1+2 Architecture acknowledges the Palawa people as the traditional custodians of lutruwita, the lands on which our company is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present. We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
Cloudy Bay House
LOCATION + TRADITIONAL COUNTRY
The Palawa, Bruny Island, Tasmania
CLIENT
Private
STATUS
Built (2008)
AWARDS
Not applicable
media
21st Century Beach Houses (2010), pp.56-59
A Place in the Sun (2010), pp.252-257
Australia’s Best Beach House (2010), pp.8-11
'Life & Leisure, the Sophisticated Traveller' (Issue 31, 2011), p.36
PHOTOGRAPHY
Set within a 33-hectare beachfront property at the southern end of Bruny Island, Cloudy Bay House is designed to sit lightly within its sensitive coastal landscape.
The project brings together a carefully considered architectural response to an exposed site with a broader commitment to landscape regeneration, creating a home that embraces its remarkable surroundings while maintaining a discreet presence.
KEY COLLABORATORS
+ Builder:
+ Environmental + Bushfire:
+ Structural Engineering:
Gandy & Roberts
+ Electrical Engineering:
ECOS Consulting Engineers & Designers
+ Quantity Surveyor:
Stehel Consultants
+ Land Surveyor:
+ Building Surveyor:
Place
The property encompasses former farmland and heath-covered coastal dunes, with expansive views across Cloudy Bay. The scale and exposure of the landscape called for careful consideration of the house's siting, orientation and visibility, balancing access to sunlight and ocean views with protection from prevailing winds and the elements.
Particular care was taken to minimise the house's visibility from a popular National Park car park nearby. Recessive colours, natural materials, shaded façades and slender roof edges help the building recede into its setting. The glare reflected from neighbouring pitched roofs also informed the decision to pitch the roofs away from view, reducing reflected sunlight and further limiting the house's visual prominence.
Projecting timber decks and concrete terraces extend the living spaces into the landscape, oriented to capture the southern ocean outlook and northern sunlight. Positioned in response to adjoining rooms, views and prevailing winds, these outdoor spaces offer varied opportunities for shelter, sun and immersion in the coastal environment.
Process
The house is organised around two interconnected zones in a bi-nuclear plan, each conceived as a functional counterpoint to the other. The living zone is open, lightweight and transparent, embracing the landscape through expansive glazing. In contrast, the sleeping zone is more enclosed and protective, providing privacy and shelter in the exposed coastal environment.
Materials were selected for their durability, environmental qualities and suitability to the site. Macrocarpa timber, salvaged from redundant farm windbreaks, was used as external cladding and left untreated to weather naturally to a silver-grey finish. Its texture and changing patina allow the building to settle visually into the muted tones of the coastal landscape.
Landscape regeneration was integral to the project. Weeds were removed and native species reintroduced to previously disturbed areas, helping restore the site's natural character and strengthen the relationship between the house and its broader setting.
“We had an extremely positive experience working with the architectural firm, 1 Plus 2. From the initial design, to construction phase services and post occupancy, 1 Plus 2 paid enormous attention to details, provided comprehensive supporting drawings. demonstrated creativity and sensitivity to environmental suitability, was responsive to our requirements, provided good communications and competent project management.
We coordinated the construction of our Cloudy Bay Beach House on Bruny Island, an Island off the coast of Tasmania, from our primary residence in Upstate NY in the US without a hitch and within the budget. The 1 Plus 2 team exhibited enthusiasm, pride, sensitivity to the location and community and paid great attention to detail on workmanship of contractors.
They worked on our behalf to secure fair builder pricing and assisted with Council approval process. Additionally they helped with furnishing and lighting and provided guidance on appliances and landscaping. We highly recommend their services to future clients. You won't be disappointed.”
Client Testimonial
Impact
Cloudy Bay House demonstrates how architecture can respond to a sensitive coastal setting through restraint, material selection and a close understanding of the landscape. The contrast between its open, transparent living spaces and more enclosed sleeping areas provides both an immersive connection to the ocean and the privacy and protection needed in an exposed environment. Projecting decks and terraces extend this relationship outdoors, creating places to experience the changing light, weather and landscape.
The project's environmental response extends beyond the building itself. Reclaimed macrocarpa gives new life to timber from the property's former agricultural use, while the removal of weeds and reintroduction of native species contribute to the regeneration of the disturbed landscape. Together, these measures allow the house to sit comfortably within its setting while supporting the recovery of the surrounding environment.
Awards + Jury Citation
