Skip to main content

A Tasmanian Bushfire Cleared the Way for This Modular Home

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Building a home in bushfire country is risky business. There’s always the chance the fires will return and the home will be destroyed. The 2013 Tasmanian bushfires devastated Australia’s island state, in particular, the small village of Dunalley. In total, 65 structures were destroyed, including the village’s police station and primary school. And in one corner of town, right on the water’s edge, a family’s holiday shack was lost. This is the site where Stuart Tanner Architects took a risk, building Dunalley House, a modular vacation home designed to withstand any future fires.

Recommended Videos

Dunalley House sits on the shore in the northern edge of Tasman Peninsular, a small peninsula in Tasmania, Australia. Because of the remote location, which is considered a high “Bushfire Attack Level” area, architect Stuart Tanner needed to ensure that the home could withstand any future fires. He turned to concrete, a material known for its fire resistance. By using prefabricated steel and concrete components, he designed a home that was not just fire resistant, but affordable and easy to build.

The minimalist home is laid out in an L-shape. The modular concrete components were used on the side of the home facing inland, providing protection from any fires that may encroach on the land. Knowing the family can’t vacation in a concrete box, Tanner made sure to use extensive glazing on the sides of the home that face the water. This allows for plenty of natural light and relaxing views of Dunalley Bay.

The large property offers many different vantage points to take in the surroundings. The exterior profile of the home was kept low so as to not interfere with the landscape. The inside of the home was kept simple and functional.

One wing of the L is a wide open family room, which includes the living room, dining area, and kitchen. The furnishings are basic but stylish in keeping with the minimalist look of the home. The glass walls of the family room slide open, turning it into an indoor-outdoor space. A long wooden walkway acts as both the entry path and the deck that leads to a fire pit and the water beyond. The concrete floor and roof both extend out beyond the exterior walls, creating a sheltered patio space.

The other arm of the L holds the private spaces which include the master suite, children’s bedrooms, and bathrooms. Each room features a large, water-facing window positioned to frame a view of the landscape like a piece of art. In the main bathroom, this is done in stunning fashion with a freestanding soak tub carefully positioned in front of a wall of glass.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Inside and out, Tanner created a vacation home that is simple and beautiful, yet has a feeling of strength and protection. With careful consideration of materials and positioning of the home, Dunalley House feels ready to face any future fire in style.

For other Australian architectural awesomeness, check out the famous Pole House with its black-cube hovering over water appearance.

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
10 cigar myths the internet won’t let die
The cigar 'facts' shared in every lounge that are actually complete BS
two men enjoying cigars

The internet has been such an asset to the cigar world. It allows us to look up obscure brands, communicate with fellow fans across the globe, and access a greater amount of information than ever before. There's a downside, though: rumors catch on like wildfire, and once they're out there, they're nearly impossible to get rid of.Visit any cigar lounge or read online forums, and you'll find the same tired myths that have been making the rounds for decades. While a few are harmless pieces of folklore, others are robbing you of your hard-earned cash, ruining your smoking experience, or just flat-out lying to you about health hazards.Let's burn down those stubborn misconceptions once and for all.

Myth #1: Darker (Maduro) cigars are always more powerful

Read more
Cigar etiquette 101: Dos, don’ts, and modern manners
Please don't be that guy. Here are the cigar etiquette mistakes that scream 'amateur'
well-dressed guy smoking on a couch in the dark

Walking into a cigar lounge for the first time feels like crashing somebody's secret club. They've got this unspoken language, weird rituals, and enough unwritten rules to make your head spin! But here’s the thing—cigar etiquette is not some gatekeeping nonsense to try to make you look dumb. It's about respecting the process, the experience, and not being the person who ruins everyone else's vibe.Whether you're new to this or have been faking for years, this guide will sort you out because there's nothing more likely to ruin a good smoke than someone who clearly has no idea what they're doing.

The basics: Respecting the ritual

Read more
The first movie from Materialists director Celine Song just found a new streaming home
The movie is a brilliant look at the roads not taken.
The cast of Past Lives

Few directors have a debut feature that's as splashy as Celine Song's. The director, who now has Materialists in theaters, had a breakout hit at Sundance called Past Lives that took her all the way to the Oscars. Now that Materialists is in theaters and doing quite well, you might want to catch up with Past Lives, which was one of the best movies of 2023.

The film stars Greta Lee and is told in episodes that span more than 20 years. It starts in South Korea, and follows two Korean children who are clearly close friends and may even have a romantic spark as one of them prepares to move to Canada. Then, we follow their story over decades as they come into and out of each other's lives until they're both in their mid-30s and they reunite for a day in New York City.

Read more