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The House at Lizard Island by JDA Co
Situated on a rocky outcrop, The House at Lizard Island by JDA Co emerges defiant yet ancillary to the extraordinary natural environment that surrounds it.
Architect James Davidson – who travelled back and forth several times to Lizard Island from Brisbane throughout the project’s four-year timeline, frequently camping out under the stars during these short stays – recognises a deeply spiritual quality at The House at Lizard Island. Davidson references phenomenology, the study of how people experience the world, and, more specifically, ‘genius loci’ – a Latin phrase that refers to a place’s spirit – as being inherent to the project’s identity.
“I haven’t had many opportunities to design a place that truly has genius loci and I feel like this is the house that does it.”
“I haven’t had many opportunities to design a place that truly has genius loci and I feel like this is the house that does it,” he says. “It’s something I’m very aware of, which is why, when you’re in this space, there’s always a connection to the environment. I think you feel the connection, I truly do, and it’s something that I’m most proud of.”
To fully grasp this, one must consider the home’s narrative in its entirety, and it begins with the journey to the site. The 45-minute flight from nearby Cairns sees guests travel over opalescent waters to Lizard Island – a cluster of tree-covered bluffs with powdery white edges on the fringes of the Great Barrier Reef. There’s not much on Lizard Island apart from the house, a smaller adjacent dwelling known as The Cottage, the Lizard Island Resort, the Lizard Island Research Station … and more than 1,000 hectares of national park.
The house is located past the cottage at the end of a winding road. Perched on a promontory that falls away to private sandy beaches, it is majestic, yet it yields to the landscape. The form is a robust concrete shell with rosewood timber elements and perforated copper blades, which not only provide visual reprieve but act as debris shields that can withstand ferocious winds – imperative in this cyclone-prone tropical region. Davidson, whose practice is considered a leader in flood-, fire- and storm-resilient architecture, says he wanted to design something that looked as though it had been “sculpted or moulded” by the elements. “The point is not to compete with nature but to embrace it.”
The rugged, natural surrounds are reflected in the materials and massing, and this rationale continues within, where the colour palette draws directly from the environment. Davidson recalls finding inspiration for the tones in the island’s flora and fauna, foraged during site visits. “We would bring back flowers, leaves, dirt and rocks in our pockets from walks around the island, and we used those things to determine the tones in the house,” he says. JDA Co also worked closely with the Dingaal Aboriginal people, the Traditional Owners of Lizard Island, on seed propagation and a better understanding of the land.
Several interior features speak to JDA Co’s interpretation of the island. The expressed concrete and grey ceramic finishes in the kitchen echo the granite boulders at the site’s edges; blue textiles amplify the colours of the Coral Sea and cloudless skies overhead; timber panelling nods to various eucalyptus species native to the island; and the organic-shaped green stone island bench appears to be forged from the sculptural, verdant surrounds – like a part of the coral reef itself.
Comprising three bedrooms across two levels, the house and its proportions are generous but not superfluous. This scale lends itself to a feeling of luxury, where the experience of moving through the home is effortless and unconstricted but underpinned by a clear intent. This is perhaps most apparent on the first floor, where the primary living, dining and kitchen areas are free-flowing yet purposeful. This experience is directed towards the wall of ocean-facing windows – all of which retract to waist height, transforming the space from an enclosed indoor room to a breezy, undercover balcony.
The sculptural island bench is a gravitational and focal point, and it creates subtle yet valuable delineation between the functional and social parts of the kitchen. The timber-lined ceiling also gently enhances this threshold without being too overt. “We worked very hard getting this space to function as a kitchen but also feel like it was part of the architectural proposition for the house itself. Everything is designed in a way that is hidden but still there and easily accessible,” he says, referring specifically to the suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances integrated into the grey, ceramic-clad cabinetry.
As a luxury guesthouse, the briefing requirements for the kitchen were nuanced. It needed to serve as a place for relaxed cook-ups between family and friends and be a more formal setting for catered chef experiences and sit-down dinners. “We understood that it needed to function for specific guests who might require a more refined experience with their own personal chef, so the kitchen has been designed with that intent and you can have both of those things happening.”
Additions like the Fisher & Paykel wine cabinet – essential for optimal wine storage in Far North Queensland’s humid conditions – elevate cooking and hosting rituals.
The almost-sculptural minimal design – which conceals the various complexities and capabilities of the appliances and champions a sense of spaciousness and sleek materials – affords guests the luxury of choice in how the kitchen is presented and used throughout their stay. Further, additions like the Fisher & Paykel wine cabinet – which is essential for optimal wine storage in Far North Queensland’s humid conditions – elevate cooking and hosting rituals, elaborate or otherwise.
A series of windows slice vertically through the architecture, ushering light and ventilation into the rear of the kitchen, and there’s an adjoining outdoor terrace accessed through large, timber-framed bi-fold doors. Another main source of natural light is the central circular skylight; it punctuates a portion of the ceiling above the striking spiral staircase that is visible from almost every part of the home. “The spiral stair was one of the first elements that I worked with in terms of designing the plan and it became very obvious to me that it needed something amazing as the heart of the house,” says Davidson. He adds that the skylight brings a welcome element of theatrics as “you can see the passing of the sun, the clouds and the moon throughout the day and night.”
The tempo changes slightly on the lower level, where a second living room is enveloping and cave-like. It’s a cosy hideaway on rainy days or a quiet spot to retreat when holidaying with a large group. Similarly, the bedrooms are secluded sanctuaries with access to the outdoors and views; one overlooks the ocean and another abuts a grove of trees with sightlines to Hibiscus Beach, where turtles nest. There are also covered outdoor baths to recline in and listen to the waves lapping steps away.
The House at Lizard Island’s location – where the idea of seclusion and immersion in nature is always front of mind – greatly contributes to the project’s resonance. However, the real lasting impression – or genius loci – comes from a culmination of factors, including, first and foremost, the architecture and its powerful rapport with the island.
Both the house and cottage are managed as part of the Lizard Island Resort. The house can sleep up to six people with an additional two in the cottage. A stay includes all meals, as well as a private chef dedicated to showcasing the exceptional and diverse produce of tropical Far North Queensland. The house has private access to three pristine beaches and comes with a fleet of boats for all kinds of exploration, from fishing trips and snorkelling on the reef to sightseeing and remote beach drop-offs, where you often have the entire stretch of sand to yourself. Rates are from $18,500 a night (three-night minimum stay) for the house and $33,500 a night for the house and cottage.
Architecture and interior design by JDA Co. Build by Field Construct. Appliances by Fisher & Paykel.
