nest architects

January 19, 2012

A Tasmanian Secret

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For the summer a group of friends and I decided to go and check out Tasmania's beaches. Wow. Why didn't anyone tell me how incredible it is there. While camping at a super special secret camp spot at cozy corner we visited Jana and Raoul Harper at their incredible 5 acre property right on the Bay of Fires! This place is enough to make you want to pack up your bathers and library of unread novels and just move there FOREVER.

The Harpers house was built in the 1970's by artists - who took a very 'crafty' approach. They used local stone for walls, found leadlight windows and french doors, slate flooring, timber lining boards and even a clawfoot bath! The strandboard lining to the ceilings is still intact too. The house is a quintessential quirky shack...and you can tell throughout its 30 years has been loved and added to by its owners.

On our visit to the house, Jana - the gregarious host - took us on a tour of the entire place. It boasts two fire pits (for cooler nights with friends) a dam complete with frogs...a few wallabies feeding nearby too. The house sits amougst the natural low lying scrub - but still has views to the Tasman Sea.

My favourite part is the split level living area with clerestorey windows that allow the north light to reach the back of the house. Its really cozy in the sunken lounge but the height of the sloped ceiling gives a grand sense of volume to the small space.

The shower is another of my favourite features - a huge slate base with no screen. Jana tells a great story about how the previous owners were both in the shower with full length windows to the garden (since filled in) when the real estate brought some prospective buyers in!

While visiting the bay of fires house - Jana and Raoul shared some amazing stories of the area over some of the best local Pinot Noir and Gewertztraminer and the freshest, plumpest oysters you've ever seen. As the sun sank into the sheoak trees, and the days warmth remained in the rock walls of the house - I vowed to return to Tassie the first chance I get!

The house is the dream holiday getway - and it could be yours!!! Check it out here:http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-binalong+bay-108399266

Filed under // Inspiration travels

Posted by Imogen Pullar

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November 23, 2011

inspiration

More glory from the interwebs, including a letter from Charles Shulz to a loved one.

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Posted by Emilio Fuscaldo

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October 22, 2011

inspiration

Shacks, birdhouses, dogs and umbrellas ...

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Posted by Emilio Fuscaldo

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October 6, 2011

Inspiration

Been a while since we trawled the interwebs for inspiration and came across these wonderful images whilst eating lunch.

Getting a bit sick of the usual 'painted white brick wall with Eames chair' interior shots. thinking we might get a bit more arty.

Swiped from the usual suspects

Brian Parquette Interiors

Old Chum

amongst others

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Posted by Emilio Fuscaldo

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July 13, 2011

inspiration

ok folks, some new images to stir those creative juices, via:

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Filed under // Inspiration

Posted by Emilio Fuscaldo

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July 4, 2011

A Robin Boyd 'special' in the middle of S.A.

Late June found me (Emilio) driving from Alice Springs to Melbourne. I detoured to Uluru (in-cred-ible!), past the (slowly filling) salt lakes of South Australia and over the southern edge of the Flinders Ranges.

Whilst flying through the tiny town of Hallett (on the Barrier Hwy, south-east South Australia) I came across this building ... what a site ... after 4 days of awe inspiring nothingness and a virtual architectural desert, I caught site of what can only be described as an ode to Robin Boyd. It's super similar Boyd's Stanley Blott House in Lilydale Victoria, but even more formal with a perfectly square plan and no recent 'modifications.' The lack of low windows and the 'grand' entry speaks of a community hall, but i just can't shake the feeling that maybe it was/is a house.

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Filed under // travels

Posted by Emilio Fuscaldo

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June 20, 2011

inspiration

Some more pics picked from the inter-web ... what i would give to have a glazed wall like that one in the first pic by Butch Anthony.

This time they are sniped from:

Bo Bedere

man make home

things organised neatly
jjjfound

ferilli

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Filed under // Inspiration

Posted by Emilio Fuscaldo

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June 13, 2011

80 square meters - what more do you need?

Late last year we (Emilio and his squeeze Anna) bought someone's backyard that had been recently subdivided. The block we bought is about 180 square meters in size (about 15 m x 12m). Although it's small by some standards, it's perfect for us. It faces north, has a laneway along the northern boundary (full of secret delicacies and the odd noxious weed), close to the best Lebanese food in town and surrounded by fruit tres (fig to the east, lemons to the west).

The house we have designed is a simple 80 square metre 'beach shack' in the suburbs. We're trying to make it as eco as possible with a green roof (succulents and herbs), recycled bricks, recycled content in the heated slab, FSC timber throughout (structure and windows), recycled taps, basins, north facing glass, cross ventilation, etc, etc. Finding FSC hardwood for the windows is proving to be a mission, but hopefully a mob up in Wangaratta can help us out. The blokes at Green Roof Technologies have helped us out with the design and drainage of the roof ... it'll insulate the house and give us a little bit extra garden area!