Home of the eco-domes

Envisaging an eco-home with a minimalist vibe, Evginy Skigin approached renowned Brisbane-based architect Noel Robinson.

Evgeny Skigin at his home ‘Domik’. Picture: Glenn Hunt

Sitting in the sauna and looking through the small window out to the beach and Noosa National Park, Evginy Skigin saw dolphins. It was in that moment that the scale of the home-building project he had just undertaken began to sink in.

It took the reclusive yet charismatic Russian businessman more than five years to get to this point. Mr Skigin had first scoped out the land at the top of Sunshine Beach’s millionaires row, a prestigious stretch of beach not far from Noosa, while leafing through the real estate pages of the local paper in 2012, deciding to pass on the opportunity. A year later, the land was still available at a more attractive $5.4m.

Artwork lines the hallway

Envisaging an eco-home with a “minimalist, luxe beach shack” vibe, he approached renowned Brisbane-based architect Noel Robinson to create the massive home called “Domik”.

The $23m price tag makes it one of Australia’s most expensive house builds.

From the entrance of the property it is hard to imagine the sheer scale of the three-level home with six bedrooms and nine bath­rooms.

The sauna

The home does not adhere to standard home building rules and is instead several large domes built into the land and covered by extensive green roofs to disguise the home and complement the natural environment.

“I just liked the idea of having organic-looking shapes,” Mr Skigin explained, unable to pinpoint the inspiration for the unusual design.

“Obviously, you are next to the National Park, you’re on the water, so you want to do justice and not destroy the landscape in a way.”

The beautiful bedroom

The dome design of all the bedrooms and living rooms posed challenges, forcing extra soundproofing and insulation to minimise sound travelling. Onyx, marble and Tasmanian oak add to the high-end fittings, with the home centred by a glass elevator wrapped in a spiral staircase.

Mr Skigin said the wooden panelling and large items of furniture help to make the home feel cosy.

“Yes, all this is sculptural in a way but it’s also clean. With the furniture, I’m after large pieces that are useful. And with the dome designed, because the rooms are so large and the ceilings are large, it just makes it more cozy. It gives you a hug,” Mr Skigin said.

“To me, that’s what a house should be: cosy. You want to feel at home, you want to feel relaxed.”

The spacious living areas. Pictures: Glenn Hunt

Mr Skigin — who describes himself as an entrepreneur with investments in property, hemp and cryptocurrencies — was conscious of the environmental impact through the construction process.

Hempcrete panels placed between the walls were manufactured in The Netherlands by Mr Skigin’s Dutch Hemp Group and imported specifically for the residence. Made through combining industrial hemp and concrete, the panels provide significant thermal and sound insulation properties. More than 110 solar panels work to create 35kWh of electricity to power the home off the grid.

Mr Skigin grew up moving around Europe with his family and currently lives in Switzerland. Australia is a special place for the businessman, who studied at the Gold Coast’s Bond University. He still owns property on the Golden Strip and visits at least once per year. The home is getting its finishing touches, with furniture still being bought in. While he is not in the country, the home is likely to be available for booking.