Designed as an innovative response to an active lifestyle and a commitment to sustainability, Birabaan Nest transforms the conventions of suburban living. With its innovative use of Cross-Laminated Timber and playful architectural language, this Waratah residence reimagines how a modern family can live, play, and connect with nature.

At the heart of Birabaan Nest is an open yard, a vibrant play space for the family’s young boys, around which the home is centered with a living pavilion at the front and a sleeping pavilion at the rear. These distinct zones are connected by a cloistered walkway, serving as both a functional axis and a meditative passage, offering glimpses of the yard and fostering a sense of continuity.

The site’s sloping nature is embraced through a staggered design that distributes the building’s bulk, softening the streetscape by avoiding a monolithic three-story façade.

The design encompasses a range of spaces to support daily life and activities, including open-plan living, dining, and kitchen areas that maximize natural light, oriented toward the yard on one side and the southern hillside views on the other, providing cross-ventilation. The rooftop enhances the home's versatility, with a lounge and dining area designed for entertaining and a private sitting area and yoga platform seamlessly integrated into the top-floor master suite, which connects to the green roof and creates the illusion of being at ground level amid lush planting. Practical considerations are equally important: a gym, workshop, and generous storage for kayaks and other sporting equipment have been incorporated. The lower ground floor includes au pair area which is connected, but still distinct from the family space.