Project: Nest House
Architects: Shaun Lockyer Architects
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Photography: Scott Burrows
The Nest House is a family retreat in Brisbane that combines an acreage lifestyle with city views—something rare inside the inner city. Tucked away on a large bush block, the project reimagines how a home can live lightly within landscape while feeling expansive and connected.
Inspiration, Context & Scale
The project site measures about 4,240 m², giving the home room to “breathe.” The clients wanted that rural feeling—an “acreage lifestyle”—yet remain just seven kilometres from Brisbane’s centre. Because such lots are rare, the architects treated the land itself as part of the design, shaping lawns, native planting, and spatial sequences that feel like you’re in the bush.
Materiality & Architectural Moves
Shaun Lockyer draws heavily from modernist precedents. The home plays with strong vertical and light horizontal planes—thus creating visual tension and balance. Materials are chosen for their tactility and longevity: sandblasted concrete, Spotted Gum timber, natural stone, and textured renders define both interior and exterior surfaces.
Sliding glass walls and large pivoting doors enable the living pavilion to open completely into the landscape—making indoor and outdoor living interchangeable depending on season and climate. In fact, the experience often feels more like being on a verandah than in a house, which was an intentional effect given the subtropical context.
Sustainability & Climate Response
Beyond aesthetics, Nest House incorporates passive and sustainable strategies. Deep overhangs and cross-ventilation respond to Brisbane’s climate. A timber rainscreen provides shade and thermal control, while the building’s massing, orientation, and materials maximize natural comfort. The architects also emphasize first-principles design—starting from orientation, breezes, and material performance—before layering decorative decisions.
Nest House: A Refined Retreat
At its heart, Nest House achieves the rare feat of bringing nature and architecture into harmony. Its robust, warm material palette and well-considered architectural moves allow it to feel both anchored and airy. The result is a home that is timeless, comfortable, and deeply rooted in place.
