The freestanding ‘Manshed’ was designed to complement a residential compound on the banks of the Brisbane River. The building was designed to evoke the primal qualities of external gathering places the client experienced on a recent trip overseas. The fireplace and rich material palette were central to this brief. The enclosing Bluestone walls retain the warmth of the fireplace, while glass either slides away or folds up to allow absolute connection with the river and landscape. The lower level embodies the idea of prospect and refuge. A bunker-like gym is playfully connected to the river through a pair of monolithic viewing portals concealed in the landscape.