The Boat House

As we’ve alluded to many a time, living close to water is something that definitely appeals to our sensibilities here at The Coolector and we’re always enamoured with contemporary designs that embrace this lifestyle. The latest to have caught our eye is The Boat House in Australia which has been expertly designed by Maguire + Devine Architects.

Small but perfectly formed, The Boat House offers 60m² of living space and can be found in the Lindisfarne region of Australia. Purpose-built for a writer and her husband, this superb piece of modern architecture sits perched on the banks of the River Derwent in Southern Tasmania.  It is a small (ancillary) dwelling, dovetailed into the verdant garden of their midcentury Myrtle-clad family home.

The Boat House really makes the most of living on the water’s edge and provides a sanctuary and protection from the uncompromising weather that blows in from the sea. A large facade presents itself to the north, which catches the sun over the hilltops and draws it deep into the plot.  The scale and presence of this timber-clad elevation delivers a warm welcome as it compels you down into the property.

This stunning build has a gable that forms a dramatic central living space with clean lines of perspective terminating unobstructed glass, drawing the occupant’s gaze out into the mesmerising views of the water. On the inside, Tasmanian Oak lines the floor, ceiling, and walls, contrasting against the bold hues of the river, providing warmth and protection from what is beyond.  Dark-stained timber joinery houses services such as the kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms.

Leo Davie