A Tasmanian house takes its cue from the wild nature of Bonnet Hill

Dock4 Architects' second project on Tasmania's beautiful Bonnet Hill helped the team to cement its relationship with the island, but also forged strong connections between architects, clients and the land.
Drawing inspiration from the surrounding wild nature, the architects made sure to create several conscious links between house and environment through their design. Project architect and Dock4 director, Giles Newstead, grounded the design by embedding it into the site's steep slope. The natural world was kept in focus in most living and private areas with long, northwest facing walls of, predominately, floor-to-ceiling glass. These frame striking views of the Bonnet Hill valley and its historic shot tower.
Take an interactive tour of Bonnet Hill House
A single, long Tasmanian oak step sweeps down the middle of the house, connecting two split levels, while providing relaxed seating when needed. It also establishes a sense of flow between internal and external living spaces. A similar effect was achieved with the continuous use of small, imitation convict bricks, on kitchen and deck floors. A young, flowering pear tree sprouts from the centre of one of two outside decks.
While Newstead and his clients, Erik Wapstra and Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra, were already acquainted through their daughters attending the same school, a strong friendship between the families was ultimately discovered through a fluid collaboration that offered ample opportunity for young and old to get to know each other.
'Erik and Julianne were clear about their priorities and what they needed to support their lifestyle,' says Newstead. 'Beyond that, they were extremely flexible and open to ideas.' According to the architect, the pair did their best to allow plenty of time for the planning and construction phases, ensuring details were completed to perfection.
The pair's mutual passion for cooking and entertaining meant that a large kitchen area and ample preparation and pantry space were non-negotiable. As a result, the house's centrepiece – when not the landscape – is an impressive five metre-long concrete bench that was poured on-site.
As a result of the new friendship, Newstead has had the rare satisfaction of seeing his design not only come to life, but also enhance the day-to-day life of its inhabitants; his clients believe that the strong connection between landscape and structure has led to their daughter spending much more time playing outdoors.
The house takes cues from the surrounding nature, making constant links between nature and environment throughout its design
Inside, nature remains a central focus point thanks to the property’s vast glass windows, which frame the surrounding views of Bonnet Hill
The use of Tasmanian oak throughout the property creates a sense of flow between internal and external living spaces
The house’s centrepiece – when not the landscape – is an impressive five metre-long concrete bench that was poured on-site
A timber staircase sweeps down the centre of the property, connecting the house’s two levels
The architect’s use of small, imitation convict bricks guarantee an aesthetic continuation within the living areas of the property
Allowing plenty of time for planning and construction, the clients and architects ensured that the houses detailing were designed and executed to a high degree
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Dock4 website.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Step inside this Upper East Side jewel box apartment
This radiant Lexington Avenue home is a harbinger of good things for the Upper East Side, and the latest focus of The Inside Story, our series spotlighting intriguing and innovative interior design
By Anna Solomon Published
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of nature
WOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Is a tiny tattoo the best holiday souvenir? Kimpton Hotels think so
In partnership with Tiny Zaps, Kimpton Hotels is bringing city-inspired tattoo pop-ups to five U.S. locations
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
A contemporary retreat hiding in plain sight in Sydney
This contemporary retreat is set behind an unassuming neo-Georgian façade in the heart of Sydney’s Woollahra Village; a serene home designed by Australian practice Tobias Partners
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Join our world tour of contemporary homes across five continents
We take a world tour of contemporary homes, exploring case studies of how we live; we make five stops across five continents
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Who wouldn't want to live in this 'treehouse' in Byron Bay?
A 1980s ‘treehouse’, on the edge of a national park in Byron Bay, is powered by the sun, architectural provenance and a sense of community
By Carli Philips Published
-
A modernist Melbourne house gets a contemporary makeover
Silhouette House, a modernist Melbourne house, gets a contemporary makeover by architects Powell & Glenn
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A suburban house is expanded into two striking interconnected dwellings
Justin Mallia’s suburban house, a residential puzzle box in Melbourne’s Clifton Hill, interlocks old and new to enhance light, space and efficiency
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Palm Beach Tree House overhauls a cottage in Sydney’s Northern Beaches into a treetop retreat
Set above the surf, Palm Beach Tree House by Richard Coles Architecture sits in a desirable Northern Beaches suburb, creating a refined home in verdant surroundings
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Year in review: the top 12 houses of 2024, picked by architecture director Ellie Stathaki
The top 12 houses of 2024 comprise our finest and most read residential posts of the year, compiled by Wallpaper* architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A monolithic house in rural Victoria celebrates 50 shades of grey
Adam Kane Architects’ monolithic house in rural Victoria, Grey House, is ‘a testament to the power of simplicity and harmony’
By Léa Teuscher Published