Tucked into a corner of the family property is a tropical retreat for an elderly couple. It's technically a granny (and grandpa) flat, but this modern home designed by Baahouse + Baastudio is not your average granny flat. A modern retreat for an elderly couple - the perfect spot to enjoy retirement close to family...
In a beautiful hilly corner of Samford Valley, just 21 kilometres from Brisbane is this stylish two-bedroom granny flat.
"The brief for the project was to design a small, tropical, modern house that utilises the steep site but also gives the owner a fantastic home where they can enjoy their lifestyle." - Baahouse + Baastudio
Large open decks make the compact home feel spacious and connect to the lush sub-tropical garden. In this friendly climate, the decks can be used as extra living space virtually all year. With large sliding doors, the front deck is designed as an extension of the living area, making a modest living space feel much larger than it is in reality and bringing the outdoors in.
The design of Samford Valley Small House is based off a design from Baahouse + Baastudio called Lincoln 2B. It includes two bedrooms, a clever ensuite-style bathroom which can also be accessed from the rest of the house through a shared toilet when necessary, study area, laundry and an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area. An efficient floor plan means space isn't wasted on corridors to maximise the home's 80 square metres.
Vertical textured boards match the existing house on the site, but in black the home recedes into the lush greenery. The dark colour also makes a bold, modern statement. Hardwood details help the home to blend into this tropical site.
"One of the feature materials if the use of fibreglass transparent cladding on the deck area. The fibreglass is semi-transparent which creates a lovely sense of light inside and from the outside gives the house a water-like appearance glow. At night time the house becomes like a Japanese lantern which glows in the dark."
Inside a large raked ceiling increases the sense of space further. Clerestory windows make the home feel bright and airy, again defying its size to feel like a much larger home. hardwood timber floors continue inside, giving the home a natural warmth and connecting the inside to the deck.
Louvre windows throughout the home are perfect for a tropical climate, helping to catch even the slightest breeze. Combined with ceiling fans, the home feels comfortable most of the year without any air-conditioning.
This compact home is light and breezy. With a great connection to the outdoors and a carefully considered floor plan it feels spacious in spite of its size. It's the perfect home to kick back and enjoy retirement surrounded by family.
