Eyrie House in Tasmania Offers Spectacular Views and Design

Eyrie House by Matt Williams Architects is a residence designed to contrast with the rugged landscape of Mount Rumney in southeastern Tasmania, Australia’s island-most state.

Built on a very steep slope, for a couple, the house features a facade built using GB Masonry blocks laid in long horizontal and vertical patterns.

“The client wanted a house on a site they regarded as truly spectacular for its stunning views,” Matt Williams told.

“They required a comfortable home and a simple material palette, and an effortlessly simple solution to a complex problem,” he added.

“Our design problem was to draw the view into each space, not just the living spaces most homes retreat to in order to exploit the view.”

The simple rectangular shape with clean, folded forms maximises its scenic surroundings. Locating the garage at the top with the residence below further enhances accessibility for the residents.

“Due to the steep site and limited access, the standard hill-house plan was inverted to locate the garage at the top with the residence below,” Williams explained.

“This then presented the design opportunity of how occupants access the house from the upper-level entrance.”

The house consists of a cluster composed of mono- and duo-pitched roofs, which cover a combination of open-sided and enclosed spaces.

Acute angles also carve out sheltered verandah folds and roof scoops that spill light onto certain spots.

“These projections end firmly – with powerful solidity pocketed corners, still vistas across the water, and or rooms within rooms,” said the studio.

Eyrie House is clad in “Simmental Silver metallic prefinished coil” to give the house a “gently undulating but strong skin” that the studio said.

“The roof and wall surfaces then protect the complex and intricate timber framework and masonry structure that the project is composed of,” it added.

The interior is made from timber, and bespoke joinery was used to enhance the space further.

“We understood the site’s history and Tasmania’s vernacular past of a timber and masonry architectural expression,” it said.

“Having completed the client’s previous home, they understood that design stretches one’s understanding of value for money and were willing to recommit to a hand-crafted detail-first interior solution.”

Furthermore, the masonry walls protecting the interior’s core contrast with the timber ceiling.

“Timber lattice walls rise up whilst masonry walls connect to the ground,” it said, explaining the use of materials.

Designed in 2023, Eyrie House is situated on Mount Rumney, on the Southern end of Australia’s largest island.