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Former Australian house of the year finds a buyer

Sophie Foster

Sophie Foster

The Courier-Mail

5 Planchonella Close, Edge Hill, has sold.


A jawdropping cliffside retreat made of raw concrete, rosewood timber and frameless glass has sold, just five years after it swept the architecture world by storm.

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The home is nestled in the middle of a rainforest.


Frameless glass walls are the ultimate in indoor-outdoor flow.


Planchonella House, brought to life by Jesse Bennett Architect, took the housing design world by storm in 2015 when it was built, winning the top national gong at the Australian Institute of Architects Awards – the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture (Houses New).

It taken the design scene by storm in the lead-up to that, winning House of the Year at the AIA Far North Queensland Regionals as well as being named Project of the Year.

It then went on to be crowned the Queensland winner of the Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture (Houses New) before taking out the national award.

The home appears to float in the middle of the trees.


Strong statement made of concrete, glass and rosewood timber, with the pool in the top left or the outdoor space.


The home was also Australian House of the Year at the Houses Awards and winner of the New House over 200sq m gong as well.

Despite having all those accolades under its belt, sealing a deal had proved difficult since the property came on the market in November last year. A $2.25m price tag was put on the property when the COVID-19 health crisis hit, which remained all the way through to July.

The home was listed as having been sold on October 2, almost a year since having first been listed.

The rooftop is a garden, perfect for catching some Queensland sunshine.


Looking towards the house with the rooftop garden visible from the above ground pool.


Agent Nadine Edwards of LJ Hooker Cairns Edge Hill listed the property as “a home with soul”.

“The structure and fixtures have been handcrafted and upon first approach the appeal will be instant for those astute buyers craving a home with soul. Surrounded by lush heritage rainforest, this home has been designed and constructed utilising concrete profiles sympathetic to the contours of site ridge line and ensuring minimal impact on the natural landscape.”

The open plan design was innovative with movable walls that turned open spaces into functional rooms, she said, allowing “an effortless flow between indoor and outdoors”.

Raw concrete, rosewood timber, frames and fixtures, and frameless glass windows combined effectively in the home.

“Extensive use of frameless glass windows and doors allows unobstructed views to be appreciated from every vantage point within the residence.”

The property is set on 4,818sq m with views of the city and rainforest and is located just 7km from Cairns CBD.

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