Mapleton House
Mapleton House is designed for a two-person household, responding to its locale on the ridgeline of suburban-rural site in the Blackall Range — the traditional land of the Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara peoples. A shared Dreamtime story tells of a feud between two warriors, Ninderry and Coolum, over a girl named Maroochy, who eventually fled to the Blackall Range hinterland, forming a deep connection to the land.
The compact house was strategically placed below the busy main street to minimise traffic noise and open up views of Mt Ninderry and Mt Coolum from the public footpath — a proposal welcomed by the local community. A tactile and utilitarian zinc exterior was chosen to allow the house to recede into the landscape as it patinas over time, while accentuating a traditional pitched roof form to comply with the Blackall Range Local Plan. Endemic plant species have been integrated into the surrounding landscape to connect with the local flora, softening the boundary between the house and the public stair.
The floor slab is stepped to feel as though it is part of the land, encouraging occupants to engage with the site’s natural slope. Walls and floors are angled to frame views of the mountains, guiding movement through the house dynamically — open and expansive in shared areas, more intimate in private zones.
Large openings to the east capture cool summer breezes sweeping up the hill, while sliding screens provide control over wind, sun, shade, and privacy. A sheltered outdoor terrace doubles as the main circulation path, heightening awareness of the ever-changing weather and light. A generous opening to the north of the terrace allows winter sun to penetrate deep into the interior, warming the polished concrete slab through thermal mass. Glass sliding doors and screens offer flexibility to partition the house into distinct zones or open it entirely for gatherings. The layout separates everyday living areas from private spaces, with utility cores such as the pantry and bathrooms in between, creating an intricate weave of open pathways and quiet corners throughout the home.
The house acknowledges its connection to the site’s history, the neighbourhood, and the landscape — challenging conventional notions of dwelling through spatial play and delight.
