Forest House

Location: Kettering, Tasmania

Scope: Environmentally sustainable award-winning retreat

"Forest House" is an award winning architecturally designed home on 14.2 hectares of open natural bushland in the hills behind Kettering, the gateway to Bruny Island. Built in 2012, the house site makes the most of the sun and the views which feature Mt Wellington to the north and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Fluted Cape on Bruny Island to the south. Built of rammed earth with external feature timber walls, "Forest House" not only blends beautifully with its environment visually, but also on an ecological basis being off the grid with a 5 star sustainability rating that does not compromise any of the home's quality or comfort.

Entering through a covered porch, this two bedroom, two bathroom home is definitely state-of-the-art with its internal walls being a well-balanced mix of clean white lines and the warm tones of the rammed earth. The walls are complemented by the polished timber floors, picture windows and bi-fold doors opening onto wooden sundecks and paved entertaining areas creating an indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Everything about this home is stylish, from the bathrooms with their quality fittings to the ultra-modern galley kitchen with its well-equipped cooking facilities and rust-red colour reflecting the surrounding environment. Easily accessed from the kitchen is a gravelled courtyard with six raised vegetable gardens providing fresh produce all year round. The open-plan living and dining area with its study nook is a multi-purpose space, ideal for both entertaining and relaxing. Adjacent to and complementing the house is an outbuilding that includes two carports, a cellar, a workshop and a storage area.

Architect: David Travalia 

Products Supplied: Rayburn 355 SFW solid fuel cooker supplying domestic hot water and central heating through copper heating pipes set into a trough with a copper transfer plate  

1 x Cheminees Philippe Radiante 1000 

The physical size, technology and superior performance of the Radiante 1000 is unsurpassed by any other fire on the market.

Awards: Tasmanian Master Builders Associations Awards in 2013 including Best House over $750,000, Most Energy Efficient House and Residential Builder of the Year.