White Gum Rise, Tasmania

Located in the rugged rural setting of Drivers Run, just a short drive from Launceston, White Gum Rise commands spectacular views of a mountain range that is covered in snow through winter.

The home, which was designed by local firm HONED ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN, took out the ‘Residential’ category in the recent Lysaght Inspirations Design Awards 2019.

Open and exposed to the fierce north-westerly weather events that locals have come to know well, White Gum Rise is surrounded by tranquil bushland. More than a monolithic structure on a scenic Tasmanian mountainside, it represents an architectural response to the traditional rural homestead.

Choosing to focus inwards, the architects came up with spaces that can only be experienced from within. The home’s setting is at the heart of the exploration and response to questions raised in the interior program. Its essence cannot be read from the outside.

At the same time, however, while the primal activity of room making – in which interior spaces anticipate the owners’ requirements is paramount – it must coincide with how the built form situates itself within its wider landscape.

The architects have responded to the site by deliberately inverting the homestead. They exposed its internal program externally through explorations of mass and form – highlighting key elements in rich Tasmanian timbers sourced locally and peeling away layers of the façade.>

Considering the setting and understanding that the materials used in the homestead would need to be able to withstand some harsh conditions across all the seasons, the architects specified LYSAGHT TRIMDEK® cladding in COLORBOND® steel Monument® in a Classic finish on the roof as well as much of the external walling.

Featuring bold, trapezoidal ribs and subtle fluting in the pans, LYSAGHT TRIMDEK® cladding proved the perfect choice. A long-spanning product that allows wide support spacing, it plays a significant role in the overall architectural solution.

Used alongside local timbers, the cladding adds architectural character and depth. The deep, dark Monument® colour rests effortlessly within the rural setting, in harmony with the timeless landscape.

Practicality was also an important consideration. LYSAGHT TRIMDEK® cladding, made from COLORBOND® steel, is well-equipped to handle extremes of weather. COLORBOND® steel uses a specially developed, exterior grade paint baked on to provide resistance to chipping, flaking and blistering and to ensure the finish retains its look for longer

On top of that, COLORBOND® steel’s Thermatech® solar reflectance technology¹ is designed to reflect more of the sun's heat on hot sunny days, which may help to reduce dependence on air-conditioning.

In other words, White Gum Rise delivers not only in terms of design but also in practicality. What more could you want from a contemporary re-interpretation of the traditional rural homestead?

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