Designed by Reitsma + Associates, Rising Sun Residence provides a holiday-like experience from inside a concrete super house, celebrating natural light and connections to the outdoors. Facing directly north, the home is named for both its view and reflection of the sun emerging from the horizon.
Located in the beachside suburb of Bokarina, Rising Sun Residence overlooks a verdant landscape of shrubs, trees and private waterways. Interpreting the secluded site as an opportunity for bold expression, Reitsma + Associates creates architecture that strikes a balance between grand and inviting. “When someone first approaches the home, I want them to be surprised,” says Isaac Stott, lead designer at Reitsma + Associates. “I want them to be confused and a little bit entertained by what they’ve been approached with.” The design brief detailed a residential oasis turned away from neighbours, instead engaging with the natural surroundings. “We wanted to create a home for the clients that felt like a holiday when they stepped in,” says Mitch Maylon, project lead. “It is elegant, easy to flow through – a space that the clients never want to leave.” Rooftop balconies and an external living area offer alternatives to the relaxation experiences often presented inside a concrete super house.
“The entrance to the home is dramatic,” says Stott. From initial archways echoing the shape of the sun, vehicle gates pull apart to reveal an open-air motor court. Natural light often plays across the cobblestone floor and the timber that clads the garages on either side. The formal entrance repeats the curve of the initial arches, after which a frameless glass door opens to an internal courtyard inside a concrete super house. Bracketed by fireplace plinths, the entryway subtly directs the gaze away from outdoor furniture, towards the pool and waterways beyond. “This area’s intended to distract you from the journey from the front door to the main spaces,” says Stott. “It draws your eyes to the natural beauty of the plan, rather than focusing on where you’re going.”
With commanding form, Rising Sun Residence embodies innovative luxury. The breadth of its left and right wings, bridged by an upper level, creates a series of sharp concrete overhangs which are then softened by cascading plants across the façade. A resulting undercroft is used to shelter the outdoor living area. While the right wing contains relaxation spaces – two bedrooms, an office and a multi-purpose room, each with sweeping views of either the gardens or the waterways – the left wing is dedicated to communal areas, with the kitchen-dining space serving as a focal point to the north. Above the wings, the upper level houses the primary suite. In the spacious bathroom, the shower doors can be pulled back to enable an indoor-outdoor shower experience from inside a concrete super house. Outside, a path joining the two wings leads around the pool, showcasing its long perimeter.
Intimately linked to light and nature, Rising Sun Residence provides a dynamic series of spaces inside a concrete super house. Combining panoramic views with compelling architecture, Reitsma + Associates delivers a home with clear identity: a vibrant Bokarina sanctuary.
00:00 – Introduction to the Concrete Super House
01:00 – Behind the Name ‘Rising Sun’
01:49 – The Family Centred Brief
02:24 – A Dramatic Entrance
03:21 – Walkthrough and Layout of the House
05:00 – Creating a Vision of Luxury
05:22 – Striking Features
06:15 – Proud Moments
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Photography by Z Media.
Architecture by Reitsma + Associates.
Vehicle by Range Rover.
Filmed and edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Bokarina, Queensland, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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