Green getaway

Simple and striking, this Brisbane family’s new backyard retreat is a triumph.

While they loved their simple 1960s home in Brisbane’s southern suburbs, this young family found themselves rapidly outgrowing it. They needed space to accommodate visiting grandparents, a home office, and a play space for their young boys, as well as a music room. They also wanted to better connect their home with their garden. Architects Cloud Dwellers saw creative opportunities to achieve all the family’s desires.

The first step was to remove the rear deck that obstructed access to the garden and was often too hot to use comfortably. It was replaced with a covered walkway stepping gently down the slope and connecting to a new, freestanding cabin set along the skewed rear boundary. By opting for a separate building for the extra space the family required, the site was more fully utilised, with a private courtyard garden created between the two structures. The journey between also facilitates greater interaction with the garden.

The cabin’s small footprint and simple form were inspired by the iconic Aussie beach shack. It’s elevated on steel posts and struts to minimise disruption to the land: earthworks were limited to leveling the courtyard and forming a swale to redirect overland water flow. The cabin is constructed from economical materials like fibre cement sheet and timber. “There’s nothing exclusive or luxurious about the materials or finishes,” says architect Jason Haigh, who sees value in investing in precise and thoughtful design and detailing to create interest rather than choosing extravagant finishes.

Internal spaces are highly efficient, and the compact dimensions feel more generous thanks to strong visual and physical connections to the courtyard and neighbourhood. The home office is separated from a multifunctional space at the south-west end by a bathroom and a kitchenette with a view into the courtyard. The couple liked Cloud Dwellers’ suggestion of a single colour both inside and out, and selected varying tones of green inspired by classic Kombi vans, a 1970s mirrored cabinet and a favourite green laminate. The hues are applied to every surface and finish, including tiles and cabinetry, with the only breakaway a striking orange curtain that can subdivide the main space or close it off from the garden.

Design for climate is not a tech-heavy approach for Cloud Dwellers. “For us it’s all about simple, old-school principles like good ventilation, keeping a small footprint, making it durable, and managing the sun,” says Jason. His clients were on the same page, sharing a desire to physically connect to their site – to hear the wind in the trees and the birds, and to feel the breeze on their skin. Planning for sun and shading in the cabin was challenged by site constraints, but the design makes the most of opportunities. The long north-west elevation has its northern end sheltered by the low eaves of the walkway, which still allow winter sun to creep inside. The north-eastern end, occupied by the home office, receives little sun due to existing trees and the neighbouring house and so enjoys a full-height window for views into the garden. Along the south-east boundary, the roof overhang was omitted thanks to protection from shading trees and awning windows, giving more room to the courtyard. The elevated south-western end of the cabin “cops a lot of western sun on the diagonal”, says Jason, but with a desirable view at the end, vertical screening allowed a window without thermal compromise.

The Little Green Cabin has been transformative for the family. “I can now work at home full time – it’s lovely having a separate space from the main house,” says one homeowner. “It’s almost like the cabin has different personalities throughout the year. Right now, it’s being used as a music room. At other times it’s got people staying in it. At Christmas time, it becomes a drinks station as we sit outside.”

Interestingly, the courtyard garden created between old and new structures is a favourite part of the project for both architects and residents. “In a way, the little courtyard is the best room in the house,” says Jason. The homeowners agree. “Before, the backyard was just grass, and horrible,” they say. “We didn’t use the space because it wasn’t nice to be in. Being able to factor in how the outdoor area related to the new cabin was really lovely. It was not just about making more space, but about creating space that interacts well with the garden.”