Perched on the crest of the ridgeline of what could be Noosa Hinterland’s most breathtaking location lies Whipbird. Brutalist in style, yet simple in its T-shaped pavilion form, Whipbird is a home that adopts a deeply poetic response to the environment that cultivates a close, meaningful relationship between its inhabitants and the unique and natural surroundings.
Upon visiting the site for the first time, the Zerni team were enamoured by the location’s natural beauty, tranquillity and stunning outlook over the Noosa hinterland and coastline. The air felt clear, the whipbirds were humming, every sense was stimulated in the most calming, uncontrived way. The vision for them became clear; to create a secluded and private reprieve from the open surrounds of the hinterland, where nature’s beauty is accentuated and luxurious living is epitomised. The primary brief to Minnow Studio (Architects) was to create a brutalist architectural home atop the crest of the ridgeline, forming a complete juxtaposition to the thinking of rural architecture. The home was to possess strong linear forms that run the length of the ridgeline, with the property
containing different wings for living.
The palate of the home is raw, robust and hardwearing with emphasis on the tactile experience of the materials with respect to texture, pattern, colour and geometry. Ocean Blue Travertine, originating from a single quarry in Italy and sourced by Artedomus, features heavily throughout the kitchen and living areas.
The aim here is for ‘visual silence’ in the bedroom and bathrooms spaces – removing superfluous, short-term visual effects and instead opting to focus on tangibility, tactile enjoyment and the ‘whole’. In a world almost polluted by visual stimuli, the bedroom and bathroom spaces in the home aim to provide a refuge – a refusal of all that is ‘showy’, spectacular and superficial. This allows the interiors to become an expression of honest design essence, abstraction and purity – authentic spaces that provide peace, intense simplicity and a harmonious visual balance for those that occupy them.
The house sits gracefully on the end of the natural ridgeline, with much of the clearing being designated for garden. The terraces have been designed for outdoor facilities such as the pool, tennis court, bathing court, car court and courtyard gardens. Landscaping is introduced into the façade, adding layers and depth to the outlook. By fading the lines between exterior and interior, the result is a relaxed environment with a sophisticated holiday atmosphere for the owners to come home to. The landscape is soft against the clean lines and solid aesthetic of the home.
