Internally, dark timbers mimic the shadows and texture of the bush, creating a contemplative atmosphere that draws the eye outward to the surrounding landscape.
Tucked away in the dense bushland of southern Tasmania, Taroona House by Archier draws from its natural surrounds, taking the form of an innovative home centred on stillness, connection and creativity.
Born from the clients’ desire to have a home of immersion for living, creating and retreating, Archier architect and director Chris Haddad says, “We imagined three forms cascading down the hill like fallen branches.” The composition of pavilions, glass and timber cultivates a gentle balance between person and place, remaining true to the client’s original vision of embodying their artistic practice and connection to the land.
Rather than asserting itself, the home submits to its setting. A restrained palette quietly amplifies the textures, shadows and serenity of the bush. “The use of native timber, both structurally and aesthetically, helps the building blend into its setting,” Haddad says. It’s not just about seeing the bush; extensive operable glazing invites “the sounds of birds, rustling leaves, and distant ocean swells,” as Haddad describes, indoors. Through thoughtful details like dark timber, native hardwoods and Japanese tiles, Archier has softened the boundaries between built and natural environments.
Archier integrated Candour glazing systems throughout the home to support the roof while allowing for a glass envelope—essential to achieving immersion in the landscape.
Developed in-house by Archier, a custom glazing system wraps the home in glass while eliminating the need for the use of steel. Instead, structural glulam timber mullions carry the roof, reflecting a more sustainable approach. “The timber frames reduce thermal bridging, and custom aluminium adapters protect them from weather exposure, creating a durable, low-maintenance solution that highlights the natural warmth of timber indoors,” Haddad explains. This innovation led to the creation of Candour, Archier’s prefabrication company, in response to the limitations of traditional construction methods.
Operable lift-slide doors by BINQ and sashless windows by Jewell enable cross-ventilation and enhance the home’s connection to the site. Comprising two primary volumes and a separate studio, the home adapts to occupancy, whether a moment of solitude or the arrival of visiting family. “This flexibility allows people to close off areas not in use, reducing the amount of space that needs heating or cooling,” Haddad says. Provisions for accessibility, including the future option of a lift, allow the home to evolve alongside who lives in it.
Timber interiors offer a natural warmth, complemented by the textured surface of Japanese ceramic tiles used throughout the home.
The timber frames reduce thermal bridging, and custom aluminium adapters protect them from weather exposure, creating a durable, low-maintenance solution that highlights the natural warmth of timber indoors.
Framed around a “significant blue gum tree,” Haddad notes that “the landscape design restores native vegetation, increasing biodiversity.” As the outdoors unfold with intention, a green roof and revegetated site allow the architecture to blend into the landscape. Wildlife moves freely beneath the raised structure, supporting the home’s ecological footprint.
Navigating the threshold between transparency and privacy, Archier has designed a home that feels open yet protected. Private zones are arranged within the pavilions and buffered by landscape, zoning and deep glazing. From here, a delicate balance of immersion and shelter appear, shaping a tactile home where creativity and sustainability meet.
The glazing system, developed by Candour, uses structural glulam timber mullions to support the roof, eliminating the need for steel.
Operable elements, such as BINQ lift-slide doors and sashless windows by Jewell, are integrated to provide natural crossflow ventilation and encourage a direct relationship with the surrounding landscape.
The home consists of two main volumes and a separate studio, which can be opened or closed depending on how it’s being used.
Views are choreographed around a significant blue gum tree, and the landscape design restores native vegetation, increasing biodiversity.
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