To design this future-proof modernist home for a flood-prone site in Queensland, the architect relied on the extensive use of concrete.
The challenge?
The owners of this site backing onto the Noosa River loved the clean, linear “desert” architecture of 1960s Palm Springs – but they also wanted a home that would stand the test of time.
The solution
Oskar Booth of Tim Ditchfield Architects describes Las Palmas as a contemporary take on Palm Springs mid-century modernism, a style famous for its use of raw and simple materials.
The design team and the clients embraced concrete as the blank canvas that would not only allow the other features and materials to “pop,” but also ensure
Las Palmas created its own legacy.
The home makes extensive use of exposed off-form concrete walls and polished concrete floors, with concrete deck roofs over the main house. Booth says that the thermal mass of the concrete structural elements, combined with passive design features such as wide eaves, helps to maintain a constant internal temperature through summer and winter.
“It’s a pretty resilient house because there’s almost zero plasterboard on the ground floors,” says Booth. “If it flooded, it would be a case of replacing cabinetry and some carpet, and that would be about it.”
That’s one of the things that makes Las Palmas so special – it’s a house that can adapt over time without ever losing touch with its roots.