Huon Creek House

Completed 2023

Photos by Jeremy Weihrauch

When Tim and Tricia approached Akimbo Architecture, they were looking to create a home for their retirement, which although much smaller, would still capture the sense of space and surrounding greenery they had enjoyed in their large family home. Their new block of land, located at the end of a court, held an enviable position in an otherwise typical suburban neighbourhood. It appealed to them because of the neighbouring Huon Creek and its associated belt of trees, which offered opportunities to visually borrow space from the adjacent parkland. 

Completed in 2023, Tim and Tricia say that the house has ‘done justice to and exceeded their expectations’ for the site.  Their favourite feature of the house is the central courtyard, which has sliding timber screens to allow the space to be shielded from passers-by, or opened up, allowing connection to the garden and broader environment.

A sheltered courtyard to the northern side of the house offers a more private escape, provides shade during summer, and allows sunlight deep into the house during winter.  From each room within the house, views are of gardens, courtyards, and green spaces. Beautifully designed by landscape architect Anthea Dunlop, the garden blurs the lines between the public and private space surrounding the house, extending from the courtyards to beyond the fencelines. 

The Huon Creek House has been designed to be low-energy and low maintenance. The house is all electric, and the substantial solar system combined with battery storage mean that energy bills are nearly non-existent. The polished concrete floors throughout have inbuilt hydronic heating, while the double-glazed windows keep the warmth inside. During the summer months, the thermal mass of the concrete, as well as the exposed brick walls internally help to keep the house cool. 

Inside, the materials are kept very simple and honest, with raw brickwork and concrete floors brought to life with the warmth of timber joinery. A playful raised green ceiling over the living areas extends the feel of the landscape into the interior.

The floor plan of the house is designed around maximising flexibility – in different modes, the house can grow to accommodate guests, have multiple living spaces, or offer a study area for working with a green outlook. However, this is all accomplished within a very modest size, making it simple to maintain. 

From every window, the deliberate connection between interior and exterior spaces is apparent.  Daily life is centralised around the internal courtyard,  creating an oasis separated from the suburban neighbourhood. Huon Creek House offers an alternative model of the suburban downsizer, which offers delight and privacy, while engaging with the surrounding landscape.