Coles Bay House is a much-loved holiday home on the south coast of Tasmania, owned by a Hobart family of five.
‘Since 2014, it’s been their base for school holidays and weekend escapes, offering the perfect spot to enjoy the nearby pristine beaches and bushwalks of Freycinet National Park, right on their doorstep,’ Ancher Architecture Office director Garth Ancher says.
Perched at the high point of the sloping block, the existing house was a converted shipping container that functioned much like a campsite — with a compact bathroom, basic kitchen, laundry, and a cast-iron stove for heating.
The brief was to design a new standalone structure that was sympathetic to the existing building, while also framing dramatic views of The Hazards mountain range.
‘The temptation for sites like this can be to strive to start with a clean slate, but our clients were clear that the shipping container had served them well over the years, and they didn’t want to demolish simply for the sake of aesthetics,’ Garth adds.
To reduce waste and maximise the budget, the existing structures and landscaping were retained.
Only the family’s ‘gin deck’ — a simple concrete slab where they would gather to watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand — was sacrificed to give space for the addition.
The new pavilion forms a neat L-shape facing the original container, turning the existing decking and barbecue area into central communal space.
Externally, the building features a raw concrete block and Colorbond cladding, selected to match the appearance of the container home. A steel and timber sliding screen can be closed over the expansive glazing, offering additional privacy.
Meanwhile, the interiors feature a combination of blackbutt veneer, stainless steel, and solid timber across the open-plan living, dining room and kitchen — inspired by the surrounding bush and rocky terrain. On the opposite end of the floor plan, there’s a new bedroom and a luxurious en suite, covered in mint-toned tiles.
‘In homage to the gin deck, we have also created a special place for the clients to watch the sunset in the form of a large, steel custom-made window,’ Garth says.
It’s the ultimate place to take in the uninterrupted mountain vistas, anchoring the understated home in its picturesque location.
