Jason Johnston inside his unusual warehouse style house. Image AAP/Matthew Vasilescu

FROM the outside this Alexandria home looks like every other warehouse in the inner west, but hiding behind the shutters is one of Sydney’s quirkiest properties.

In what can only be described as the ultimate in open-plan living, the home has just one wall and no defined rooms, with only designated zones for the kitchen, bedroom and living areas.

While most people decorate their homes with luxury finishes, owner Jason Johnston and his late partner John Miller decided to use trees, umbrellas and a parachute.

A jungle retreat? Image AAP/Matthew Vasilescu

They purchased the home at 311-313 Belmont St for $320,000 in 1995 and bought the property next door 11 years later.

The properties are now being sold separately, the warehouse with a price guide of $2.1 million and the house next door with a guide of $1.25 million.

Nicknamed ‘the ark’, the warehouse’s interiors became a project for the pair, with John a lover of antiquities and objects with a rural vibe.

“We really like bringing the outside in,” said Mr Johnston.

Just a few of the home’s windows. Image AAP/Matthew Vasilescu

You can see the parachute hanging from the ceiling.

“You just press the button on the roller door and you are in a completely different world — you would have no idea you are in the inner city.”

What they created is nothing short of amazing.

A parachute hanging from the ceiling used by John nearly 250 times catches the eye, while plants, branches and bird cages are spread throughout.

The two toilets are elaborately decked out to look like cabins on a cruise liner, one for those in steerage and the other for first class. Even the one wall in the house isn’t original, sourced from an old doctor’s surgery that was being knocked down in Camperdown.

There was a time when finches used to fly freely throughout the house, while a series of pulleys allow the pot plants to be raised and lowered.

A strange way to welcome guests inside.

The paintings on the walls all belong to John, who was a distinguished artist.

“It was a fantastic place for two people to live,” Mr Johnston said.

“You could spend all day without seeing each other and you can be together as much as you want.”

I hope it goes to someone who enjoys it as much as we have.”

The warehouse and the adjoining property are scheduled to go to auction on May 26, with listing agent Duncan Gordon of Raine and Horne Newtown describing it as “a museum”.

“In 18 years of real estate I have never seen a property like it,” he said.

“You can create something really special — opportunities like this are so few and far between.”