The Wool Rooms

The Vision

Tasmania continues to deliver, and for The Wool Rooms we were provided what can only be described as the perfect site to build on. An elevated paddock with a northerly aspect overlooking the ebb and flow of the Tamar River below — a setting so naturally beautiful that our primary obligation was to honour it.

When we were first engaged by our clients for this design-and-construct opportunity, there was already a very strong design narrative that had been formulating over many years. In keeping with the historical context of the pastoral region, the objective was always to achieve a look and feel of an agricultural shed — buildings that appear like they have been around for generations, with a material palette to match.

Working with architect Richard Hall, that's exactly what we achieved. Crafting a simple collection of buildings that read as a farmstead: familiar, unpretentious, and deeply rooted in the Tasmanian pastoral tradition. It's often these simple requests that are the most difficult to execute. Creating something that looks effortless requires extraordinary effort. Every proportion must be right. Every material must be authentic. Every detail must reinforce the narrative of buildings shaped by time, weather, and honest use.

The pavilion arrangement — separate but connected buildings — references the way agricultural properties develop organically over time, with new structures added as needs arise. Each pavilion serves a distinct function: living, sleeping, working. The spaces between them become outdoor rooms — sheltered courtyards and covered walkways that encourage interaction with the landscape throughout the day and across the seasons.

Materials & Heritage

As with the design process, the most challenging aspect of the build was incorporating non-standard building fixtures, fittings, and materials into a seamless home. Be it the sinks, recycled bricks, or timbers — each has a story. All of the plumbing fixtures were items collected over several years from various garage sales. Each copper and brass fitting required restoration prior to fitting.

As with the doors, each one sourced from a thrift store (or alike), no door being the same width or thickness and also needing to be stripped back and restored. The bricks were sourced from a salvage specialist in NSW and were not of the same size or finish. Finally, the timber flooring was hand-selected, piece by piece, from a boutique Tasmanian timber supplier who sources and sorts "waste" product from the major suppliers.

Bringing each of these unique elements together somewhat seamlessly is what we are most proud of in this build. Every door hang required custom fitting. Every brick course required adjustment to accommodate the varying sizes. Every floorboard was individually assessed and positioned to create the most pleasing visual pattern. This kind of work cannot be rushed and cannot be done by builders who are accustomed to uniform, factory-produced materials. It requires patience, skill, and a genuine appreciation for the character that imperfect materials bring to a space.

The result is a home that feels as though it has been inhabited and loved for decades, despite being newly built. Surfaces carry the patina of their previous lives — the brass taps show the gentle wear of hands that used them in another home, another era. The recycled bricks carry the marks of the walls they once formed. The timber floors tell stories in their grain patterns and saw marks.

The Senses

Ultimately though, it is the effect on our clients as to why we choose to build in the first place. Here is a short snippet from their experience of living in The Wool Rooms:

"Whilst the house was designed to take advantage of the vistas — notably the sweeping bend in the Tamar — there are many unexpected moments. Little feet running down a hallway glimpsed in low-lying windows, a skylight that captures the roof line of the adjoining pavilion, or looking through several windows that just happen to align enabling us to see the river from the back part of the house. These all provide a sense of place and beauty."

"The design of the home allows natural light and warmth to pass to each of the rooms we frequently use as a family, such as the warming sun as we enjoy breakfast, or watching the sky turn pink as we enjoy sunsets in our family room each afternoon."

These words capture something essential about The Wool Rooms — it is a home of discoveries. You don't experience it all at once. Its qualities reveal themselves gradually, through the accumulation of daily moments. A particular quality of light noticed for the first time after weeks of occupation. A view through aligned windows that only appears at a certain time of day. The sound of rain on the corrugated iron roof, amplified in the covered walkway between pavilions.

For Davies, The Wool Rooms represents one of our most deeply satisfying projects — a home where every element, from the salvaged door handles to the river views, contributes to a richly layered experience of domestic life.

Recognition