Award-winning riverside eco-cottage
The Hunnam Residence received three awards at the 2014 Building Designers Association of Queensland (BDAQ) State Awards: Best Sustainable Design, Best New Home up to 250m² and Best Use of Colorbond Steel. It also received Best New Home up to 250m² at the 2014 BDAQ Regional Awards.
Set beside the river, this riverside eco-cottage was designed for exceptional quality and high environmental performance, while remaining modest in scale and character. The clients wanted a home that would capture the river views while maintaining a strong connection to the gardens and surrounding landscape.
The house is composed of a series of interlinked volumes that progressively increase in height towards the east, culminating in a two-storey form extending towards the river. A small deck overlooking the mangroves is sheltered by the upper floor and shared by the lounge and a guest bedroom with adjoining bathroom.
An open stair, anchored by a substantial timber plinth, rises through the double-height space to a mezzanine-style study. This opens into a sitting room with uninterrupted views across the mangrove wetlands and south-east along the river. Large glazed doors open onto a small verandah, extending the living space outdoors and creating a strong connection with the natural landscape.
Efficiency of space was a key consideration throughout the design. Circulation is kept to a minimum, allowing the available floor area to be devoted to comfortable, well-proportioned rooms rather than unnecessary corridors. Living spaces have been designed to accommodate flexible furniture arrangements, supporting different ways of living and allowing the home to adapt over time.
Builder: Peter Curley Constructions, award-winning builder.
