Couldrey by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture
Alexandra Buchanan Architecture reimagines Couldrey as a serene, elevated family home in Bardon, blending minimal interiors with nature, climate and Japanese-Scandinavian influences.
Stepping through the front gate, the entry sequence unfolds with quiet intent. A raised verandah leads into the main living space, gradually revealing glimpses of the surrounding bushland and distant watercourse. The clients – a family of four relocating from a compact apartment – sought a home grounded in its subtropical setting: open yet private, pared back but never stark. Drawing on the light, functional qualities of Scandinavian design and the warmth and restraint of Japanese aesthetics, the interiors reflect a shared affinity for simplicity, comfort and natural materials.
The steep site presented both opportunities and challenges: dense vegetation, a significant fall, and its location within Brisbane’s Traditional Building Character Overlay required a sensitive architectural response. Alexandra Buchanan Architecture drew on the Queenslander vernacular – elevated forms, gabled roofs, wraparound verandahs – and reimagined it for contemporary family life. Rather than append a deck, the L-shaped plan embraces it, carving out a central courtyard that serves as both an outdoor living room and a children’s play area. Raised above the overland flow path, the home takes on a treehouse-like quality while creating space beneath for vegetation and local wildlife to thrive.
Internally, the plan separates public, private and guest zones while maintaining a clear sense of openness. The material palette is minimal but richly detailed; an exposed concrete slab forms both the ground and ceiling planes, its textural presence softened by American oak joinery, Accoya timber battening and curated layers of stone and fabric. The interiors reflect a desire to declutter – a lifestyle shift echoed in the restrained furnishing palette, which includes pieces by Coco Flip, &Tradition and Audo Copenhagen.
Artwork by Skye Jamieson and Shane Willmett adds expressive movement at key moments throughout the home, enriching its meditative rhythm.
In the kitchen, the sculptural Blue Roma stone island anchors the space, introducing subtle complexity to an otherwise calm setting. A mirrored splashback reflects the landscape back into the interior, reinforcing the connection between inside and out. Artwork by Skye Jamieson and Shane Willmett adds expressive movement at key moments throughout the home, enriching its meditative rhythm.
The facade reads as a quiet play of rhythm and recess. Pitched rooflines echo the gables of neighbouring homes, while deep balconies and timber screening lend depth and privacy. Generous overhangs allow for year-round openness, and the envelope is designed to passively regulate heat in Brisbane’s humid climate.
Elevated yet deeply grounded, Couldrey achieves a sense of calm through spatial generosity, material integrity and thoughtful restraint. It is, as the clients describe, “a peaceful sanctuary … with everything we need and nothing we don’t”.
Architecture and interior design by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture. Build by Candour Builders. Landscape design by Urban Spark Studio. Artwork by Shane Willmett and Skye Jamieson.
