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Bonnet Hill Residence

The Bonnet Hill House is a modest, three bedroom, passive solar dwelling nestled into the landscape. It responds to the predominately natural context – maximising views, providing climate-appropriate indoor and outdoor living areas and using cost effective materials in their raw states. Convict heritage on the property informed the building’s position and influenced material selection. Local materials including Tasmanian oak, celery top pine and a specially commissioned run of bricks, suitable for flooring, help to ‘ground’ the building in it’s larger contextual framework. The plan is tight but, despite this, spaces feel generous and functional. The connection of the flexible main living space to the immediate and distant landscape is pivotal and direct. Centred around a five metre long, in situ poured concrete benchtop, the space can just as comfortably accommodate the client’s family as it can 30 guests for entertaining. This project was further enhanced by a fluid collaboration between architect, builder and client. A strong, ongoing friendship was formed between the architect and client, allowing the architect a rare opportunity to observe the way the home actually works and how it is transforming the lives of the clients.

Architect

Dock4 Architects

Contractors

Island Workshop

Consultants

Structural engineer – Hutchings Spurr Engineers

Building surveyor – Pitt & Sherry

Photographer

Adam Gibson

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