Highway House is the modern pad of architect Nathan Crump of Room 11 who designed this project, located in Dynnyrne, Tasmania, island state of Australia. This compact single level residence of 1,453 square feet (135 square meters), floats along the sheer slopes of the southern outlet, arranged as an east/west elongated box with all rooms facing North for solar gain, natural light and the expansive view of the Derwent River and the City of Hobart.

Living areas are shaded in summer by both the roof overhang and custom external battened screens that slide the full length of the Northern facade.

Accessed via a southern circulation spine, the internal spaces are divided into private and public areas by a central enclosed deck with a roof void to allow sun and breezes into the depth of the plan. A covered deck to the west provides summer afternoon shade to living areas. The two external decks that break the plan allow for a series of sliding doors and galleries of louvered windows to aid in natural cross ventilation.

The home showcases stunning views, plenty of natural light and lots of warmth with the use of lots of wood.

Landscape retaining walls are bluestone-spall filled rigid gabion cages that don’t require concrete footings and provide for natural drainage.

This lightweight timber building  responds quickly to heating and cooling and is well suited to Tasmania’s temperate climate.

Photos: Jasmin Latona and Ben Hosking