Hunter Huon Valley
Designed by Maguire + Devine Architects, Hunter Huon Valley, in Tasmania, includes three boutique bush cabins – spaces where you can completely immerse yourself in an idyllic rural setting.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
‘The idea behind the material selection was to frame the landscape to allow this to be the real hero. The views are really the artwork within the cabins,’ says Kristy Hunt. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
‘We loved that Maguire + Devine Architects has a certain style that was understated and paired back. We knew their values aligned with ours and that they could bring our vision to life,’ says Kristy Hunt. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
‘Overall we wanted our design to compliment the natural surrounds of the property, it was important to minimise any clearing of the existing vegetation and established bushland to ensure we didn’t compromise the integrity of the landscape,’ says Kristy Hunt. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
“Even though all states around Australia have a unique offering, there’s just something special about Tasmania that no other state has. All these years later, it still manages to capture our hearts.”
Ceramic lights from We Ponder. Furniture made by Matt Black Furniture. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
Handmade basin by local ceramic artist, Zsolt Faludi. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
Handmade basin by local ceramic artist, Zsolt Faludi. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
Tasmanian oak lines the walls and ceilings of the cabins. Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
‘Rather than incorporating colours into the build, we opted for different finishes and textures to allow the cabins to be a tactile experience.’ Photo: Natasha Alessio-Mulhall
Ben and Kristy Hunt had been dreaming of leaving Melbourne but unsure where they would land – in 2017 they decided it was time make the move and find somewhere that accommodated their new lifestyle choices.
‘We’d been to Hobart a couple of times and fell in love with Tassie – the fresh air, food and wine, and local vibe. Something just clicked one day and it seemed like the solution was to move down to the Huon Valley, we could see the region was quite untouched and had an enormous amount of potential,’ shares Kristy.
In 2018, Ben and Kristy bought 36 acres of land in Glen Huon, located approximately 45 minutes southwest of Hobart. Now, after five years, they have recently launched their boutique accomodation, Hunter Huon Valley on the property.
‘After a few properties that weren’t right for us, we drove up the road amongst the trees to Hunter Huon Valley and instantly got this feeling of escape. Once we got to the top of the property and saw the view over the valley we were sold, we knew this was the one. If we were this captivated, we knew our guests would also feel the same way,’ says Kristy.
After coming across Bruny Island Hideaway designed by Maguire + Devine Architects, the couple knew they had to work with them and made contact straight away for the design of the three seperate cabins on the property. ‘Maguire + Devine Architects have a distinct style that is recognisable, this was important to us in a very competitive market.’
Most importantly, the design needed to compliment the surrounding natural landscape, with minimal clearing of existing vegetation and established bushland, to ensure that the integrity of the landscape wasn’t compromised.
Dark finishes were selected for the exterior of the cabins so that they blend in the landscape. Internally, the materials also focus on making the exterior the main attraction.
‘The idea behind the material selection was to frame the landscape to allow this to be the real hero. The views are really the artwork within the cabins, in addition to the beautiful handcrafted ceramics created by local Tasmanian artisans.’ Tasmanian oak lines the walls and ceilings, the salvaged blackwood timber tables and vanities were custom made by local furniture maker Matt Black Furniture, and the ceramic bedside lights were made by Hobart business, We Ponder.
‘The property has such a lovely sense of escapism and we wanted to capture this feeling when staying in the cabins,’ says Kristy, ‘We intend to hold food and wine workshops and intimate dinners, working in collaboration with local chefs, winemakers and producers for guests in the near future.’