With five identical house floor plans for The Block in 2025, all teams needed to think creatively and differentiate their designs from each other to score big on auction day.
Early in the series, best mates Robby and Mat decided that their secret weapon could be an underground wine cellar. The boys worked with Block architect Julian Brenchley and builders Nine in Six to identify the best (and most cost-effective) way to build their cellar, with Nine In Six recommending the use of AFS Rediwall® for the formwork.
Initial costs to dig and construct the cellar were proving to be beyond the boys’ budget, but the AFS Rediwall® system was determined to be a more cost effective solution to traditional methods.
Robby and Mat were thrilled with the CSR solution, acknowledging that it made the difference as to whether they could afford their dream room.
“We were stoked and shocked,” said Robby. “We are 100 per cent doing a wine cellar now.”
“It’s a game changer.”
The efficiency of the Rediwall system means it can cut project timelines by several weeks, and its simplicity also reduces the need for specialised trades, resulting in reduced time on site, and the ability to have several different trades on site.
This is particularly important on a busy build site like The Block, where the Nine in Six team is still building the exterior at the same time as the contestants tackle a new interior every week.
Located under the timber deck at the rear of the house, Robby and Mat’s wine cellar was unveiled in week 10 – along with the alfresco area (located above the cellar) and Stratco shed.
It was an impressive and thoughtful design, making the most of the smooth surface provided by the rendered AFS Rediwall®.
The cellar included a rustic floor of caramel herringbone-style brick, adding to the underground feel. A wallpaper feature wall with wallpaper in tones of soft browns, designed by Robby, added a cosy feel to the room, which was also fitted out with a wine fridge and wall-to-ceiling wine storage. All joinery was custom-made for the space.
A handmade timber table with bar stools down the centre provided generous seating.
The three Block judges – Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox – agreed with the decision to build the cellar, with the boys recording a perfect score of 30 out of 30. This meant they won $40,000 for the week towards their build, which definitely justified their financial outlay.
And Robby and Mat couldn’t be happier with both the cellar and the win.
“This is wild,” said Mat. “Imagine sitting down here, with the table, having a drink, looking at all the beautiful wine…That is incredible.”
AFS Rediwall® is a versatile permanent formwork system for below and above ground wall applications. Its innovative and industry-leading system is made of prefabricated, high-quality panels and interconnecting components that simply snap or slide into place.