Modern tropical living spaces take their aesthetic cues from the natural environment, using cool, tactile finishes drawn from natural materials that are designed to sit in harmony with their surrounding landscape and provide a constant source of beauty and comfort. Whipbird residence uses natural stone to create its very own modern tropical aesthetic.
Tropical architecture is all about designing and building to a tropical climate, adopting passive strategies to combat heat gain and maintain thermal comfort. In a modern context, tropical architecture puts special focus on functionality, adopting the minimalist aesthetic of Modernism which eschews all architectural ornamentation – but still cleverly responds to the climatic and environmental conditions of its tropical location.
The Whipbird residence, a dramatically simple and evocative residence set into the hinterland of Noosa in Queensland, shares some elemental likenesses with the modern tropical architecture approach.
Its calm, clean-lined design sits lightly upon the rugged landscape, every angle and view positioned to frame the stunning natural surrounds. “We wanted to curate the experience of entering the site and journey throughout the building, slowly revealing parts of the site that were really special and equally frame those views, so as you move throughout the building you get a different experience of the space,” explains Jen Negline, director of Minnow Studio, the architecture firm who worked with Zerni on Whipbird residence.
The interiors are executed through a sophisticated use of finishes. A tonal approach to the material palette sees raw, natural and tactile finishes selected in a muted and pure palette. The finishes are also very cleverly limited to use singular materials en masse. This works to accentuate the sheer volume of each space.
An Ocean Blue Travertine has been chosen for the monolithic kitchen island, as well as the fireplaces in both the living area and bedroom.
In the kitchen, the benchtop’s long, flawless planes show off the travertine’s lineal veining of cool silvers, taupes and olive tones to great effect. This is complemented by the subtle warmth of grey-washed timbers in the joinery.
Overall the natural patina of the stones used throughout, combined with the purity of the reduced material palate, speaks to the modern tropical architecture approach. it also offers comfort, calm and beauty in a way that continues the home’s relationship with the natural environment.
Words by Alice Blackwood
Photography by Timothy Kaye
