Tasmanian Design at its Best
For a relatively small company, Mirowski Design and Construction has made its mark on Tasmania over the years since its establishment in 1986. Beth Koruna of AUBJ, sat down with Bob Mirowski to discuss his family run business and highlight some of his favourite projects.
Mirowski Design and Construction focuses on light commercial work and housing alterations and additions for clients throughout Tasmania. They have their own skilled design people, which allow them to carry their projects through from concept and design to construction. Mirowski states that he not only takes great pride in his company’s work, but also thoroughly enjoys the range of projects they take on. “We have completed projects on everything from funeral homes and crypts, to pharmacies, doctors surgeries, and a whiskey distillery, and from a design point of view, it is always quite interesting to do something new and different,” he comments.
A Project Worth Mentioning
In speaking with Mirowski, it is clear that he has great passion for his work. He elected to speak about a recent project that had its obstacles but came out strikingly for his client. Having already completed major renovations to this client’s house over six years, Mirowski was called back to create a carport for his client’s newly purchased Porsche. He decided to build the carport raised two metres above the ground attaching to the existing garage.
In the beginning, Mirowski states that there was about 10 months of work cutting through red tape before building even commenced. “We had to negotiate through all of the Council regulations as well as the Water Board because there are sewer lines running underneath the property,” he explains. In order to work around this issue, Mirowski designed the back of the carport so that it could be disassembled if the city needed to work on the sewers- a highly innovative solution.
The carport itself sits on columns and has an aesthetically pleasing shape. “When you are looking from inside the house we wanted the carport to blend in with its surroundings and float up in the air. So, we raised it on columns and tried to hide them,” explains Mirowski. The structure was built primarily of stainless steal because of its proximity to the waterfront. The shape of the carport was born out of the idea to make curved sides to accommodate for the large doors on the car. “I didn’t realise at the time that I was putting some stress on my tradespeople to carry out the design, but it lead to a beautiful outcome. It is like a sculpture,” he describes.
As the project drew to a close, Mirowski’s client decided he wanted a studio-like room in the space above the existing house. “So, we designed a loft in the roof, complete with rounded windows with panoramic views of the waterfront and the finishing line of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race,” explains Mirowski. In the end, his client was ecstatic with the result and spends much time in this space.
An Award Winning Business
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is a national organisation that runs state and national awards program for the housing industry. In 2012, Mirowski Design and Construction won four state awards including the “Renovation Addition Project of the Year”. The project that won them this award was for a client who bought a heritage-listed building that was a previous plumbers workshop close to the CBD of Hobart. The land with which Mirowski had to work was 165 square meters and the existing building was quite run down. It was a challenge that Mirowski met head on.
“We designed this apartment in such a way that we could get sun into the center of the building. The high buildings that surrounded it blocked sunshine for most of the day,” he says. Specifically, they created a light well to catch the morning sun through to about 3:00 pm that cascades through the top floor and into the living area below. The light well was also linked to the main bedroom, the corridor and the laundry room to create a bright and happy dwelling.
On top of the newly renovated interior, Mirowski provided his client with an outdoor space with a deck. They also gave the single car garage doors on either end so they could be opened to create an indoor-outdoor space for entertaining. “We aimed to make the space as attractive and functional for her as possible,” remarks Mirowski.
Another design by Mirowski, ‘Penguin Waterfront Escape’, won the builder an award for “Tasmanian Apartment Project of the Year” as well as “Luxury Accommodation” from the Cradle Coast Authority. “We worked closely with the Council and community for their approval,” Mirowski says. The two apartments are virtually on the beachfront in a magnificent location and have generated a high occupancy rate. Mirowski is gratified to have been an integral part of this build, even though his company was not the recipient of the awards.
Mirowski has been a member of the HIA in Tasmania since day one and has become a life member of the association. The Sir Philip Lynch Award is given in memory of a former Federal Government Minister who supported the HIA. It is a national award presented annually to the person who provides outstanding service to the housing industry. Mirowski was the recipient of this prestigious award from the HIA in 2011. He comments, “While we do not do our work to win awards, we are proud of the awards we have received and hope to continue to positively contribute to the design and construction industry.”
Earning their Business
To give his clients personalised service and attention, he works with a smaller group of professionals, including his wife Helen and son Alex.
Mirowski says that the design and construction industry has been relatively slow for many businesses recently. Even in slower times, Mirowski’s workload is gained mainly through the recommendations of satisfied clients. “Word of mouth is a very important part of the process as Tasmania has a relatively small population,” he remarks. Having completed projects across Tasmania and on the mainland, Mirowski has earned a solid reputation for his designs and construction in both the residential and light commercial sector.