Not your typical house on a hill.
If we were going to build here, it couldn’t be a shiny, polished house. The site was exposed on the edge of a steep hill just outside Launceston, with 360° views overlooking the North Esk River beyond. The farming land had belonged to one of the owner's parents before she and her husband bought it for their growing family. The easy option would have been to build on the flat. But from our first site inspection, habitation worn away by frequent visits hinted at the spot on which they wanted to set up camp. Arguably, it was the most challenging area. But it was worth it.
Sheltered from the elements.
Without any shelter from neighbouring buildings, the site was exposed on all sides. To tackle this, we came up with the idea for the building itself to act as a windbreak. Enclosed, private spaces like the bedrooms block the prevailing winds, while a north-facing protected outdoor space captures the sun throughout the day. With the building wrapped around this courtyard, we managed to make the most of the views, too.
Flexible spaces.
During our residential design, we made a conscious effort to create spaces that talked to one another. As a result, flexible use of space would suit this growing family without the need for a big footprint.
The garage isn’t just a place to park a car. It opens up at the front and back, connecting to the main living area and courtyard as a flowing play and living space. The hallway became a gallery space for the family's artwork, and space for them to be creative flows into the lower deck and barbeque area.
