Dwell 2015 11

off the grid
insulation rating (R8). And even when
the shutters are closed, the broad clerestory
windows along the long axis of the
roof bring light to the interior spaces.
While the home is connected to the
electricity grid, it’s also self-sustaining,
using an evacuated solar-tube system
to minimize the energy it consumes to
heat water, which works efficiently even
in wintry, low-sun conditions. Rainwater
is harvested from the roof and
stored in three 10,000-liter tanks. An
on-site Envirocycle system treats both
grey and black water produced by the
occupants and channels it to an irrigation
patch of phosphate-absorbing
native plants.
The architect used plantation-grown
timber for the inner structure and zinc—
a recyclable, maintenance-free material
that ages well—for the roof. Zinc is also
highly resistant to fire, a persistent
threat in Tasmania, despite its cool, temperate
climate; the island’s high-velocity
winds combined with the oil in the
eucalyptus trees can create raging bushfires
to equal any on the mainland.
“The house has been designed so you
can basically shut it down and walk
away,” says Vasiljevich. What remains—
exposed to Tasmania’s elemental,
ever-shifting climatic moods—is a nearly
featureless, armored structure, with a
vivid color that appears to leap out of the
landscape. The dark-red panels mark
the entry points and slide open, like the
screens in a Japanese teahouse.
“There are times when something
needs to blend in, and times when it
needs to stand out,” says the architect.
“The wilderness has color; that’s how
everything works in nature. I love using
it because it invigorates people.”
The home’s double-skin
structure makes the most of
Tasmania’s variable climate.
Both sets of panels slide open
for maximum views and solar
gain; in inclement weather,
they shutter completely, while
clerestory windows bathe
the space in light.
122 NOVEMBER 2015 DWELL