Architectural design at home in natural surroundings

This architecturally designed home for a retired couple is infused with love and a respect for the natural environment. Architect Tim Stewart has designed a house for his parents that is easy to live in and that reflects its lovely surroundings.

For Tim Stewart of BASE Architecture, this residential project - on a beautiful block at Peachester in the Sunshine Coast hinterland - was something of a labour of love, given that the clients were his parents.

"This was a chance to develop a project for my parents, Wayne and Marie, that would give them pleasure in their retirement," he says. "It was important that their new home was built with care and attention to their needs and to the site that they love."

Tim had a distinct advantage with the project, with his in-depth knowledge of the site. "It was a site very close to my heart, having spent my childhood growing up there," he says. "And I knew that as a family member I would always have their best interests at heart in the architectural design of the home."

It was essential to Tim and his parents that the new house put the environment first. Maintaining the site's integrity was a challenge for the architect, who found a solution by building the home around the perimeter of a naturally occurring courtyard space surrounded by trees.

"The outcome was a heightened experience of the natural courtyard, with the garden the focus of the resulting space and the 'arrival statement' to the home," Tim explains. "The house becomes the backdrop to the natural environment."

Wayne's desire to use timber from the site in the home's design has been fulfilled to stunning effect. The beautiful blackbutt floorboards, hardwood staircase and window framing of the large glass panels in the main living area all use timber milled from the trees on the property.

The entry procession to the house is Tim's favourite aspect of the architectural house design. It starts with a view of one of the house's towers from the end of the driveway, then one moves through the courtyard and garden, across a bridge over a pond and onto the deck.

The entry itself is through a sliding glass door/wall, which also opens the kitchen and dining areas directly onto the deck. "This makes the house instantly welcoming and open," says Tim. And the perfect relaxing environment for his parent's retirement years.

Tim Stewart, from BASE Architecture

What were you trying to achieve with this architectural design?

An environmentally conscious home which harmoniously reflected its site and location and that would be an easy house to live in. I wanted to provide a seamless integration between the necessities of living and enjoyment of the landscape, gardens and climate.

What were some of the challenges you encountered during the design process?

The greatest challenge was maintaining the quality of the site itself. We resolved this by building the home around the perimeter of the naturally occurring courtyard space created by the vast trees around a natural clearing.

Which part of the design do you think works particularly well?

The entry procession. The two-storey part of the house is visible from well down the long driveway; then you arrive in the courtyard space, which leads through a garden and across a large water feature on to a deck. The actual entry to the house is through a sliding glass wall that opens the kitchen and dining space directly onto the deck.

Is there anything you would have done differently in retrospect?

A successful design always offers something unexpected and better than even the most optimistic of designers and clients could have imagined. This home does just that, and so to suggest that any part of the home be done differently would be to risk those unexpected pleasures that the home brings.

Wayne, the homeowner

What was your vision for this house?

A retirement home with character and one that would fit into the environment and take advantage of the site, while staying within our budget.

Did you have much input into the design?

Apart from the overall vision of the house and the desire to incorporate timber from the site, almost everything else was left to the architect.

Which aspects of the new house do you love, and why?

The overall appearance of the architectural design suits the surroundings. The entrance via a bridge over a large pond adds interest and gives the house a restful quality. The extensive glass areas in the main room are framed by beautiful timber and give excellent views when closed; they then open wide onto outdoor areas to enhance our lifestyle year round.