Bound by North Queensland’s natural marshland and the high water mark of the Fraser Coast, this beach house was designed as a holiday retreat for a Brisbane family with grown up children.

There was a desire to divide the home into two distinct areas. The ground floor acts as a teenage retreat with a robust, hose-out feel. The third story lookout hosts the master bedroom with 360 degree panoramic views of the ocean to the east and marshland to the west. The middle story brings these two distinct areas together as a communal gathering space with a refined finish. The living area has the ability to completely open up to the deck. The perimeter of this decked space can be screened off from the elements in order to provide an additional 80m2 of open plan living and entertainment space. Because the vertical connection between the spaces was so important, a feature was made of the staircase, which not only screens the western sun but also creates a light void, providing penetrating northern light into the home. While the house is inevitably oriented toward the remarkable views over Harvey Bay and beyond, the premise to achieve northern light and passive design principles still remains integral to the design.

Location: Woodgate Beach, QLD

Completed: 2011

Builder: Wagner Constructions

Photographer: Owen McGoldrick Photography