The client brief called for one renovated 1890 cottage and one small concrete house, both on a single steep waterfront site in Hobart Tasmania. Heritage constraints and eventual Planning Appeal success resulted in a single residence which can be zoned into separate living environments.

The dominant statement from the client’s brief was almost laughable: ‘build me a fabulous concrete house in Battery Point’.

Originally intended as 2 separate houses, this project evolved, after eventual Planning Appeal success, into an addition to the original weatherboard cottage.

Our commission included all in-built cabinetry and free standing timber furniture.

The suburb of Battery Point has great historical importance. This context and south facing site created challenges that informed the design.

Dense urban context required a design that provided privacy whilst embracing the spectacular views. The concrete walls and the celery top pine framing, both structural and visual, were detailed to ensure seamless resolution of these design challenges.

Crucial to the acceptance of this very contemporary building was its performance. The building incorporates super-insulated thermal mass, protected by a timber framed curtain wall double glazing system that protects floor slab edges, and reverse-veneer celery top pine walling. The Celery Top Pine was sourced locally, the structural design tailored to suit the available lengths of the unmilled logs. Off-cuts were used for cladding, fascias and joinery ensuring minimal waste of the material. The building utilizes rainwater harvesting for the pool, low emission finishes, natural gas hydronic heating and solar harvesting although few of these elements are visible.