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A Three-Part Home That's All About Connection
A trio of light-filled pavilions connected around a pool create an easygoing, outdoorsy lifestyle for a young family
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking new build, renovation or redesign each week. Here, Richard Graves, building designer and founder of RG Design Studio, reveals how he created a spectacular but grounded home that connects with the landscape, and transformed a young family’s lifestyle in the process.
Exterior paint in Natural White: Dulux; Scyon Linea and Scyon Axon 133 weatherboards: James Hardie.
How would you describe this project?
This home was a knockdown-rebuild. The original timber-frame house was run-down and the owners purchased the site with the intention of building a new home.
How would you describe this project?
This home was a knockdown-rebuild. The original timber-frame house was run-down and the owners purchased the site with the intention of building a new home.
What’s the location like?
This house is in a great part of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, with lots of established homes on large acreages, surrounded by tall trees and native bushland. It is a peaceful corner of Buderim that’s also central to the beaches and hinterland.
Considering your own knockdown-rebuild? Find a building designer near you on Houzz to help
This house is in a great part of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, with lots of established homes on large acreages, surrounded by tall trees and native bushland. It is a peaceful corner of Buderim that’s also central to the beaches and hinterland.
Considering your own knockdown-rebuild? Find a building designer near you on Houzz to help
What did the client want in their new home?
As a family with two young boys, they were looking for a long-term residence with plenty of yard space and a pool, plus rumpus and media rooms separate to the main living spaces.
They wanted a house for entertaining that would also sustain two growing boys.
As a family with two young boys, they were looking for a long-term residence with plenty of yard space and a pool, plus rumpus and media rooms separate to the main living spaces.
They wanted a house for entertaining that would also sustain two growing boys.
What were the client’s must-haves for the new house?
What was your scope of work?
Preliminary design, design development and working drawings for building approval.
- A high-volume main living space with highlight glazing.
- A modern, gable roof design.
- A pool in a central location that connects to the living spaces.
- A separate pool house for entertaining.
What was your scope of work?
Preliminary design, design development and working drawings for building approval.
Honed concrete pool coping (which caps the top edge around the pool) with HardieDeck boards around the pool: James Hardie.
What was gained with the new works?
A new residence with four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a rumpus room, media room, pool, pool house and a separate studio at the front.
How important was the pool to the overall design?
It was integral to the design as it runs along the central axis of the main roof peak and is the main focal point of the living spaces and pool house.
What was gained with the new works?
A new residence with four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a rumpus room, media room, pool, pool house and a separate studio at the front.
How important was the pool to the overall design?
It was integral to the design as it runs along the central axis of the main roof peak and is the main focal point of the living spaces and pool house.
Outdoor umbrellas: Sunday Supply Co.
Tell us about the pavilion concept
The main home (separate to the pool house and studio) consists of three connected pavilions:
Tell us about the pavilion concept
The main home (separate to the pool house and studio) consists of three connected pavilions:
- Western pavilion: Contains the main bedroom and guest bedrooms, each with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, plus the rumpus and media rooms.
- Middle pavilion: The kitchen/living/dining space, outdoor entertaining area, pool and pool house.
- Eastern pavilion: A triple garage, workshop, mudroom, laundry, two children’s bedrooms, a bathroom and powder room.
Tell us about the tall, pitched rooflines
To design a standard hip roof would have created too much visual bulk between the roof peaks of the three pavilions. We raised the pitch heights of the gables to allow for lower bridging roofs between them and to make the three peaks more pronounced.
The main living pavilion has a raked ceiling with highlight glazing to gain views of the surrounding trees and boost natural light and the sense of spaciousness.
To design a standard hip roof would have created too much visual bulk between the roof peaks of the three pavilions. We raised the pitch heights of the gables to allow for lower bridging roofs between them and to make the three peaks more pronounced.
The main living pavilion has a raked ceiling with highlight glazing to gain views of the surrounding trees and boost natural light and the sense of spaciousness.
Natural White Half interior paint throughout: Dulux.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
We chose white inside and out for its simplicity and timelessness. Dark accents on the window frames provide a striking focal point and guide guests to the entry.
Stonework features add a sense of solidity and provide a beautiful, textural contrast to the white weatherboards.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
We chose white inside and out for its simplicity and timelessness. Dark accents on the window frames provide a striking focal point and guide guests to the entry.
Stonework features add a sense of solidity and provide a beautiful, textural contrast to the white weatherboards.
Benchtops and splashbacks in Cloudburst Concrete: Caesarstone; Zen bar stools: Abide Interiors.
What look and feel did you want to create?
A fusion of traditional and coastal style, with a modern edge.
What look and feel did you want to create?
A fusion of traditional and coastal style, with a modern edge.
Where did most of the AU$800,000 budget go?
On the slab, roof structure, pool, glazing and finishes.
Browse more images of serene white kitchens in Australia with coastal vibes
On the slab, roof structure, pool, glazing and finishes.
Browse more images of serene white kitchens in Australia with coastal vibes
Main bathroom. Floor tiles: National Tiles.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The topography of the site. It is a lengthy house with about a two-metre fall at the northern end. But this was quite manageable with cut, fill and retaining.
The raked ceiling in the central pavilion and kitchen skylight also required a high level of care to get right.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The topography of the site. It is a lengthy house with about a two-metre fall at the northern end. But this was quite manageable with cut, fill and retaining.
The raked ceiling in the central pavilion and kitchen skylight also required a high level of care to get right.
Louvre windows were added throughout to boost ventilation and catch breezes.
What are the defining features of the house now?
What are the defining features of the house now?
- The three gabled roof peaks.
- The striking front and rear facades.
- The central living space with highlight glazing.
- The way the low entry roof contrasts with the high living roof – a method of compression and release.
- The central pool and pool house.
- The kitchen skylight is also a major feature, bringing natural light onto the island benchtop and creating a lovely ambience.
Why do you think the house works so well?
The central living space is probably the key zone that makes it work so well. It acts as a light-filled and breezy foyer that links the more intimate spaces and provides views of the pool to the northern and the southern sky.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this pavilion-style home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images for your own renovation inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Like to see another Queensland home? Check out this Before & After: A Humble Worker’s Cottage Gets a Serious Glow-Up
The central living space is probably the key zone that makes it work so well. It acts as a light-filled and breezy foyer that links the more intimate spaces and provides views of the pool to the northern and the southern sky.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this pavilion-style home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images for your own renovation inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Like to see another Queensland home? Check out this Before & After: A Humble Worker’s Cottage Gets a Serious Glow-Up
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Buderim, Queensland
Bedrooms and bathrooms: Four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Budget: Around AU$800,000
Building design: RG Design Studio
Interior design: TyStyle Construction and RG Design Studio
Builder: TyStyle Constructions
Structural engineer: HR Design Group
Furniture: Abide Interiors
Stone cladding: Sunshine Living Stone
Lighting: Beacon Lighting