Inside the exclusive and gated suburb of Clear Island Waters Superdraft Architects have created a contemporary residence that resembles a tropical Hawaiian resort.

How were you commissioned?:    
The client is a builder whom we previously worked with. They are familiar with our work and we have a good professional relationship.

What was the brief from the client and how much were they involved?:     
The clients wanted an Earthy home that maximises the view of the nearby lake. Also, they wanted a kid-friendly pool because it's not safe for kids and tweens to swim in an open lake.

How did the brief affect the materials and design choices?:     
As architects, we needed to build a home using natural building materials. We kept the house open to allow ventilation and for the house to have a good view of the lake and Gold Coast Skyline.

How did your previous experience help you with this project?:     
We are experienced in designing homes that blend well to the surroundings. For us, nature should be a part of a house's design.

Can you explain the layout of the project:     
Inside the exclusive and gated suburb of Clear Island Waters is a contemporary residence that resembles a tropical Hawaiian resort by Superdraft Architects. Walking through the home feels like an high-end vacation in the Aloha State. In fact, it is one of the most stunning homes sold in Gold Coast, according to Gold Coast Bulletin and Real Estate AU. Day and night, one enjoys the spectacular view of the lake, hinterland hills, and the Gold Coast skyline. The highlight of this house is a stunning infinity-edge, solar-heated pool which wraps the entire ground floor and gives the livable areas with a waterfront view. The living room opens to multiple outdoor areas, including a covered lakefront terrace and two poolside patios. Each outdoor area has cedar-lined ceilings, sandstone floors, frameless glass fencing, LED lighting, and sound system. Wooden bi-fold doors connect all the indoor-outdoor areas and there are retractable screens alongside the doors to keep unwanted insects outside. All of these makes the ground level a flexible venue for huge parties and intimate get-togethers. Once the glamour of the pool and indoor-outdoor areas sink in, the open-plan kitchen steals your attention. It has counters and an island bench with an ergonomic low breakfast table topped with Quartz stone. The kitchen has abundant drawers and a large butler’s pantry for all your storage needs. Overlooking the pool is the walkway to the guest wing that has a captivating palm wallpaper. The guest room is an en-suite with its own walk-in wardrobe. Beside it is a mini home theatre that the homeowners and their guests can enjoy. There’s a floating' staircase made of Merbau timber which takes you the second floor. Upstairs, there are five more bedrooms. One of them is the master's en suite with a balcony, study nook, and a walk-in-wardrobe. Overall, the entire house boasts luxurious features namely its high ceilings, standout lighting, dark oak flooring, and tropical-inspired furniture and decoration. It also has top-notch security and interior climate which the homeowners control via their mobile phones and a wall-mounted tablet.

What problems or challenges did you face?:     
During the initial consultation with the client, we found out that they haven't seen the construction site in person yet.

What do you feel were the most unusual design elements of the project?:     
The infinity pool that hugs the entire ground floor and all the small patios that face it. It's like we brought Hawaii in Australia.

How do you think this project is pushing design forward? What makes it special?:     
This architecture is American-inspired but it's all Australian. The clients loved it because they felt like going to a vacation every time they go home.

www.superdraft.com.au/