What Exactly Is Character Overlay?
You may have heard of Heritage Listed homes, but have you heard of Character Overlay?
Photo Credit: Adore Home
Did you know about Character Overlay?
Within Brisbane’s dynamic urban environment is a commitment to maintaining the city’s valuable architectural heritage. Implemented by the Brisbane City Council, the Traditional Building Character Overlay, is a regulatory framework introduced to protect the unique historical character of Brisbane’s residential neighbourhoods. Follow along as we delve into what character overlay is, the types of overlay and the implications it may have on your home.
What is Character Overlay?
Unlike heritage listings, character overlay is placed across certain suburbs/areas and refers to the house’s streetscape aesthetic and appeal. Character overlay is designed to protect identified areas of architectural merit or historical significance. The Traditional Building Character Overlay commonly includes houses constructed on or before 1946. These homes collectively contribute to Brisbane’s unique suburb streetscapes and character.
This overlay provides assurance that all developments within these areas honour and maintain the aesthetic and cultural significance of the existing buildings.
Purpose & Objectives of the Character Overlay
The Traditional Building Character Overlay was developed with the input of more than 100,00 residents across every suburb in Brisbane. The input of these residents’ helped to develop design principles and an extensive guide in regards to protecting traditional home design in Brisbane.
The objectives of the Character Overlay is to:
Preserve Architectural Heritage: The overlay helps to ensure that renovations, extensions, and new constructions blend seamlessly with the established architectural styles, by upholding visual consistency and heritage.
Provide Guidance to Property Owners: The overlay provides clear guidelines for property owners wanting to undertake building work, helping them understand their obligations and the standards required to protect Brisbane’s heritage.
Encourage Thoughtful Urban Development: By having regulations for development in set areas, the overlay encourages sensitive urban planning decisions that respects Brisbane’s historical context.
Types of Character Overlay & Building Restrictions
There are two main types of overlays in Brisbane:
Traditional Building Character Overlay:
Purpose: This overlay helps to maintain character in streets where houses were built in or before 1946. Examples of these include traditional Queenslanders and Masonry Art Deco buildings.
Building Rules: Houses built in or before 1946, are to be retained and any alterations or extensions are to complement the traditional building style.
Pre-1911 Building Overlay:
Purpose: This overlay is in place to retain the character of houses built before 1911. In specific cases, a Pre-1911 home may be relocated to another suitable location.
Building Rules: Houses built before 1911, are to be retained and any extensions should not alter the original parts of the house. If a Pre-1911 home is located in a zone that is not intended for houses, for instance a high density residential zone or an industrial zone. Then the home may be relocated to another house lot that it within the Traditional Building Character Overlay.
What this means for your home?
If your home has a Character Overlay, knocking down or building new is not an option. Instead. specialised renovations and extensions are require, that align with the heritage guidelines and the style of your current home. We understand the importance of updating your home and ensuring it meets your need for the here and now.
Working in collaboration with a variety of experienced and reliable architects and building designers, we can facilitate you through the process of navigating council regulations, help you find a design team suitable for your property’s needs, and advise you on what’s feasible from a construction point of view.
We know that Character Overlay, can be difficult to navigate. We love helping to improve functionality and meet the personalised needs of our client’s, while seamlessly aligning with the heritage and character of their existing homes.
Download Brisbane City Councils’s Traditional Housing, Alterations and Extensions Design Guide below.
This guide provides more detailed information about knowing the era of your home, and specific design outcome and principles relevant to the Traditional Housing Overlay.
