River Haus

The Story

River Haus is a home of pavilions — at once a dichotomy and an integration of Tuscan romanticism and contemporary detail. Its functional aesthetic was born in the landscape, designed to shelter courtyards, capture sunlight, and engage with the Tamar River, kanamaluka. The result is a nostalgic homage to central Italian rustic design, set within Tasmania's timeless terrain and crafted for living today.

This is among the most ambitious residential projects Davies has undertaken, both in scale and in the complexity of its design vision. The clients desired a secluded home by the water without compromising on contemporary comforts — a brief that required the building to simultaneously embrace and shelter from its riverside setting. The pavilion approach allows different functions to occupy distinct buildings connected by covered walkways and courtyards, creating a compound-like arrangement that feels organic and discovered rather than designed.

From its foundations to its finishes, the River Haus is superlative. Davies is proud to have built this home and continues to use it as a fine example of best practice — a project where the ambition of the design was matched by the precision of the execution.

Site & Pavilions

The River Haus is a bold design and build that has impeccably delivered the clients' desire for seclusion and sophistication. The pavilion arrangement creates a series of intimate outdoor spaces — courtyards, terraces, and gardens — that are protected from the wind while remaining open to the views and the sky. Each pavilion is oriented to capture a specific aspect of the site: the main living pavilion faces the river, the bedroom wing enjoys morning light, and the guest quarters look out across the garden.

The spaces between the pavilions are as carefully designed as the buildings themselves. These interstitial zones — covered walkways, open courtyards, planted gardens — create a sequence of experiences as you move through the property. You pass from enclosed to open, from shade to sun, from intimate to expansive, in a rhythm that mirrors the experience of walking through an Italian village. It's a masterful use of landscape architecture that elevates the River Haus from a house into an experience.

Craftsmanship & Detail

The level of craftsmanship at River Haus sets a benchmark for residential construction in Tasmania. Every material has been selected for its ability to contribute to the Tuscan-meets-contemporary narrative: rendered walls, natural stone, timber, and metal are combined with a confidence and restraint that belies the complexity of their integration.

The 2022 HIA Tasmania Laundry of the Year award highlights an often-overlooked aspect of great residential design: the quality of utility spaces. Despite its importance to the functioning of the home, the laundry is often secondary to other internal features. Not in this instance. The combined mudroom/laundry expertly performs its desired purpose as a serviceable laundry with features such as a clothes hanger under a heat pump and clever shelving. The fitted barn door — which can open at the top or bottom for ventilation — is a bespoke addition that perfectly encapsulates the River Haus philosophy: beautiful function in every detail, no matter how utilitarian.