Project: Horse Shoe House
Architects: Preston Lane Architects
Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Photography: Derek Swalwell
Horse Shoe House is a single family house designed by Preston Lane Architects, an award winning architectural practice founded by Daniel Lane and Nathanael Preston.
Set in an established suburb on the outskirts of Hobart, the site takes in expansive views and overlooks both Blackmans Bay Beach to the north and the River Derwent to the east. Surrounded by an eclectic mix of dwellings, the site has a narrow street front expanding to the rear of the property.
The project goes against the general response of siting a house in the middle of the property; instead wrapping around the perimeter boundary, turning its back to the noise of the adjacent properties and focusing inwards across a private deck and garden.
Carefully positioned window apertures connect the house to panoramic views beyond, whilst also linking the two wings of the horseshoe plan, connecting a broad spatial program and increasing the perceived volume of the house. An open courtyard sits central, providing strong external connections for the key living spaces.
Painted brickwork walls line the courtyard, providing a structured integration with the landscape, whilst timber rails give a softer tectonic element to engage human interaction.
