On the Gold Coast, water views are often the unquestioned hero. Canals, skyline and glittering water reflections tend to dictate both orientation and experience, but at this waterfront home, the design looks beyond the obvious. While the north-facing outlook is undeniably magnificent, this home was conceived as a layered response to a far richer context. One that captures not only the canal and the Surfers Paradise skyline, but also the parkland, mature gum trees, and distant hinterland ranges to the south and west.
The tightly constrained canal site, hemmed in by neighbours on both sides, demanded a careful orchestration of views and privacy, shares architect Justin Humphrey.
“In a lot of our projects, there’s a really obvious view to capture, but it’s actually nice to give people an alternative to that in other parts of the house as well, so the whole thing’s not just about that water view.”
Climate responsiveness was also integral from the outset. On the Gold Coast, prevailing breezes arrive predominantly from the east, shifting between southeast and northeast depending on the time of day. Rather than relying on mechanical cooling, the house was carefully oriented to capture and curate these airflows.
“Finding a way to curate those breeze pathways and allow them to move through the house and naturally cool it was really important,” says Humphrey.
Large operable openings along the eastern boundary draw cooling breezes through shaded garden corridors, delivering passive comfort while reinforcing a strong connection to the landscape.
The clients’ brief steered the project away from the stereotypical coastal aesthetic. There would be no white render, arches or Hamptons references here. Instead, they sought something darker, moodier and materially honest. This aligned seamlessly with the practice’s ethos.
“We really love using genuine materials that are not trying to be something else,” says Humphrey. “If it’s concrete, it’s real concrete. If it’s timber, it’s real timber.”
The result is a tactile, robust palette of concrete, stone and timber that invites touch and rewards close engagement.
Designed for a couple with two adult daughters and a love of entertaining, the house balances openness with retreat. Multiple living zones across three storeys allow gatherings to expand or contract, offering choice and privacy when needed. This flexibility extends to the uppermost level, which is a dedicated entertaining floor complete with bar, pizza oven and expansive terraces, envisioned as a place for family game nights and celebrations as the household evolves.
One of the home’s most distinctive features emerged from a practical challenge: accommodating the client’s car collection without allowing the garage to dominate the street. The solution is a concealed, almost theatrical ‘James Bond-style’ garage tucked discreetly to the side.
“Rather than presenting two garages to the street, we wanted to present the house’s personality instead,” says Humphrey. A sculptural concrete awning sweeps across the entry, doubling as a planted roof with greenery cascading down its face, creating a bold gesture that sets the tone for arrival.
That sense of theatre continues inside. A compressed entry sequence beneath the awning gives way to a dramatic double-height void, releasing visitors into light-filled living spaces oriented toward the water. To one side, quieter rooms open to shaded eastern gardens, offering intimate refuges within the larger plan.
“You can have a busy day, a glass of wine in your hand, and gravitate towards these openings,” Humphrey shares. “They feel private and calm, but they also bring a huge amount of breeze through the house.”
Material shifts subtly delineate zones without fragmenting the plan. Stone floors, timber ceilings and exposed concrete create rhythm and hierarchy, while upstairs the palette softens through lighter tones, carpet underfoot and calmer finishes signal a transition to rest. Bedrooms are carefully oriented to balance outlook and privacy, with screened facades framing views to parkland and water beyond.
Now lived in for several years, the dwelling has proven itself as both a family home and a place of celebration. Engagement parties, baby showers and large gatherings have spilled effortlessly across its terraces and living spaces.
“It’s nice to see the space used for really wholesome and momentous parts of their life,” reflects Humphrey.
As the gardens mature and the architecture settles further into its surroundings, the house represents an example of how Gold Coast living can be both responsive and refined, capturing not just the view you expect, but the unexpected ones too.
Words: Joanna Seton
This materially rich house is designed to make the most of its sub-tropical location.
Privacy is maintained from the street through layers of screening and landscape that surround the cobbled forecourt. A scalloped and curved concrete form pushes out towards the street engaging with the neighbourhood with planting spilling down the textured wall.
Once visitors pass beneath the planted concrete awning, the water views reveal themselves slowly as you pass through a series of living spaces. This house plan is arranged to encourage prevailing breezes to pass through interior spaces that are rich with natural light.
Screening on the first floor shifts dynamically according to required function. Upper screen folds allow views to the sky and tree canopy, while lower folds reveal garden views while maintaining privacy.
Location: Yugambeh Country.
Project Team: Justin Humphrey & Sam Merrett.
