Quandamooka People
Queensland
Brisbane
Timbin House, located on North Stradbroke Island, addresses the clients’ desires for an experience of “camping amongst the trees, but without the tent”. The holiday home, shared between three families, is thoughtfully woven between existing brushbox trees on the site, prioritising a connection to the extensive vegetation over ocean views.
A detailed survey of the site’s existing trees informed the plan of the house which was manipulated to retain as many of the trees possible. The eastern and northern edges of the balcony and floating roof organically fold in plan to wrap around the trees, providing the experience of a living platform floating within the tree canopy, while the rooftop party deck offers panoramic ocean views.
The house is designed to resist winds up to 300km/h in response to its headland location while the external materials and glazing address an extreme bushfire rating of BAL40 due to the adjoining bushland.
Timbin House sets up a retreat for multiple families in a coastal setting and is designed to accommodate the immediate natural environment as well as deal with severe weather conditions. With sleeping accommodation at ground level, communal living above, and an accessible rooftop leading to a sky deck, the robust concrete structure sensitively weaves around the existing coastal landscape to minimise tree removal and make usable balcony pockets.
Timber and brass joinery insertions contrast with the raw concrete structure, and the façade can be opened to create a sense of abiding in the treetop environment.