Architectural firm Archterra has designed the Wilderness House, a partially elevated home in Margaret River, Australia, that sits among native marri, jarrah and banksia trees. Surrounded by bushland, the home was created to give its owners views of the sunrise and the trees below while blending seamlessly with the natural environment.
The house follows a simple rectangular layout, separated east-west into sleeping and living zones. Its exterior is clad in durable, no-maintenance, bushfire-resistant materials including Colorbond sheeting, hot dip galvanized steel, raw compressed cement sheet and raw spotted gum decking. These finishes allow the home to withstand the elements while requiring minimal upkeep.
On the lower floor, the home features a single ground floor bedroom that doubles as a storage room. The bathroom on this level also includes an outdoor shower.
Inside the main floor, the ceiling is lined with pine plywood sheets and large areas of glass slide open, creating the feeling of being on a platform up among the treetops. Narrow louvered ventilation slots work with the sliding doors to quickly release hot air during summer months. The open plan living space connects the living area, dining zone and kitchen, allowing sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows to fill the home.
The upper floor has a unique layout with no internal doors. The service areas, including the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, robe and a study, are grouped into a centrally located pod. The walls of the pod stop short of the ceiling to maintain visual flow and create a sense of openness throughout the home.
The main bathroom opens directly onto north-facing sliding doors, letting in sunlight. A curved white mosaic tiled wall gently separates the bath from the bedroom, while the same curve is echoed in the surround of the bath itself. Across the house, raw galvanized steel Juliet balconies allow all sliding glass doors to be fully opened, merging indoor and outdoor spaces.
Archterra’s Wilderness House shows how modern design can coexist with the Australian bush. By elevating the home, opening it fully to light and air and choosing materials that withstand the elements, the architects have created a space that feels both minimal and immersive.
Photography by Douglas Mark Black | Architects: Archterra Architects | Principal in charge: Paul O’Reilly | Builder: Hanrahan Construction | Engineering: Cotan
