Witta is a beachfront courtyard house that balances the opportunities and constraints of its site with opposing views. The "C" plan addresses this challenge, with the southern end featuring a transparent, light-filled pavilion connected to the water. The concrete skeleton supports a charred wood covering that manifests as a "shoji" screen to the north, while the southern edge is adorned with a landscaped fringe.
The house has an introverted street facade and an extroverted relationship with the Noosa River. The materials, form, and skylights celebrate the sensation of being riverside. The street facade animates with the "shoji" screen, subverting the domestic paradigm. It has become a stop along the Noosa River walk, with cascading plantings telling the story of occupation in the subtropical regions.
The house offers an alternative to the "mansion" vernacular often defining Noosa's waterfront. The house plays small, recedes, and integrates into the landscape. Adorned with minimal details and a palette of natural materials, the house aims to age into its surroundings rather than dominate them. The emphasis on landscape elements over the built form reduces the sense of "house" in favor of the "natural" extraordinary site.
The house is divided into living areas on the ground floor, invisibly connected to the river and opening north through the internal courtyard, which also houses the pool. The pool illuminates the basement, where one can have fun and enjoy wine. The first floor contains the children's bedrooms to the north (behind the wooden screen) and the parents' and guests' bedrooms by the river. The spaces are planned around an internal void that floods the house with natural light, offering deliberate engagement with the external elements.
This house is a collaboration of the highest order. The engineering demands align with the material choices, executed by the builder and his team. The landscape was considered from the beginning as part of the house. The custom skylights define the main spaces and offer engagement with the elements. The cabinetry and all woodwork required alignment and coordination between the builder, suppliers, and manufacturers. This is a relentless house with little tolerance for errors.
This complex house on a complex site was built with expensive, carefully crafted materials, representing value for the owners and within budget. With high embodied energy but excellent climatic performance, this house is a long-term proposal, using natural materials, LED lighting, solar power, and double glazing. The external materials require little to no ongoing maintenance.
The house works well for a large family with many guests, and the materials withstand the wear and tear of children at the beach. The public embraced the building, loving how the landscape eclipses the house. Feedback suggests that this building captured the public's imagination, becoming a landmark. The house offers a romantic view of subtropical living, with clients thrilled with the result.
Architects: Shaun Lockyer Architects - www.lockyerarchitects.com.au/
Year: 2022
Photographs: Christopher Frederick Jones - www.cfjphoto.com.au/
Location: Australia
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