Perched high among the eucalypts, this home is conceived as a place of refuge and immersion, balances protection from harsh conditions with a deep connection to its wild setting. Inspired by the experience of camping in nature, it offers both solitude and shared gathering, allowing occupants to engage with the landscape while feeling sheltered within it.

Set on a steep, densely vegetated site above a lake, the design responds directly to bushfire risk without compromising its connection to place. Rather than clearing the land or building low, the house is positioned in the treetops, where views unfold and light shifts across the forest canopy.

Unusually for such terrain, the home is grounded, reducing fire risk while maintaining fluid access to its surroundings. Its plan follows the contours of the land, forming courtyards and outdoor spaces that invite quiet retreat. Operable façades and integrated screens allow the house to open or close in response to climate, ensuring both safety and permeability.

Built with local materials and a restrained palette, the house recedes into its environment – an enduring, contemplative extension of the landscape rather than an imposition upon it.

Photography: Justin Alexander