Andrew and Aleks had two young daughters, a snoozy Great Dane named Bronson, and a desire to create a place to call home that would see their family well and truly into the girls’ adulthood. With a passion for the Queenslander lifestyle and a strong aesthetic vision inspired by bold yet simple “barn” style gable roof forms they had seen in Canada and New Zealand, these clients jumped into the briefing and design process with gusto! While the dimensions of their block in Clayfield were pretty “standard” at 10x40m, the site came with its own complexities of sloping land, character zoning and flood-prone classification. In considering the ground and flood levels, along with the desired roof form, the existing ground was able to be manipulated in the front of the site to create easy access and a casual relationship to the street. A planted, low profile roof, with feature lighting and battened screening ensures that the carport can sit forward of the house, without diminishing the appearance of its sleek silhouette. With West to the street, the specification of high performance glass for this impressive facade was a must, ensuring the house remains comfortable, even on Summer afternoons. With north to the side, in some ways the site was “ideal” from a solar orientation perspective, but in a neighbourhood of narrow small lots, it can be hard to make the most of this without compromising privacy. With this in mind, a range of solutions have been designed to ensure that the house is bright, breezy and comfortable year-round. This included the use of skylights and both internal and external void spaces, enabling us to achieve the views, sunlight and ventilation desired, without compromising on privacy. Through careful analysis of levels, and the introduction of a hip roof to the rear, we were able to comply with the requirements of Brisbane’s Character Code, while also raising the house as far as possible above the flood level. The result is generous, elevated living areas to the rear of the house, which enjoy an outlook to the pool and garden below and out toward the leafy surrounds of the suburb surrounding.