For His Parents, An Aussie Architect Builds a Sublime Getaway

Many architects' first project is their parents' new house, but this one stands apart from the pack, cantilevering over a verdant pond and hiding a spa bath under its floor. Named the Wirra Willa Pavilion after the indigenous Australian word for 'green tree,' this is one of the first projects by Australian architect Matthew Woodward. It's located on his family's property about one hour north of Sydney, adjacent a natural dam and spring-fed pond.

"The purpose of this project was really about a celebration of the landscape and place," Woodward told Dezeen, and a bath hidden within the tallow-wood floor (a native wood related to eucalyptus) allows residents sink into a spa bath while immersing in the panoramic view. The steel, glass, and concrete structure features a folding "Murphy bed" on its landward side. Woodward definitely gets our Son of the Year award for this.

∙ Matthew Woodward Architecture [Matthew Woodward Architecture]
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