The Australian Institute of Architects House of the Year 2014 for Queensland: ALKIRA.

Nestled within 73 acres of rainforest, fringed by over 600 metres of secluded absolute beachfront.
Five years in the making, ALKIRA (Australian Aboriginal 'bright and sunny, a happy place in the sun') represents an audacious attempt to blend cutting-edge sustainable living architecture and design with one of the oldest landscapes on Earth. Located in the only place on the planet where two World Heritage listings converge, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area - ALKIRA was born from the vision of multi award-winning architect Charles Wright, who with remarkable initiative chose the thermal properties of concrete - not traditionally associated with cool and breezy living conditions - as his construction medium for this unique building, a Trophy House like no other.
Suspended within an engineered lake, the house and surrounds during daylight reflect absolute infinity above; transitioning to starlit nights to inspire a Poet. Nestled within 73 acres of rainforest, fringed by over 600 metres of secluded absolute beachfront, private boardwalks facilitate the stroll through world-renowned rainforest, encompassing mesophyll vine forest on beach sands - the rarest type found in the Wet Tropics World Heritage area, and most complex of any vegetation type found on the Australian continent. A cooling, permanent freshwater creek beckons the energised visitor to linger.
The Wow Factor is in abundance the moment one enters ALKIRA's hallowed space. Innovative features designed to make the most of the environment abound, not only in terms of extending the landscape and climate into the house, but by skillfully drawing upon the natural environment to manage the building, minimising the need for artificial climate control. First glance can be deceptive - the building appears to float like a lily-pad on the lake - but like the lily, it is firmly anchored.
ALKIRA harnesses its energy and water from nature. Rainwater is harvested from the massive roofline of the house, depositing in a 250 kilolitre underground tank, sunken in concrete at centre of the house, providing more than a water reservoir - a massive cooling resource. The concrete infrastructure of the building, with extensive solar panels on rooflines, absorbs and converts a formidable amount of energy during the day, fed in to an 18kw solar power system, ensuring the entire building is maintained at a comfortable temperature all times of year.
The commercial quality, fully-loaded stainless steel Miele kitchen, boasting multiple gas hobs and a wok, electric Teppanyaki grills, Barbeques, Pyrolytic Oven with Rotisserie, Microwave, Dishwasher, Espresso Machine, and custom fashioned walk-in cool room and freezer, will inspire a Michelin Star chef. For the wine enthusiast, a 2,400 bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar is under your control.
Six separate bedroom pods, five balconied and all with en suite bathrooms, fitted out with variety of rare local rainforest timbers and Chillagoe marble, with each space featuring differing framed perspectives of lake, rainforest and sky. A study is fitted with extensive marble benches, and generous built-in bookshelves.
A spacious open air theatre, with latest 84 inch LED flat screen TV and surround sound, accompanied by no less than nine other comprehensive audio visual systems, throughout bedrooms and lounge spaces in living pavilion, complement indoor entertainment.
The helipad is conveniently located 100 metres from the house, for those wanting to bi-pass the majestical 2 hour drive via the world's oldest rain forest from Cairns International airport.