A nod to the post-fire regeneration of the Australian bush.
From fire and wild weather comes reconstruction, regeneration and rebirth. Within the charred, weathered framework of an 1830s flour mill, we introduced elements of the unexpected in this boutique accommodation. It’s luxury with rusted, raw edges, and it threads the building’s rich heritage into a contemporary experience.
At the crossing of Launceston’s north and south Esk rivers lies 200 years of Tasmanian history. Miraculously, this flour mill survived a major structural fire and almost two centuries of exposure to wild elements. The mill is now home to award-winning restaurant Stillwater, who enlisted our help to reclaim the top floors and vacant ancillary spaces with seven new suites. Each was to offer an experience matching Stillwater’s engaging locavore concept.
CLIENT
Stillwater
IMAGES
Anjie Blair
LAND OF
Stoney Creek Nation
COLLABORATORS
Anstie Constructions
JMG Engineers
Rare Innovation
John Papworth
Southern Lighting
AWARDS
2020 Tasmanian Architecture Awards, Commercial Architecture - Commendation
With such an unassuming, utilitarian exterior, we invited guests to engage and explore their offbeat suite from the moment they opened the door.
Flickers into the mill’s past include surviving elements like weathered corrugated iron, heritage sandstone and giant Oregon pine trusses. To focus on these interesting signs of age, we reused original materials wherever possible.
Consistent with the local, seasonal focus of the restaurant below, we celebrated the strength of Tasmanian products and designers. Guests sink into custom-made A.H Beard beds from Hobart, and sit upon bespoke furniture designed and made by Simon Ancher at his nearby Launceston studio.
Something old, something new.
Looking back.
It feels good to reflect on how we managed to fit seven suites into the three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle of the flour mill. And, as always, we learned along the way. It was surprising how impactful the rooms with the smaller windows were. We thought they might feel too dark, but the lower light actually created a sense of intimacy, really drawing you to the view. It’s a humbling experience to work with a great client and builder towards a shared goal, and give new life to a significant part of local history.
Design within this partially burnt timber framework proved the kind of constraint that conjured innovation. As an ambitious adaptive reuse project, it involved a commitment to preserve the building’s integrity, and ideate with sensitivity to the original fabric. The existing framework gave us a richer narrative territory than any new features ever could.
Our design delved into the post-fire regeneration seen in the Australian bush, known to produce vibrant new plant life. We opted for tactile finishes that yearned to be touched. Textural paintwork in deep reds and greens matched raw edged interiors, and the immersive bathrooms surprise guests with pinks, greens, elevated ceilings and playful lighting.
Through fire and water.
