#TheBarnTAS

Architects: Unknown (1829) So.Architecture (formerly workbylizandalex) (2015)

Converted in 2015 by two emerging Architects, this late 1820’s sandstone Barn is a truly unique development. The award-winning conversion incorporates light and a refined material palette to accentuate the historic building fabric. #thebarnTAS is located in Hobart’s CBD just mere minutes from the city’s major cultural and gastronomic attractions including the historic precincts of Salamanca + Battery Point.

Constructed circa 1829 from locally quarried sandstone and convict bricks, the stable began its life as a modest outbuilding to Goulburn Street’s Bull’s Head Inn. Originally a home for horses, the nine metre by five metre footprint was built for purpose and economy; the ground floor accommodated four stalls and the 45 degree pitched roof allowed for generous loft storage. Although modest in size (a mere 62 square metres) the stable is rich in history, texture and olfactory delights. The Architect’s approach was quite simple – retain as much of the existing building fabric, as possible and where new services and amenities were required, provide new contemporary insertions. The central concept for the new insertions was that they should read differently to the existing; by doing so, and like in any good relationship, the past and the present have space to breathe. The Architects fell in love with the gabled volume. In such a small space it was important to preserve the feeling of height and exaggerate it by making the adjacent spaces lower. Working within the original envelope and our humble budget we used volume, outlook and a clear material strategy to define spaces and encourage variety and play.

This project received the Roy Sharrington Smith Award for Heritage and an Award for Residential Architecture – House (Alterations and Additions) in the 2015 Tasmanian Architecture Award. The project then went on the receive the highest national architecture award in 2015, The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture

Open: Sunday 10 November 2024, 1pm – 3pm (registrations required)