Perched high on a steep, forested slope in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Bariya Rainforest House is a striking example of sustainable, site-responsive design. Designed in 2006 by architect David Gole of JDA Co., the home is both a private family residence and the heart of a long-term environmental regeneration project.

The house is nestled amongst towering Quandong trees and Bunya Pines, its timber and tin form inspired by the vernacular rural sheds found throughout the hinterland. The design comprises three offset, interlocking volumes over three levels, creating a series of intimate sleeping and living spaces that balance shelter and retreat with openness to the surrounding landscape.

Northern decks step down to meet the terrain with basalt stone thresholds sourced from the property itself, while carefully framed windows capture views ranging from close-up forest to sweeping, layered mountains. Each space is designed for natural ventilation and light, encouraging a seamless connection between the indoors and the natural environment. The heart of the home is its soaring, voided living space, arranged around a central fireplace — a gathering place that unites the family across different levels of the house.

Bariya Rainforest House is also the centrepiece of a 25-acre property that has undergone a remarkable transformation. When David and his wife, artist Judith Sinnamon, purchased the land, it had been heavily cleared by soldier settlers following World War II and was overrun with weeds. Over the past two decades, they have planted more than 8,500 rainforest trees, gradually regenerating the landscape into a flourishing wildlife habitat and declared nature refuge. Today, the property plays a vital role in stabilising waterways that feed into the Obi Obi Creek and Lake Baroon catchments, while providing essential habitat for local flora and fauna.

Visitors to Bariya Rainforest House during Sunshine Coast Open House will have the unique opportunity to experience both the architecture and its broader environment. Tours include time in the house and Judith’s art studio, followed by a guided walk through the restored rainforest down to Obi Obi Creek — a journey that reflects the resilience and renewal embedded in both the home and the land.