Corymbia House

Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones

Corymbia House 

Paul Butterworth Architect

ENGINEERING
Bligh Tanner

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Paul Butterworth

DESIGN TEAM
Kahn Neil

COLLABORATORS
Henderson Constructions

CLIENT
M & N Cook

MANUFACTURERS
Breezway, Csr, Roger Seller, Archicad, Artedomus, Astra Walker, Cesar Flooring

CONSULTANTS
Brisbane Bushfire Consultants

AREA
208 M²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Point Lookout, Australia

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

The brief from clients Margaret and Nick required a discrete island antidote to their family’s busy lives.

Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones

A unique place to retreat to and relax on idyllic North Stradbroke Island [Minjerribah in the traditional Jandai language of the Quandamooka people or “Straddie”].

Paul Butterworth Architect delivered “Corymbia”, a robust bare-foot beach house with voluminous light-filled living spaces, comfortable reading nooks, cosy plywood-lined bedrooms and unique indoor/outdoor bathing spaces.

It’s a physical and ideological retreat, an intergenerational home for gathering family and friends, celebrating cooking, bathing and creating lasting memories.

Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones

The name “Corymbia” was adopted from the species of beautiful flowering tree planted by Margaret and Nick’s extended family long ago that welcomes visitors to the site.

Once guests pass through the stone walled entry arbour, the new dwelling is discrete, tucked into its site in deference to the surrounding landscape.

Dense planting will mature in time to eventually obscure the home completely with only the rustic stone walls to betray its presence within its suburban setting.

Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones

The home features a series of large hardwood doors that slide and stack behind an external wall, to reveal a generous double-height central living deck which Paul describes as “The lungs of the house”.

Traditionally mundane domestic rituals [showering, shaving, etc.] were heightened and uniquely treated to Straddie’s natural beauty via mirrored reflections and large skylights.

Materials, colours & textures reference the bush setting and the fibrous cement cladding of vernacular shacks in an abstracted but familiar composition.

Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones

Aged tapware, subtle lighting and hardwood plywood cabinetry add a refined richness enhancing domestic rituals like cooking, bathing and washing.

Corymbia was delivered under budget and was well-made by local hands to be durable and loved for generations.

Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones

Local skilled labour and positive open communication between clients, architect and builder were essential to a collectively enjoyable procurement experience and the successful completion of the project.


Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones
Corymbia House
© Christopher Frederick Jones


Corymbia House
Ground Floor Plan
Corymbia House
Upper Floor Plan


Corymbia House
Section