Pen-Y-Bryn

The Story

After years living on the Australian mainland, our Tasmania-born client was ready to return with her family to the quieter island of her younger days. In Launceston, the old childhood homestead was still happily occupied by her parents, but a patch of dirt out back invited new attention. The design incorporated a new family home onto the existing block, capitalising on the site's generosity of space, view, and light, and respecting its place in one of northern Tasmania's most established heritage-value suburbs.

Site & Exterior

Located on a steep, sloping site with significant trees to navigate, tight access, and limited street parking, the project demanded careful site management. We managed significant hydrostatic water pressure coming off the road and the top of the hill.

The dwelling features a complex interface of three cladding types: Bowral Bricks, 19mm spotted gum kiln-dried shiplap, and Structuur Nailstrip. We developed a custom 6mm powder-coated aluminium flashing detail for window sills, replacing standard brick sills for a more refined, contemporary profile. The building form pushes to the southern side of the block, enjoying sun access along its long northern side.

Interior

The plan follows a gradient from a low single-level garage, splitting at the entry into private bedroom spaces above, then flowing down to the family-friendly kitchen, dining, and living spaces. A subtle interruption to the linear plan pushes out the living and dining wing at the lower level, creating a north-facing courtyard space between the level changes.

High-end finishes are maintained throughout, with seamless integration of timber wall panelling, curved tiling in wet areas, and custom joinery that follows the home's changing elevations. The frame was specifically engineered to allow for maximum insulation in all corners, eliminating thermal bridging.

Materials & Performance

A key technical highlight was the installation of a decoupled slab with integrated hydronic heating, specifically engineered for superior thermal performance across the multiple changing levels of the home. We utilised a Pro Clima Weather Resistive Barrier and continuous roof wrap to create a high-performance building envelope, with fully ventilated roof cavity and ventilated cavities on all facades exceeding standard building requirements.

This project also marked our first use of the ABIC (Australian Building Industry Contract). The site required a massive scaffolding build, with a crane used to safely lower large window panes down the steep incline. The site was completely landscaped as we worked our way out, ensuring the final delivery was fully stabilised.