REVELATIONS

H&G BEST OF THE BEST
FREE!
2014
H&G LITTLE
BLACK BOOK
See page 93
for details.
IN GOOD HANDS
Great tradespeople do more than simply work on your home; they’re
delivering your dream. To celebrate the release of the 2014 Australian
House & Garden Little Black Book we profile four of Australia’s finest.
GIUSEPPE ALVARO, THE BUILDER
Few things are as satisfying as standing
in front of a house you’ve been involved in
building, says Giuseppe Alvaro (pictured
opposite). “There is such a tangibility to
it. First there’s the thrill of working out
how you’re going to approach the task
and then, when it’s done, being able to
stand back and look at it with pride.”
Pride comes with the territory for
Giuseppe who, as construction manager
for Alvaro Bros, regularly works on some
of Sydney’s most challenging and exciting
architectural builds. This year, Alvaro
Bros was named national winner of the
Renovation/Addition Project of the
Year in the HIA-CSR Australian
Housing Awards.
“For that particular job we retained
the 100-year-old structure of the home
and its traditional detailing, but added
a contemporary wing that was all sharp
shadowlines and steel windows. The guys
really got to showcase the breadth of their
talents. Any win like that is recognition of
the whole team’s work,” he says.
Giuseppe’s father Domenico
established Alvaro Bros after immigrating
to Australia from Italy in the late 1960s.
As a child, Giuseppe would spend part
of his school holidays on building sites.
“From the age of about nine I knew I
wanted to work in construction,” he says.
“I’ve always loved it. It’s in my blood.”
After finishing school, he obtained a
degree in construction management from
UTS, working on job sites at every
opportunity. Today, aged 35, Giuseppe is
relishing being able to develop the family
business alongside his sister Antonia,
who brings engineering and commerce
experience to the table.
The way things are done in the building
industry is changing rapidly, says
Giuseppe, and that’s not a bad thing.
“We’re involved from the beginning of
the process these days. Architects
appreciate our input on constructability
during the design stage, which helps
smooth the process later.”
A builder needs to be organised, have a
clear picture of what the job involves and,
of course, be personable. “It’s important
to communicate well with homeowners,
labourers, suppliers and architects – and
that might involve approaching each one
differently,” he says.
Another vital quality a builder requires
is patience, says Giuseppe. “People want
everything to be done quickly but I’m
more interested in things being done
efficiently. Sometimes you need to hold
back the river of people who are rushing
you. Things have to be done in the right
sequence for the perfect result.”
Australian homeowners are fortunate
because we have the best construction
standards in the world, he says. “We also
have the world’s best tradespeople,
there’s no doubt about that.”
Alvaro Bros; (02) 9763 1627 or
www.alvarobros.com.au.
CHRIS JARVIS, THE PLUMBER
Chris Jarvis (pictured overleaf) bought
his first home in the UK at the age of 18
and, with little money left to improve it,
decided to roll up his sleeves and do the
work himself. It was then he discovered
a passion for renovating that would lead
him to pursue plumbing as a career.
“I’ve always been good with my hands
so when the opportunity for a plumbing
apprenticeship came up, I took it,” he
says. Fast forward 30 or so years and the
master plumber, 54, is now at the top
his game, running an award-winning
plumbing and bathroom renovation
business in Queensland.
For Chris, 2013 was a particularly
rewarding year; he won two coveted
industry awards. The first was the Master
Plumbers’ Association of Queensland
Domestic and Residential Technical
Award for a contemporary bathroom
renovation in a Brisbane apartment that
was packed with water- and energysaving
ideas, stylish touches and, says
Chris, “all sorts of clever technical stuff
that was hidden away”.
This was closely followed by the
Brisbane HIA Winning Appliances
Kitchen, Bathroom and Design Award for
an innovative update of a dated suburban
bathroom. “The clients weren’t keen on
traditional tiles, so we opted for a stone
shower base and timber-look tiles,” he
says. While winning awards is gratifying,
Chris says the real satisfaction comes >
Text by Sarah Pickette. Photograph by John Paul Urizar.
88 Australian House & Garden