Holiday homes are all about escape and
relaxation, and this was precisely the brief
for the design of this Queensland house,
which sits right on the edge of a canal.
Designer Chris Clout says the owners
live in Melbourne and wanted to spend as
much time as possible outdoors while in
the much warmer climate of Queensland.
“The design needed to maximise the
amazing setting, but it was also important to provide a degree of privacy for the
outdoor living area – there are neighbours
on both sides of the property.”
Clout’s solution was to design the
house with two symmetrical doublestorey wings joined with a glazed linking
element that forms the entry. The wings
semi-enclose a resort-style landscape,
helping to screen a pool and outdoor
pavilion. The drama is enhanced by the
cantilevered upper floors of the house,
which appear to reach out over the water.
“The owners spend most of their time
outdoors – this is where they live and
entertain,” says the designer. “So it made
sense to provide an entry that would lead
Above left: Lush tropical landscaping frames this
outdoor pavilion, which is an integral part of
an expansive, resort-style poolscape. The path
leading from the entry is flanked by curved creek
beds where the water cascades down to the pool.
Top: The pavilion is lined with dark-stained Fijian
cedar plywood, while the terrace features a marble
from Indonesia. An outdoor kitchen makes for
easy, convenient catering.
Above: A spa pool with 50mm clear acrylic sides
is linked to the pavilion, both of which resemble
floating islands.
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