HEALING SPACE
JIM JIM FALLS, NORTHERN TERRITORY

The healing space provides a space to nurture the mind, body, and spirit to enjoy peace, rest, and vitality. The healing space can alleviate, reverse stress or harm, foster the connection of the mind, body, and spirit, support healing intention, and foster healthy relationships.

Located in Jim Jim Falls in the Northern Territory, it is the ultimate breakaway from urban society as it wholeheartedly embraces nature. By incorporating the green, natural surroundings into this design, the space becomes unique, shady, and comfortable while still maintaining impeccable style. The boxy shape of this house is modern, but it rises to two stories for ample interior space. The back patio has curtains and a canopy so that the outdoor area can be enjoyed in any weather while an in-ground pool shimmers with beautiful blue tiles. In the bathroom, a surprisingly situated slender tree trunk breaks through the ceiling in search of natural sunlight.

The main living area of this house utilises an open floor plan with a gourmet kitchen opening out into a full dining room and living room. The kitchen takes on a different feel from the rest of the home; sleek white gloss units create a clean, sharp look, and the space is equipped with all of the state-of-the-art appliances a domestic chef could want. The long kitchen island offers ample food preparation space, whilst banks of tall cupboards take care of storage needs. Large sliding glass doors can let in both sun and fresh air when the climate allows. Another interpretation of the home’s back deck features an outdoor dining area for truly tasteful entertaining.

PROJECT

Healing Space

LOCATION

Jim Jim Falls, Northern Territory

YEAR

2019

CLIENT REQUIREMENTS

Set the mood with lighting
Healing through connection to nature
Space to reflect relaxation
Reflect the qualities of the location in which it is situated
Clutter-free bedroom, kitchen & bathroom
Create a safe place for healing
Bring nature into the space, with a landscape, and plants.
Use of calming paint colours and natural lighting
Views of nature, such as a garden or skylight
Artwork that depicts scenes of nature
The furniture should have nice natural materials to touch
Promote mental well-being with indoor greenery

SOFTWARE + SKILLS

Research
Materiality
Concept Development
Design Thinking
Mood Board
Sketching
Spatial Planning
SketchUp
AutoCAD
Enscape
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign

The awning along with the surrounding trees provides a shady respite from the bright sun. Although the private pond feature is manmade, it brings nature literally up to the doorstep of the home. In this design, nature is once again not forgotten. An elevated walkway, made with wood planks, leaves space for trees to grow up and through it, giving shade to the house and offering a spectacular view of the grounds and surrounding areas. A personal firepit in the sunken outdoor space means entertaining and relaxing are easy and luxurious. An oversized, ornately carved outdoor chair gives the patio a comforting feel as residents can easily relax in the shade of their home.

At every turn, this space offers an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding forest without giving up modern conveniences or privacy. The ceiling is designed to be very thin like paper and designed to let natural light penetrates through during the day and disperse light to all areas. At night artificial lights from lamps and lanterns are diffused to the exterior. The open space between the ceiling and walls will control the lighting inside the room day and night. Building materials are a combination of natural materials such as wood, rock and natural finishing products to create the feeling of natural living with the essence of modern architecture. Butterflies breeze in and out of the home, which is decorated with natural materials such as wood, marble and granite to harmonise with the natural surroundings.

SITE LOCATION
JIM JIM FALLS, NORTHERN TERRITORY

Jim Jim Falls, along with Twin Falls, is the best-known attraction in the Kakadu National Park, drawing visitors in with its 200-metre cascading waterfall that gushes into an ancient gorge below. Combined with the stunning, surreal landscape that surrounds it, the falls offer a mesmerising experience for anyone visiting.

Jim Jim Falls features a 2 km return walk through monsoon forest and over boulders to a deep pool. The waterfall flows from the start of the tropical summer until mid-July. The force of the water coming over the escarpment and the spray it deflects skyward is truly awe-inspiring.

PRECEDENT 1
TREE HOUSE IN ITALIAN FOREST

The geometry with its sharp steep roof is inspired by the surrounding fir and larch trees and is made of local wood. The size of the units ranges from 35 - 45 metres squared on two levels. The project is conceived as a 'slow down' form of tourism where nature and the integration of architecture in it plays a primary role.

The lower level contains a reading and lounge area, alongside a bathroom and an open-tread stair that leads to the upper level. Upstairs is a dedicated sleeping area, with beds orientated to look out over the mountainscape. There is also a second small bathroom tucked at the back of the structure.

PRECEDENT 2
FOREST HOUSE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF NORTH ITALY

Located in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, the forest house is a concept of design intervention for a place where people can get close to nature. As part of the evolving nature of human beings, the home definition must evolve as well. It is a place where users can work remotely in a unique and calm atmosphere, a space for work-from-home professionals to work in a new setting. Minimal, yet elegant design with fluid translations from one object to the other is the main driving idea behind this architectural concept.

With its transparency architecture invites nature to become part of the interior. Vast endless views of mountains over the lake and beautiful breath-taking forest and skies are to be seen from the loft. Bespoke furniture design enhances the quality of the interior and contributes to the high-end atmosphere of the space. Blurring the boundary between the interior and the exterior architecture and the environment are invited to become part of one another.