The traditional owners and custodians of the land in West Hobart (nipaluna/Hobart) are the Muwinina people.
Tasmania
This project is a modest restoration of a two-story 1890’s timber cottage, guided by principles of restraint, clarity, and respect for context. Rather than expand the house, the design focused on subtraction – removing decades of accumulated alterations to reveal the original proportions and character of the building. Through the refinement of materials, reinstating key datums, and the simplification of the façade, the house has been quietly returned to the street with renewed dignity.
The revitalised north-facing verandah now functions as an everyday living space, reconnecting the home with its neighbourhood and providing a generous social threshold between public and private life.
Working within tight budget constraints, the project prioritised durability, craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility through material selection and minimal intervention. The result is a confident and cohesive architecture that blurs the edge of heritage – an understated intervention that gives back to both its occupants and the streetscape.
The restoration has transformed how we live in and engage with our local community in simple and meaningful ways. The north-facing verandah is used every day – warm and sheltered in winter, shaded and breezy in summer – functioning as a genuine outdoor room rather than just a porch. It has become a social threshold where we sit, relax, and connect with neighbours. The house has regained a warm welcoming presence fostering community connection for humans and pets alike. From the outset, the aim was for the house to respond to its setting, rather than the setting respond to the house.
Wellington Steel, Blacksmith
Loci Landscapes, Landscape
Lee Tyers Building Surveyors, Building Surveyor
Saltmarsh & Escobar Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
Sash Windows Tasmania, Sash window joiner
Modern Hydronics, Hydraulic Consultant