- Project: Whipbird House
- Architect: Zerni
- Location: Australia, Doonan, Noosa Hinterland, Queensland
- Year: 2023
- Area: 1100 m2
- Photography: Timothy Kaye
A Brutalist Haven in the Noosa Hinterland
Set atop a ridgeline in Queensland’s Noosa Hinterland, Whipbird House by Zerni emerges as a sculptural, Brutalist-inspired retreat defined by craftsmanship, material integrity, and environmental harmony. Conceived as a T-shaped pavilion, the residence balances raw tectonic strength with poetic sensitivity to its lush surroundings — a celebration of the Australian landscape through bold form and restrained elegance.
Design Concept: Brutalism Meets Tranquility
The architectural narrative of Whipbird House is grounded in contrast — robust material expression paired with spatial calmness. Designed to coexist with the land rather than dominate it, the home adopts a low-slung pavilion form, split into two wings that follow the contours of the site.
Each volume engages with the environment through deep terraces, courtyards, and framed vistas. The design blurs the boundary between built and natural environments, creating a continuous dialogue between structure, light, and landscape.
“The air felt clear, the whipbirds were humming, every sense was stimulated in the most calming, uncontrived way,” recalls developer Jayden Zernich, founder of Zerni. “The vision became clear — to create a secluded and private reprieve where nature’s beauty is accentuated and luxurious living is epitomized.”
Site & Program
Nestled in Doonan, one of the Sunshine Coast’s most scenic enclaves, the property spans over an expansive landscape reforested with 16,735 native trees and plants, reinforcing ecological restoration as part of its design ethos.
The five-bedroom home is divided into two primary wings:
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Private Wing: Dedicated to bedrooms and secluded terraces for quiet retreat.
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Public Wing: Houses living, dining, and entertainment spaces, unfolding across terraced platforms that connect to outdoor amenities including a 20m Naked Mineral pool, Supergrasse tennis court, bathing court, and cascading garden courtyards.
This zoning creates a subtle hierarchy of privacy and openness while ensuring every space enjoys framed hinterland or coastal views.
Architectural Expression & Materiality
Whipbird’s architectural language is distinctly tectonic and grounded. Materials are celebrated in their raw, expressive states — textured, weighty, and enduring — yet choreographed with precision and refinement.
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The ground level is enveloped in black Abodo shiplap cladding, transitioning into handmade Roman Lutyens bricks from the Natural Brick Company, chosen for their tonal subtlety and artisanal character.
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Light grey granite walls and large black-framed glazing articulate the structure’s linear geometry while framing panoramic views of the Noosa hinterland.
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Ocean Blue Travertine from Italy, sourced by Artedomus, adds depth and cool sophistication across interior surfaces.
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Rustic granite from Granite Works — nearly 88 tonnes in total — forms free-standing baths, vanities, tiles, cobblestones, and pool coping, emphasizing the continuity between architecture and landscape.
The contrast of dark and light materials anchors the home visually: darker elements dissolve into the surrounding forest, while lighter upper walls recede against the sky — a visual embodiment of balance and integration.
Interior Design & Detailing
Internally, the home’s palette reflects tactility and timelessness.
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European French Oak flooring by Made by Storey infuses warmth beneath the Brutalist surfaces.
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High-end Swiss-made V-ZUG appliances — including the CookTop Wok and Teppanyaki — elevate the kitchen’s function and precision.
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Subtle geometric detailing in joinery and lighting reinforces the architectural rhythm while maintaining a serene, gallery-like atmosphere.
The interior composition — curated in collaboration with Space Furniture and The Conlon Group — champions restraint and craftsmanship, aligning textures and tones to evoke quiet luxury.
Connection to Landscape
Whipbird House redefines the relationship between luxury and nature. The terraced gardens, native planting, and open-air courtyards establish continuity between the home’s material palette and its surroundings.
The result is a dwelling that feels carved from the landscape, where the architecture’s monumental presence coexists harmoniously with the subtleties of light, vegetation, and wind. The integration of sustainable landscaping and passive design principles — such as cross ventilation and shading — underscores a modern approach to tropical comfort.
Craftsmanship & Collaboration
The project’s success lies in the synergy between architecture, landscape, and craft. Zerni collaborated with leading specialists, including:
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Minnow Studio (Architect Jen Negline, HIA Australian Home of the Year 2022 winner)
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Artedomus for natural stone finishes
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Granite Works for custom-cut granite installations
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The Conlon Group for landscape architecture
Together, they shaped an architecture of permanence and poise — a structure that feels both monumental and meditative.
The Essence of Whipbird
At its core, Whipbird House is an architectural poem about place and material — a fusion of Brutalism’s raw honesty with the serenity of the Australian hinterland. It offers a sensory refuge, where every texture, scent, and sound deepens one’s connection to the landscape.
As developer Jayden Zernich states, “Whipbird presents a new level of craftsmanship yet to be seen on the Sunshine Coast — where every detail speaks to enduring design and the luxury of restraint.”
