Did you spot the joke? Builder/developer Ramo Pali of Pali Homes calls it “Fantastic!” The inspiration came to architect Chris Goss, Orbit Solutions coprincipal, while doodling on a flight from Sydney. “They wanted a townhouse so I thought I’d spell out the brief for them!”

Still puzzled? Look closely at the facade of this four-townhouse development in a South Melbourne heritage precinct. The Austral Bricks Terraçade terracotta facade system spells out the word HOUSE in two-storey high letters. Obvious isn’t it!

This site was effectively greenfield, having been the storeyard for a small, long-defunct factory. The high site coverage prompted the Orbit team to focus on the facade. “We only have one facade to deal with, so we said let’s do something really high quality,” Goss explains.

Terraçade’s genuine terracotta tiles also tied the new building to its neighbours, without being imitative. “We said to Ramo, this is what you need to sell this building,” says Orbit’s co-principal Darren Cole-Sinclair. “It will create the first impression for prospective buyers.”

Pali’s carpenter Ron Bryant and two assistants installed the facade. “Installation was a bit difficult for the first or second day,” says Pali. “But as soon as we learned the technique it was easy.” Design detailing was also straightforward. “The detailing provided by Austral Bricks makes it pretty easy,” Goss commends.

Two townhouses sold before completion and the others before auction. “I believe Terraçade is a good product, it’s not that expensive, and to achieve this writing is fantastic,” says Ramo Pali. “It’s a good contemporary response in a heritage environment,” concludes Chris Goss. “And it still puts a smile on my face!”