![Corner view of Lavarack House, a tropical modernism home based in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4bf99b17562b2f543eeb5ccb270418f8113ce9ef422e55e8f1f376f12dde9915/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-18.jpg)
Lavarack House
House
Location | Mermaid Beach, Queensland
Client | Confidential
Photographer | Andy Macpherson
Services | Architecture, Interior Design, Design, Documentation
Lavarack House embodies a tropical modernism vernacular that perfectly aligns with the Gold Coast's subtropical environment. The design strives to create a strong sense of place through both its form and material choices. The building's linear form is accentuated by a curved corner that addresses the intersection of Petrel Avenue and Lavarack Road, emphasising its significance within the Nobby Beach area.
The material palette is natural and warm, featuring off-form concrete, natural random-stone wall cladding, and timber screening. These elements reference the sub-tropical modernism architecture while providing a sense of warmth. The bold concrete spandrels stand in contrast to the timber screens, which offer both privacy and sun shading, adding a fine-grained texture to the facade.
The consistency between the interior and exterior material palette, combined with custom interior joinery, contributes to the building's hard-lined architecture. This rigidity is softened by planter edges, which introduce cascading greenery to the streetscape, creating a harmonious blend of architecture and landscape.
![The architect and client stand on the large cantilevered balcony of a new luxury residence.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/57f3721dc6f5ca4b1429c3b652f0fdd0ab1bc080a4a2727c804233b2069cf302/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-1.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/19bf5f8df9fd2fac3743cbf7e61ec40339f04ffbd7170000193d15ce04db3462/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-3.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6e4c466290b46706f7d7fd8a6382c5a80ffda734ab230b90e9013fc811fdd14f/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-19.jpg)
![Beautifully styled interior dining space with large floor to ceiling curtains and dappled light.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/effd86e55764257f3da0df61e0566fe4aaafa4ce3aa596b9558609eb58146668/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d23554ebffb752ca36e53b0eb55ead2c3814b20646acd76a3785eb971c46ff48/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-21.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7f9c65b78ac6c914048bb24ace3573c78f6d69a6303f67e88601cf33970ea0b6/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-13.jpg)
![Lounge area of a modernist home featuring tiled floors, timber joinery and a curved island bench.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8a9216c5a1909fd655e1acca6aad978cdbc9f86aaaa143b1477982e02432d7bf/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-26.jpg)
![Curved island bench in a modern kitchen made of stone and timber joinery.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3074988772fe3a99b8368541b1d56808c294e021352bd41926868dc60e955927/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-27.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f467dfe894b1c950f3ba30dfa238f2747dc2b0be8d56c84cb4fffb7d26432685/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-9.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32233fc94c7959e78c5e709dd00b46ef0f87d25b8a3528aad569fdf72dbd9bf5/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-6.jpg)
![A clean modernist home with simplistic streamlined furnishings.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a62b451e6d2a89319456bafd76af01df555b26e5a5bed82629c0f3454334223c/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-16.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/96acb056740d3a8aa29fbff334f8c2ab140cb952afed381b807eb7976c7d9272/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-8.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f8520356f8b6fa09dda95ef815d3451698f648fac435f87ed53678539fba929/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-17.jpg)
![The large lounge space connects seamlessly with the outdoor balcony, creating an indoor/outdoor living environment.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/30ad960bd4b30fdda9a3ad496a0729731d9c484b0bc2231fd442ab470e362921/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-34.jpg)
![Elevational view of Lavarack House reveals the layering of stone, natural timber, concrete materials, softened by cascading landscape.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/271015e96aa14fd47b16f86d2ca4ffc0025846cb279905d9be678895df59d629/bda-architecture-lavarack-house-mermaid-beach-qld-32.jpg)