Vegetation Cocoons This Tranquil Beach House in Australia

Surrounded by verdant trees and shrubs, a family home settles gently into its natural environment.

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In the coastal town of Peregian Beach in Queensland, Australia, sits the Spoonbill House. At first glance, all you might see is a dune: the walkway to the front entry is not unlike a boardwalk, with wooden planks leading through a sandy landscape and between Moreton Bay ash trees and Banksias. Only a timber carport suggests the existence of this family home, which is situated gracefully within the existing topography of the surrounding area.

Working with nature, not against it, is what makes the design work. When the residents reached out to Bark Design Architects to craft their home, their request was both on the surface simple, but much more complex to actually achieve: a house that "feels good."

Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones

The house sits further back on the lot, which gives the impression of descending into the living space. The siting of the house in this way also had an ecological component: significant trees on the lot were mapped and carefully avoided in the floor plan.

A densely vegetated entry courtyard leads to the residential space: two wings gathered around a central room that acts as the heart of the home, perfect for dining, gathering, playing, and relaxing. The materials used throughout the residence evoke the natural elements of the site. Polycarbonate sheet, glass, and polished concrete bring beach sand to mind, which is balanced by the earthy patina of recycled Spotted Gum that makes up the framing, flooring, and screens. The result is a serene family home filled with rich natural character and a reverence for its surroundings.

Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones

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Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones

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Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones

Spoonbill House View of Entry

Photo: Bark Design Architects

Spoonbill House Ground Floor Plan

Photo: Bark Design Architects

Spoonbill House First Floor Plan

Photo: Bark Design Architects

A Sunken Courtyard Anchors This Concrete Home to Its Steep Waterfront Site

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Bark Design Architects / @barkarchitects

Building Contractor: Ken Veitch