’Bathing in a rainforest’: Qld garden named best in Australia

This garden on the Queensland coast has been named the best in Australia at national industry awards Thursday night, after being redesigned to become a luxury Airbnb side hustle. PICTURES

The judges were impressed that the redesign saw much of the block given up to the landscaping not the house. Picture: Marnie Hawson

This garden on the Queensland coast has been named the best in Australia at national industry awards Thursday night, after being redesigned to become a luxury Airbnb side hustle.

Fifty-one winners were announced at the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects 2023 national awards in Adelaide, with Banksia House at Kings Beach in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast coming out on top in the garden category after judges were floored by the harmony with which its house and landscape designers worked together.

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Banksia House at Kings Beach in Caloundra took out the top garden award. Picture: Marnie Hawson

“Banksia House demonstrates a highly cohesive collaboration between the project teams to create a timeless residence that seamlessly blends nature and home,” the jury said in a statement.

Brisbane’s Hanlon Park was also another major winner, after being named the best park and open space in Australia – taking home the award of excellence in the category, as well as an award for land management plus a climate positive design award.

The award for play spaces was won by Hinterland Adventure Playground which also won a regional achievement Award, while the award for small projects was given to The Corner – Cairns School of Distance Education.

Good use of varying heights and textures add interest. Picture: Marnie Hawson

The best garden in the country wowed judges because almost everything that can be done inside could also be done outside in the property from cooking to sleeping, bathing and lounging, with most of the site given over to the garden unlike many luxury holiday home styles.

“The landscape architect (7b landscapes + interiors) and architect (Majstorovic Architecture) forged a harmonious link between nature and structure,” an AILA statement said after the win.

“Gardens, courtyards and paths seamlessly intertwine with the building. Here, plants play an active role, consuming the house and imbuing it with a softer, more human feel.”

Most things you can do inside you can do outside. Picture: Marnie Hawson

The landscape architect responsible for Banksia House was 7b landscapes + interiors, who collaborated on the project with Majstorovic Architecture (house architect), Watt Building and Construction (builder), Plant Connections (nursery) and Asten Hackwood, Harry Wacker, GC & MT Pike Greenkeeping (landscape contractors).

An AILA statement said: “The Banksia House creates an experience that is a departure from everyday domestic life – a place to connect with family, friends and the natural environment. Each internal space is connected to a garden either visually or physically. Everyday activities such as cooking, dining, lounging, sleeping and bathing can happen either in or outdoors.”

It said there were multiple fireplaces and firepits in the garden, as well as two outdoor showers covered in creeping ficus, a concrete outdoor bath, and ensuite showers opened to private courtyards to “give the illusion of bathing in a rainforest”.

A fortress like approach on the headland. Picture: Marnie Hawson

The jury said ”the strategic use of natural and raw materials, along with the predominantly native coastal vegetation selection, will ensure that the home embraces its exposure to the weather and improves with age”.

Kirsti Sheldon of 7b landscapes + interiors said “homes in South East Queensland often have intensely tropical gardens, with homeowners (even landscape designers) feeling this is the best, or only, way to achieve a lush, holiday resort-style garden. We sought to demonstrate that a layered native garden is perhaps more successful, in addition to being more culturally and climatically relevant and sustainable”.

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The Caloundra headland property, which officially sleeps four people, is rented out on Airbnb for between $650 to $800 a night depending on seasonality and includes a magnesium pool and bocce court.

AILA national awards jury chair Claire Martin said the need for landscape architecture has never been greater.

“In an emerging context of increased loss, damage, isolation, inequity and reduced insurability, the 2023 National Award winners offer valuable case studies on the benefits of good design. They demonstrate what is possible when, as a community, we invest in living infrastructure now and into the future. The jury commends the winners for their skill, commitment and conviction.”

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