Hello, I'm
Matt Williams, the architect for the Dolphin Sands Studio.
Dolphin Sands is located halfway up the East Coast of Tasmania opposite of Forestier Peninsula.
On arrival you follow an undulating path around in dune this delivers you to a bridge
that spans across to access the deck and the studio that's floating above the dunes.
From the deck the doors open into the main space, which consists of the kitchen, the living space
and the bedroom combined.
Adjacent to that space is a bathroom.
The studio was conceived as a viewfinder focusing
the occupant's attention across the bay to the spectacular outlook.
The large window faces South South-East
and so it picks up every sunrise as it arises over Forestier Peninsula and the hazards,
washing low light across a large expanse of the OSB making the room glow golden.
We're trying to use as few materials as possible in the space because in our opinion
that makes the space more restful because you have sort of you take it in quite simply
but you're surrounded by this rich texture of material but you don't really think about it.
A couple can live in this space long term
and have everything they need here but it doesn't feel imposing in the space everything can be tidy
put away whether it's their clothing or the food for the kitchen everything is tucked away.
The concept of the solar tent is about providing protection for the occupants while maintaining
that immediacy to the landscape and all the diverse weather that comes with an exposed site.
The triangular tapering form of the studio makes it a naturally very
stiff structure against many prevailing winds coming off the bay.
What I'm most proud about with the studio is that
it has achieved its calm and respite for our clients far beyond what was intended.
They were planning to have it as a getaway when they travel to Australia
and now they've been living here 15 months.
They love being here and are very happy and settling right into the community.