Birkalla House by Aspect Architecture

An elevated Australian beach house designed with the Queensland vernacular in mind, Birkalla House is about connection – interweaving indoor and outdoor spaces and encouraging dynamic family living.

Nestled within the leafy streets of Bulimba in Brisbane, Birkalla House’s facade is instantly reminiscent of the classic Queenslander style. “This architectural response is integral to Brisbane’s identity and was celebrated in this design through the use of pitched roofs, lightweight materials, textural contrasts and a floating upper floor that creates an undercroft for outdoor entertainment and living,” says Matt Cooper, founder and director of Aspect Architecture. Beyond the facade, the brief called for a home that would grow with the family while responding to a steep urban site, creating a sanctuary in the middle of the city.

 Beyond the facade, the brief called for a home that would grow with the family while responding to a steep urban site, creating a sanctuary in the middle of the city.

Aspect Architecture thoughtfully responds to the sloped site by introducing a double-height void to capture views and act as a central connection node to the entire house. “By opening up this space, a clear visual link is created between the upper and ground levels, uniting and celebrating the home’s movement while providing views of the garden and lawn from every level,” says Cooper.

The ground floor houses public living spaces and a private guest suite with its own courtyard and street access, while the upper level houses the more private bedroom spaces. The high ceilings above the large open kitchen, which is the heart of the home, also connect the main living areas of the house to an upstairs walkway. And so, despite the openness, there remains a strong sense of connection throughout the home. Cooper comments: “A timber walkway serves as a bridge that connects the parents’ room to the kid’s rooms … casement windows connect to an upstairs living room and have been designed to either open up to the double-height living void or close off for privacy and retreat.” This allows for connection between the living spaces, despite the difference in levels.

Much like the cohesion within the interior, Birkalla House is perhaps most clearly defined by a sense of harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces, which reflects the subtropical climate and outdoor lifestyle typical of the locale.

Much like the cohesion within the interior, Birkalla House is perhaps most clearly defined by a sense of harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces, which reflects the subtropical climate and outdoor lifestyle typical of the locale. “The planning and massing of the home enable the ground-floor living area to seamlessly connect with the flat play space, lawn and undercroft entertaining area,” comments Cooper. Meanwhile, large windows and sliding doors completely retract, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces and welcoming natural light into the home. Similarly, a pool and pavilion enhance this sense of the home as a luxurious retreat; shielded from the sun and the streetscape via the roof and battens, the open sides of the pavilion and rising roof form open themselves back to the garden and house.

The materiality is simultaneously robust, modern and timeless. Warm materials such as natural timber feature throughout the home, contrasting Colorbond roof sheeting, black and white outdoor cladding and limestone tiles. The flooring in the living area and alfresco space is Garonne limestone by Eco Outdoor. “Using the same stone for both areas was a deliberate choice to create a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors, especially when the sliding doors are open,” reflects Cooper. Meanwhile, the kitchen features striking wooden joinery and American oak veneer, which is visually integrated with the bridge and stairs, once again speaking to the sense of cohesion and flow within the home.

While distinctly modern, Birkalla House is grounded in the Australian way of living and in the identity and history of Queensland.

While distinctly modern, Birkalla House is grounded in the Australian way of living and in the identity and history of Queensland. And so, for Cooper, one of his favourite things about the home is its “thoughtfulness and connection to place.” An elevated version of the quintessential Queenslander, it is a home that doesn’t try too hard – to replicate or to be too different – instead, it perfectly responds to place through a highly considered approach to form and materiality.

Architecture and interior design by Aspect Architecture. Build by P and R Lee Builders. Engineering by Westera Partners.