Lake Weyba House • 1996

Sunshine Coast, Queesnland. Gubi Gubi Country
Architect: Gabriel and Elizabeth Poole

“ Lake Weyba House by Gabriel and Elizabeth Poole was completed in 1996 when I was in my third year of environmental design and architecture degrees at the University of Tasmania. The house consists of a series of three pavilions; one for living, one for washing and a third for sleeping, and was the architect and interior designer’s own home.

Each pavilion is connected through external decks and relies on the occupants transitioning between inside and outside in order to circulate between each functional space. This resonated with me, having spent much of my childhood making, playing and daydreaming in the bush or paddock among the gum trees, and many a glorious wintery night barefoot and outside. I would make tent-like structures with Dad’s golf umbrella, a tarp and an outdoor setting on its side and sit in the cool air watching the rain bucket down.

To me this house is the elegant, grown-up version where occupants are encouraged – compelled – to part of the ever-changing environment. While this concept may work better in some parts of our vast country than others, the idea of working with and operating your house to achieve a personal comfort level and still be closely integrated with the environment is one that has stuck with me.

The separation of the functions feels almost mindful and I imagine the bathing pavilion (with its layers of light and weather protection, and large pool/bath and shower with a transparent roof) would provide for a ritualistic, perhaps even a more conscious and immersive experience, than the rushed functional approach to personal hygiene that so many contemporary bathrooms provide and nothing more. The expressed truss structure and fine roof planes display the work of a deft hand and an engineer who has helped achieve what looks like crafted joinery. The design, which harnesses sunlight and rainwater, is highly functional. The home epitomises the Pooles’ distinctive architectural style and sustainable design ethos, with crafted lightweight structures including fabric that has openess and a strong connection to its surrounding landscape. Sadly, Gabriel passed away in 2020.”

Sally Timmins

Co-founder, director and architect Timmins + Whyte