Aussie Style: Enduring Appeal of the Classic Queenslander Veranda
Take a look at the elements that make this iconic Australian veranda the ultimate outdoor room
Johanna MacMinn
January 15, 2015
Walking into a Queenslander is like stepping into a bit of Australian history. These homes are found in Queensland — Australia’s northeast state, bordering the Pacific Ocean and the Coral Sea — and neighboring areas. Their high ceilings, French doors, wood, glass detailing and beautiful, wide verandas make these special homes to be in. Some Queenslanders are gracious and grand, while others are just simple worker’s cottages. But they have one thing in common: They have at least one veranda.
Take a walk with us through these verandas, or covered porches. You’ll see quintessential elements that can work for homes in other parts of the world that enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Take a walk with us through these verandas, or covered porches. You’ll see quintessential elements that can work for homes in other parts of the world that enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Queenslanders are a classic example of vernacular Australian architecture, found mainly in the city of Brisbane. European settlers needed a way to deal with the heat and humidity of subtropical Queensland, and Queenslander-style homes were a design response to the settlers’ new environment. Verandas were and still are designed to provide shade, catch breezes and offer protection from afternoon storms, but they also provide a semioutdoor room that’s perfect for everyday informal living. It is not uncommon to spend an afternoon as a guest and barely set foot inside your host’s home. The Queenslander veranda is the ultimate in outdoor living. Here are some key elements that help to make it unique.
Wide, elevated spaces. Queenslander homes are often elevated to enhance the effect of cooling breezes. They are built on stumps, which allows air to pass under, and have a lightweight wood construction, which allows the heat to escape quickly. Deep, wide verandas in Queensland’s climate are perfect for informal living most of the year, because they offer a comfortable, protected space with a breeze and an elevated view.
Wide, elevated spaces. Queenslander homes are often elevated to enhance the effect of cooling breezes. They are built on stumps, which allows air to pass under, and have a lightweight wood construction, which allows the heat to escape quickly. Deep, wide verandas in Queensland’s climate are perfect for informal living most of the year, because they offer a comfortable, protected space with a breeze and an elevated view.
Heritage detailing. A veranda framed with white posts, brackets and decorative balustrades is the symbol of the quintessential Queenslander. Decorative features are added inside and out and include embellishments such as balustrades, column brackets, gables, louvers, lattices, battens, colored glass and transoms. They look beautiful and also help to provide privacy, sun protection and direct air movement.
French doors. French doors lead from the house to the veranda. They are thrown open as soon as one walks into the Queenslander. They allow the hot air to escape and fresh breezes to flow in. They also create beautiful vignettes, such as this one, all around the veranda. Security is usually not a concern, as lattice veranda doors and panels, along with louvers, provide privacy and protection.
Lattices, louvers and awnings. All are typically included in the Queensland veranda. They provide a flexible means of controlling breezes, blocking sun and protecting the verandas from torrential downpours. As mentioned, they also have the bonus of providing privacy and security where required.
Partial enclosure. Verandas are usually partially enclosed spaces, but some have become fully enclosed over the years. That’s because as people’s needs have changed, so too have their homes. Extra sleeping spaces are sometimes required, and parts of extensive verandas have been enclosed to create bedrooms, called sleepouts. Kitchens and bathrooms have also been added to built-in veranda space.
Queenslander homes are highly flexible. It is great fun to walk around one and look for clues on the floor and ceiling as to where the original walls may have been. This playroom is a classic example of a sleepout that has been repurposed to meet the needs of the family.
Queenslander homes are highly flexible. It is great fun to walk around one and look for clues on the floor and ceiling as to where the original walls may have been. This playroom is a classic example of a sleepout that has been repurposed to meet the needs of the family.
How to Make the Most of a Veranda
Make it so much more than a doorstep. Verandas are like a big welcome mat for Queenslanders. They are the first room you enter; they set the tone for the rest of the home. They are much more than a passageway between public and private lives — they also provide a place to stop and stay awhile. A comfortable and well-designed veranda provides the backdrop for hours of pleasure, alone or with friends.
Make it so much more than a doorstep. Verandas are like a big welcome mat for Queenslanders. They are the first room you enter; they set the tone for the rest of the home. They are much more than a passageway between public and private lives — they also provide a place to stop and stay awhile. A comfortable and well-designed veranda provides the backdrop for hours of pleasure, alone or with friends.
Choose the right furniture. The semiprotected nature of the Queenslander veranda allows for the use of robust decor that can take a little weather. Sisal rugs, sofas with washable covers, mirrors and floor lamps all work beautifully. Queensland verandas do eclectic well. Thrift store treasures, hand-me-downs and antique finds can look amazing when tied together with coordinating soft furnishings.
Embrace the indoor-outdoor connection. Verandas are an essential link between the indoors and the outdoors. They are perfect places for grouping beautiful pots with lush tropical plants or letting an orchid shine. Plants or freshly cut foliage are often found year-round on verandas. They offer a living dimension that reinforces the indoor-outdoor connection and create a visual link to the larger landscape.
Enjoy the climate. Brisbane enjoys a pleasant climate all year round, which is why a lot of living takes place outside, and the veranda is used day and night. Many people here have tables and chairs for dining and informal seating such as a daybed piled with cushions. It is also common to find outdoor kitchens with barbecues, sinks and small refrigerators on well-equipped verandas.
There is a graciousness and warmth to Queenslanders. They rose from necessity — a response to the hot and humid climate — to become an important part of Australia’s cultural heritage, and a testament to the importance of design for where and how we live.
More:
14 Beautiful In-Between Spaces: Verandas Around the World
Stilt Houses: 10 Reasons to Get Your House Off the Ground
More:
14 Beautiful In-Between Spaces: Verandas Around the World
Stilt Houses: 10 Reasons to Get Your House Off the Ground
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Looks like the wide verandahs you find in turn of the century homes and buildings in India. Makes sense, Europeans found the same way to deal with the heat and humidity there.
This large, double-Storey home with a fully tiled verandah that wraps around the façade is a good example of Australian heritage homes, with modern elements. Thanks to perfectly designed Wire Balustrading on the verandah, the home’s aesthetic is both modern and classic. Also, the 360-degree panoramic views, thanks to the large windows that line the perimeter of the home are a great feature. These windows maximize natural lighting, illuminating the sheen and texture of the materials inside the home. See for yourself
Sorry, Henry Parkes, but that house does absolutely nothing for me. It is no comparison to a Queenslander, it just totally lacks any character at all. As Kerry Chapman said there is a lot of work keeping the timber, but that glass can take a lot of work too on a far more regular basis and gives absolutely no privacy.