National awards short-list features Tassie’s best builds

Wolfe House by Rosevear Stephenson has been short-listed for the Houses Awards 2025 New House Under 200sq m category and the Sustainability award. Picture: Adam Gibson

Five innovative Tasmanian homes have been short-listed for the annual Houses Awards.

They made the cut for a range of award categories, from new builds to sustainability.

Houses magazine editor and Houses Awards jury chair Alexa Kempton said many homes in this year’s shortlist were ascribed to “the radical idea of doing less”.

“Many of this year’s short-listed homes show us that we should be designing smarter, rather than bigger,” she said.

“Increasingly, we see architects telling clients, ‘You don’t need more space – you need better design.’

“The jury observed modestly scaled new houses as well as clever interventions to existing homes, and applauded this continued emphasis on responsible residential design.”

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Wolfe House by Rosevear Stephenson. Picture: Adam Gibson

Wolfe House by architects Rosevear Stephenson was selected in two categories: Sustainability and New House Under 200sq m.

The practice’s brief was to create a cosy, modest, simple, efficient home designed for privacy, comfort, and minimal maintenance.

It needed to provide pleasure, light, sun, passive solar design, and low environmental impact while integrating into the landscape and maximising views.

Materials were used in their raw form and selected for their endurance and longevity.

Wolfe House.

Reflecting on the project, the architects said they strove to make what is a small house feel expansive through placing external spaces at the core of the house.

“Proceeding through the courtyard to the covered deck presents both wings of the house but also the landscape beyond. In turn, the covered deck functions as external living, a corridor and communal space where guests and owner have both separation and connection,” they said.

The home’s owner said it brings her “peace”.

“It connects me to the surrounding environment while feeling warm and protected inside,” she said.

“The compact, clever design caters for every need yet feels spacious because of its location on the high point of the site with full-length windows on the northern side encompassing the view, warmth and light.

“It is an undemanding and easy place to live in.”

The winners of the 2025 Houses Awards will be announced at a gala event at the State Library of NSW on Friday, August 1.

The shortlist can be viewed at housesawards.com.au

HOUSES AWARDS SHORTLIST

New House Under 200sq m

Spring Beach House – Scale Architecture

Wolfe House – Rosevear Stephenson

New House Over 200sq m

Nebraska – Lara Maeseele

House Alteration & Addition Under 200sq m

Coles Bay House – Ancher Architecture Office

Pedder Street – Bence Mulcahy