Glenrae

Finding harmony in contrast.

The historical Heritage-listed house was architecturally reimagined into a modern family home, which sympathetically balances old and new, traditional and contemporary. This confluence of opposites carries through in the gardens. Upon arrival, sunbathed entry gardens are planted with hardy native coastal planting, with muted tones and sculptural forms that complement the elegant architectural language. Moving through to more private spaces, the soft deep green foliage of subtropical rainforest planting calls for tranquillity in a protected oasis - a sentiment anchored by a calming water feature at the heart of the home.

These natural microclimate transitions can be experienced firsthand through winding bush stone pathways, a naturalistic locally sourced materiality that firmly grounds and celebrate place. Natural play elements - timber balance beams, rolling lawns, jumping boulders - were incorporated to encourage play and exploration, creating a multi-faceted landscape that can be enjoyed by the family for years to come. Ecological resilience was an essential consideration - backing onto the Brisbane River, the vast embankment was terraformed and planted with endemic riparian species to minimise erosion in extreme weather events. A rustic fire pit perches atop this embankment - creating a vantage point to immerse yourself in the riverine landscape.