Have you ever dreamed of living in a quiet bush setting without leaving the convenience of the city behind? Today’s home tour is precisely that. Taroona House by Archier features three glass pavilions completely immersed in nature and with an interior that made my heart skip a beat. It’s to Let Us in. Proudly supported by Sodasmith.
The team at Archier were behind the design of the Taroona House. It began conceptually, with the idea to assemble three rectangular structures akin to tree branches that had fallen down the hill and piled on top of one another. The main house consists of two of these “branches” stacked at a right angle, with the third, being the studio, separated by an outdoor deck. Segmenting the house allows it to expand and contract depending on the number of occupants, this helps to reduce the conditioned floor area therefore reducing its energy usage. Cantilevering these structures created openings between the house and the hillside, which creates pathways for local wildlife and a concealed entry for the main house.
The site itself posed significant limitations, given the steep and densely forested hill. While it boasts a gorgeous view of the Derwent River, it doesn’t receive a lot of sunlight. These limitations however led to the extensive use of glass, as the lack of sun meant there was no threat of excessive thermal gain which allowed them to build a house with a complete glass envelope. This allows the homeowners to be fully immersed in nature through the continuous views of the surrounding bushland.
The interiors were designed by the homeowner Rachel Honnery, in consultation with Sarah Trotter. Consisting of a dark timber palette that serves to amplify the surrounding bushland and river views. The partitioned zones create these intimate spaces within this open glass structure. There is a refined simplicity to the interiors that celebrates high-quality materials and finishes, ultimately creating a very textural and sensual experience as you move throughout each space.
A third glass pavilion is dedicated to homeowner and artist Rachel Honnery, who relishes the quiet sanctuary to create. With smaller outlooks toward the view, this pavilion is all about providing a functional space for Rachel to develop her work across a range of mediums.
It’s clear Taroona House has been led not only by a talented team of architects and interior designers but also by the artistic sensibility and creative boldness of the owners. I love the holistic response to the brief and the way Archier chose to embrace the site’s limitations rather than ignore them, resulting in a solution that is not only innovative but completely at ease within its setting.
Taroona House
Designed by Archier
Interiors by Rachel Honnery and Sarah Trotter
Architectural Photography: Thurston Empson
Lifestyle Photography: Jonno Rodd
Video Production: Hunting for George
Presenter: Lucy Glade-Wright
