Denison Rivulet
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Project Name
Denison Rivulet, Tasmania, by Taylor and Hinds -
Type
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Location
TAS -
Photographer Details
Adam Gibson
Providing accommodation for couples, the three self-contained cabins are perched near the Douglas River, on Dension Beach. The area is part of the Denison Rivulet conservation area, flanked by the Denison Douglas-Aspey National Park on Tasmania’s East Coast.
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Conceived almost as if a fine piece of cabinetry, the cabin finishes exude a restrained luxuriousness, with Tasmanian oak and brass stealing the show.
The buildings establish a strong engagement with the wider site, through a series of interior strategies that create spatial variety and make for unique and memorable experiences for guests.
The compact massing of the exterior form sees the cabins present as beautiful old timber boxes that adorn the coastline.
Connections to the wider site are focused through carefully choreographed windows, which are directed at certain landscape qualities.
The client had expressed a desire to only use Australian Certified Timber products. The project also needed to use materials that were readily procured, and sustainably managed at the source. The building site was fairly remote, so using local materials and trade saved on cost and time.
The cabins are all constructed from a traditional radiata pine stud frame system, but with LVL ceiling beams used to support the roof.
The flooring system is made from a composite palette of 20% solid Tasmanian oak, with oak LVL making up the remainder.
For the external cladding, a design decision was made to reference the surrounding context of timber shacks. Tasmanian oak in shiplap and board and batten profiles were used for all the cabins. The consistent materiality creates a strong form for the structures. Black, and silver-grey oils were used to protect and colour the boards.
Decking has been constructed from spotted gum timber, which provides great resistant to weather and decay.
A consistent materiality of Victorian ash coats the interior spaces, with the hardwood making up the lining, stairs, balustrades, and joinery. Tassie oak was used for all of the floor coverings.
Other materials chosen fit the unique dramatic tone of the interior space. Brass sheeting was curated carefully across the three cabins, alternating between wet areas - from kitchen splashback, to bathroom lining. The muted gold tones of the brass will patina with age, gracefully pairing with the warm oak hues.
Being that the structure were palced in an exceptionally beautiful natural environment, providing a shelter that celebrated the surrounding landscape was the difficult task at hand. The clients’ directions were “no plaster, no plastic, and no paint”, leading to the natural material palette that was delivered.
