A small house that thinks carefully about every centimetre.
Sited on a battleaxe block in West Launceston, Laura is a compact home that earns its sense of generosity through considered design rather than floor area. Inspired by the enduring restraint of Australian modernism - and in particular the work of Robin Boyd - the design is resolved and grounded, with every material and spatial decision carrying its weight.
The project received a 2024 Master Builders Award.
Light arranged around living.
The plan is organised around a central kitchen that connects directly to an outdoor living zone. Spotted gum ceilings rise to 4.5 metres, drawing the eye upward and giving the compact footprint a generous quality it doesn't announce. Glazing is placed deliberately - framing the leafy surroundings rather than simply maximising views - and large stacker doors dissolve the boundary between inside and out.
A tiled feature wall in the alfresco area is positioned to catch the late afternoon sun. An outdoor bath sits quietly in the garden beyond.
Levels, materials, moments.
Bedrooms are arranged across split levels. The main bedroom sits at ground level with garden access and an ensuite. Two further bedrooms occupy the mezzanine above, separated by a study retreat with built-in cabinetry.
The material palette is warm and specific: cork floors, blush and terra hues, deep green carpet, custom timber joinery. The family bathroom features block-coloured tiling and a Japanese-style soaking tub. Bathrooms in a Robin Boyd house were never an afterthought, and they aren't here either.
