-Covid world demands of residents. Picture: Urbis

“There is a strong focus, post-Covid, on health and well being with a move towards magnesium pools for recovery which includes ice baths, hot baths and saunas,” Mr Stevenson said.

“Its also now co-working spaces, meeting spaces, library and the list goes on with developers raising the bar and it’s no longer just about a rooftop.”