Scott Cam

The bloke responsible for carpentry on shows like Channel Nine’s Renovation Rescue, Scott Cam abides by the old, working class maxim: ‘work hard, play hard.’ He spends his days on site working up a hard-earned thirst. By the time four o’ clock rolls around he’s ready to retire to the traditional Aussie pub he has recreated in his back shed where the VB is flowing.

Taking a break from constructing the family home in Sydney’s southeast, Scott sits down with Archicentre architect Justin Quinlan to discuss renovating his holiday house in the town of Mudgee in country New South Wales. “It’s a great little country set-up, but it’s an old fibro shack and it’s falling down,” he says. Scott dreams of a new house he respects as much as the outdoor entertainment area he has there that has made the Cams’  the toast of the neighbourhood.

Justin gets a fright when he sees Scott has stuffed his beloved black and tan Kelpie and it’s sitting on the floor eyeing him with it’s tongue hanging out. “That’s my old dog, Lizzee, she was a terrific mate.”

“Yikes,” Justin says.

The Cams’ cottage occupies a flat ridge halfway up the surrounding mountains. Beyond the fence-line is a thirty foot drop to a river snaking below. Between the fence and the house, Scott has created a deluxe, ninety square metre deck and dining area with a bar, an external fireplace made of 600 bricks and a barbeque pit that Scott likes to ‘swing the big pots in.’

“I built massive tools to go with this BBQ and they’re called Scotty’s Big Barbie Tools,” he says. “I’ve even engraved them on the side of the handles, so I’ve got to find a big pole like that (arms outstretched) with a spatula about that big so I can turn five steaks at a time and be able to stand way back because the fire is so hot.”

Scott tells Justin he needs a bunkroom for the kids (Scott and his wife Ann have three children, Charlie, 11 and twins Sarah and Bill, 8) plus a wing for the oldies and a master bedroom with mountain views.

“I’m thinking a series of pavilion houses with integrated courtyards quite separate from the house, but interconnected, so we can get 360 views from all areas of the house,” says Justin.

“I really love the idea of separate pavilions for shower and toilet when you’re out in the bush,” replies Scott.

“It’s like how the Balinese do it, adds Justin, “where the shower is in an external courtyard that has bush in it, then there’s a privacy wall beyond that.”

 “It has to be inside though because it’s freezing in winter, mate and Ann my wife would never have that!”

“No that’s alright but it could be a scenario where there’s a glass side to the shower looking into a private courtyard outside the house, with lots of sun and light coming in.”

“Hmm, that does sound great.”

“Should we create a guest wing, it is your dream home after all?” Justin asks.

“Do you want a separate TV room and lounge?” asks Justin.
“No and I’ll tell you why. Up there the kids play and they’re buggered by about 6.30. Normally there’s about eight or nine of them up there and they all swag out in the main lounge or out on the deck. We put a DVD on about 7pm and they’re all asleep ten minutes into it.”

“At the moment I’ve got a big fireplace and on the mantelpiece I got an old clock that dongs, I love it. And I got a big murray cod head hanging on the wall, it’s a stuffed one, and a set of antlers that my cousin bought me twenty years ago, and at an auction I bought a bloody cobra and a mongoose fighting, so 1-2-3 with the antlers in the middle and the clock, took a photo of it and I said to Ann that’s our coat of arms. I’m going to try and get that done with a bit of Latin underneath.”

“They’ve got a great word for labour, which is laboriose,” says Justin.

“Oh yeah?” says Scott, thinking aloud, “more labour equals excellence.”

Well inspired, Justin went away to work on his Archicentre Design Concept. A few weeks later, he presented his solution.

“We’ve used a simple Palladian system, all rooms and living spaces are based on the deck’s measurements and placed in accordance with Japanese Tatami mat layouts. Tatami mats, both in full size and half size, have a set layout configuration to ensure good luck.”

“With that strategy in mind, the design for the Cam residence evolved into a series of separate wings connected by external walkways that surround the existing deck.” 

“Other key factors were maximising northern exposure while providing accessibility to the surrounding views.”

“We designed the living area beneath a huge sloping roof that can be opened along the northern and southern facades but still be able to retain a formal hearth reminiscent of the original dwelling. Meanwhile the bathrooms are heavily influenced by the indoor outdoor pavilion architecture of the tropics, with private out door courtyards and bi-fold glazing.”

“The building materials have been assigned to each of the building wings based on function – a mixture of local stone and prefabricated glazing for the living wing, local timber for the master wing, and a basic render for the more utilitarian functions.”

“Most importantly the new spaces are sympathetic to the existing deck, external fireplace and BBQ – keeping with the client’s desire to use them as the focal point for the new dwelling.”

Story – Shane Moritz