Project Feature | Halo House
HALO HOUSE
Buddina, Sunshine Coast
We caught up with the Directors of Arlo Stone to explore the vision behind HALO — a sculptural beachside residence tucked into the coastal enclave of Buddina. Completed in 2024, the home offers a bold take on modern Mediterranean design, blending natural materials, flowing forms, and thoughtful lighting to create a space that feels both timeless and effortlessly luxurious.
Can you share a little bit about who you are, and what you do during the week?
We are Josh & Jarrad, the Directors of Arlo Stone + Finishes. When we aren’t in the showroom with clients, we are at the warehouse sorting slabs and products or walking our dog at the beach!
Can you walk us through the vision behind Halo and how you approached blending Mediterranean design with modern Australian architecture?
The basis of HALO’s design is a modern Mediterranean architectural style, which includes the use of curved & softened shapes, bolstered architecture, natural materials & stone elements with a timeless aesthetic that emulates the effortless and luxurious living. Inspired by a trip to Europe and specifically Florence, Italy, the way in which stone is applied to all surfaces and not just bench tops inspired us to use marble slabs to the entry floor and on the stairs as a feature. The textures or the stone cladding used throughout plus the texture of the tiles helped bring in character while staying timeless & true to the location of the home - beachside Buddina.
How did you balance aesthetics with functionality when designing this space?
Functionality and practicality were always at the forefront when designing not only our main spaces but also the wet areas and outdoor zones. We applied natural stone finishes and materials to the walls, and used porcelain or sealed products for the floors. This allowed us to select beautifully soft materials for the walls that are aesthetically striking but don’t receive foot traffic—meaning they aren’t at risk of staining or damage. Applying Arlo’s Hybrid Travertine Tile Range to the main spaces and wet areas meant we could still achieve the travertine look, without the additional costs or upkeep associated with sealing and maintenance.
What was the most important consideration when planning the layout and flow of this space?
Starting with the aspect, we wanted the house to wrap around the northern orientation to make the most of the natural light pouring into all areas and rooms. The pool is also right in the centre of the house, so no matter whether you're walking through the entry, the powder room, living room, kitchen, or going up or down the stairs, you're always looking at the deep blue swimming pool—taking in the water from all angles.
What’s your favourite design element or feature in Halo, and what makes it stand out to you as a key part of the home?
In the centre of the home is a 7.5-metre-tall arched window. Not only is the construction of this window impressive, but the sheer size and the amount of natural light it lets in is what really elevates the space—and the home overall.
A smaller version of the same window is seen in the entry which is seen from the street and adds the Mediterranean element to the facade.
How did you approach lighting and its role in shaping the atmosphere of the space? What types of lighting were you drawn to and why?
Lighting for us is a really important aspect of the interiors for HALO. Indirect light is what we ultimately always try to achieve in a space, creating a moody feel but with direct light where required.
No standard sized downlights were used in HALO, we used smaller star lights in bedrooms & ensuites that provide direct lighting to functional areas, leaving filtered light to secondary parts of the space.
Feature lighting shared the same ethos, filtered indirect light whether that is the Architectural LED Long Wall Light in the main living & kitchen areas, or the custom hand blown lighting in the ensuites.
"Lighting Collective provides really great architecturally focused lighting options that are in line with the desired outcome – indirect soft warm lighting that creates a soft moody feel. The team were always quick to answer our questions & provided options that we hadn’t considered, which is always helpful when you have design decision fatigue!"
- THE ARLO TEAM
Builder: TMG, SloanStruct, JDZ Projects