The Rising Sun Residence.

Where light meets form: The rising sun

There’s a certain rhythm to life in the laidback Sunshine Coast suburb of Bokarina: bare feet are the footwear of choice, there’s sand at the doorstep, a sea breeze drifts through open windows, and there’s always time for connection. For one couple with both young and adult children as well as frequently visiting parents, the dream was a home that could hold it all: the comings and goings, the noise and the quiet, the need for connection as much as the need for retreat. Here, it is less about making a statement and more about making a generous, light-filled space, attuned to the ease of coastal living.

With neighbours pressed in tightly on either side of the generous waterfront site, Reitsma & Associates was tasked with creating a design that could stretch outwards while still looking inward, creating a private sanctuary without shutting away the light and expansiveness of the setting.

“The section constraints gave us an opportunity to create a design that turns our backs to the neighbours, while also having a continuous connection to the water view and outdoors,” shares Reitsma & Associates’ Trevor Reitsma.

The initial concept, an ‘H’ shape (with the two side rods creating privacy from the neighbours), was conceived early on in the process. A bridge connects the rods, forming the upper-level primary suite. The ‘H’ plan creates a frame around internal and external courtyards, allowing the interior to be flooded with light.

“It’s almost like a solar clock; the morning sun perfectly filters over the kitchen bench where you have a morning coffee, and then with the courtyards placed centrally, light filters into the deepest parts of the house throughout the day.”

Another interesting aspect of the clients’ brief was the need for extensive garaging, which, combined with the size of the site, offered an opportunity to create an entry with a flamboyant approach.

“It’s definitely a whimsical or unexpected entry: when entering from the street, the straw-coloured timber gates peel back under a dramatic concrete ‘rising sun’ arch as you drive into the cobblestone motor court,” says Reitsma. “You expect to be driving into a garage space, but in fact, the motor court is open to the air, with the two garages concealed by operable doors on either side of the entry to the home.”

The ‘rising sun’ arch is repeated in the entrance to the home, with glass doors offering a view through the home’s central courtyard to the waterway views. Soft timber accents are repeated in the interior, and staggered timber board imprints on the concrete are a foil for the home’s solid concrete construction.

From the entry, turning left takes you into the main living, dining and kitchen spaces, and beyond them the service areas. From there, a staircase leads up to the upper level, which bridges the public wing to the guest wing on the other side of the home.

The primary suite is designed as a retreat from the public and shared spaces of the home, opening to a secluded rooftop garden. Here, the exterior cladding shifts to a soft white timber weatherboard, referencing the nautical setting, as well as softening the solidity of the concrete structure below.

Beneath this bridging form, the undercroft has been imagined as a refined outdoor living hub. Here, generous lounge and dining zones gather around a woodburning fireplace, while the pool lies just beyond, uninterrupted in its outlook. The effect is a seamless extension of indoor life into the open air, tailored for both relaxation and entertaining. This clever arrangement of spaces within a large format is key to the success of the home, and reflective of Reitsma & Associates’ approach:

“Our design philosophy is always a little bit understated, so even though this home is large, its simplicity of form represents that approach; the carefully considered placement of the rooms is unconventional, yet creates a home that encourages connection.”

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