Inside Queensland’s extraordinary ‘House of the Year’ – complete with a dream bath with a view, stunning breakfast bar and a flowing river outside the bedroom
- A one-of-a-kind home on the banks of the Brisbane River has been named Queensland’s ‘House of the Year’
- Riverbank House is an extravagant interpretation of the classic Queenslander, a single-storey detached home
- The house was designed by Hamilton Wilson of historic architecture firm, Wilson Architects
- Mr Wilson topped a lower level typical of traditional Queenslanders with a second storey that ‘floats’ above
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A one-of-a-kind home built on the banks of the Brisbane River for a family whose house burned to the ground in a tragic fire has been named Queensland’s ‘House of the Year’.
Riverbank House in Highgate Hill, four kilometres south of Brisbane CBD, is an extravagant interpretation of the classic ‘Queenslander’, a quintessentially Australian style of detached house with a corrugated iron roof and a timber façade.
The home, designed by Hamilton Wilson of Wilson Architects, blurs the boundaries between indoors and out with a strategic layout that makes living spaces feel as though they are immersed in the surrounding riverside landscape.
Mr Wilson, a fourth generation architect behind his family’s namesake practice which has been operating in the Sunshine State for more than 130 years, topped a lower level typical of traditional Queenslanders with a second storey that appears to float above the main body of the house.
A one-of-a-kind home (pictured) built on the banks of the Brisbane River has been named Queensland’s ‘House of the Year’
Riverbank House is an extravagant interpretation of the classic ‘Queenslander’, a quintessentially Australian style of detached house with a corrugated iron roof and a timber façade
The home, designed by Hamilton Wilson of Wilson Architects, blurs the boundaries between indoors and out with a strategic layout
Floor-to-ceiling windows make the bedroom feel as though it is part of the riverside landscape; a soaking tub is tucked in the left-hand corner
Riverbank was built for a family whose house tragically burned down further south in Clayfield.
Every inch of the property was thoughtfully designed to fulfil the clients’ wish that their new home be ‘deeply connected’ to the nature surrounding it.
Raw materials such as stone and timber have been used wherever possible in keeping with the natural theme of the house.
‘We set out to leverage the extraordinary landscape as part of the experience of the property because it is so unique,’ Mr Wilson said.
Living spaces feel as though they are immersed in the surrounding riverside landscape
Riverbank was built for a family whose house tragically burned down further south in Clayfield
Raw materials such as stone and timber have been used wherever possible
Every inch of the property was thoughtfully designed to fulfil the clients’ wish that their new home be ‘deeply connected’ to the nature surrounding it
The theme of nature and the outdoors runs through every inch of the house
Strategically positioned mirrors and window slats draw trees right into the bathroom
Mr Wilson topped a lower level typical of traditional Queenslanders with a second storey that appears to float above the main body of the house
The house cinched the highest accolade for new residential architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland Architecture Awards 2021 on Thursday, June 24.
Judges praised Mr Wilson’s ability to bring a sense of nature into every corner of the house.
‘Riverbank House is orchestrated between the steep landscape of the river edge and a private courtyard for a family in a suburban setting,’ jury member Dirk Yates said.
The house cinched the highest accolade for new residential architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland Architecture Awards 2021 on Thursday, June 24
Judges praised the architect’s ability to bring a sense of nature inside the house
Jury chairperson Eloise Atkinson described the winning design as ‘high calibre’
As a result of the win, Riverbank House (pictured) is now eligible for the Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards, which are slated to take place in in November 2021
He added: ‘The maintenance of remnant stairs and garden walls, along with the integration of native plantings, firmly imbed the new building into the historically layered landscape.’
Jury chairperson Eloise Atkinson described the winning design as ‘high calibre’ and noted the strong environmental influences from entrants throughout the state.
As a result of the win, Riverbank House is now eligible for the Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards, which are slated to take place in in November 2021.