Set amongst the trees, this serene creative space has been built in an environmentally responsible manner, with all timber drawn from plantation forests as opposed to old-growth hardwood forests. The flooring is particle board, which is made from a high level of recycled and scrap materials, while recyclable timber and steel posts were used for structural strength and durability. All of the glass and steel used was made locally on the Sunshine Coast, with the studio’s northerly aspect allows the floor-to-ceiling glass frontage to naturally heat the building in winter. The ceiling, walls and verandah roof are heavily insulated to reduce reliance on air-conditioning and heating, and by using LED lights, the building’s power consumption is reduced by more than 80 percent.

No trees were removed for the construction, and the soil that was shifted was stockpiled and reutilised on site. Rainwater will also be channelled into the surrounding bush, watering the tall 40-year-old trees and younger palms. Tim Coates and Cal Fraser were the builders on the project, and the studio will now progress to the national titles, judged by Kevin McCloud of ABC’s Grand Designs.

Image credit: Lucas Muro