Short-list: Houses Awards highlight five fabulous Tassie homes
Is that a boathouse or a treehouse? Why not both? Come see the Tasmanian finalists for this year’s Houses Awards.
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THE design of any home will come with its own unique challenges — from the site to the budget to the owner’s wants and needs.
Sometimes, one person desires a boathouse-inspired build, while their partner prefers a leafy treehouse design.
This was part of the challenge for Hobart’s Crump Architects when designing Skellig House in Kingston Beach, one of the five Tasmanian properties short-listed in this year’s Houses Awards.
Crump director Nathan Crump said the boathouse/treehouse dichotomy of this Elevate Building Tasmania constructed home was inspirational for the design.
“People tend to want to cut the trees down or see over or under them to the view, with a priority given to the river,” he said.
“But from the beginning, we really liked the idea of being among the trees.
“The boathouse, on the other hand, is the feeling of being on the edge, and this house manages both — it cantilevers at the edge of the bank and edits out the immediate foreground while sitting in the tree canopy with a view through the branches to the water.”
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The homeowners said the house exceeded expectations, particularly their requirements for space, light, passive solar design, temperature control, and the boat versus tree aesthetics, saying they now have “the perfect blend of both”.
By placing the home’s deck to the side rather than between the living room and the view, Mr Crump said it invites these elements into the space as the ‘fourth wall’.
“The house is also a celebration of the journey from the street and treetops cascading down to the water’s edge, and it encourages engagement with the river for the owners who regularly swim and kayak.”
Each year this awards showcase highlights Australia’s latest innovations in residential design.
The magazine’s editor and Houses Awards jury chair, Alexa Kempton, said the 2024 finalists illustrate new ideas in sustainability, protecting and adapting Heritage Listed homes, multi-generational living and adapting houses for an ageing population.
Ms Kempton said the jury saw how the pandemic and the rising cost of living had shaped what homeowners want and need in their homes.
“Designers have created multi-use domestic spaces to better support working from home, and to accommodate children living in the family home for longer because of the decline in housing affordability,” she said.
“The jury also observed new examples of sustainable homes … and compelling solutions to the adaptation of heritage dwellings.
“We were excited to see many architects and designers — and their clients — recognising the enduring value of types and eras of housing that are not yet protected by heritage listings.
“These are smart, sensitive and, above all, sustainable solutions that seek to conserve our built history and use resources responsibly.”
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Tasmania’s finalists include three homes in the New House Over 200sq m category: James Street by Taylor and Hinds Architecture, Taroona House by Archier, and Skellig House by Crump Architects.
Lanoma Street by Licht Architecture and Patrick Street by Andrew Campbell and Georgina Russell are finalists in the House Alteration & Addition Under 200sq m category.
Patrick Street is also up for the House in a Heritage Context award, while Licht Architecture has been nominated for the Emerging Architecture Practice award.
A full list of finalists is available on the Houses Awards website. The winners will be announced on August 2. One will be crowned the Australian House of the Year.
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