Dales of Derby
Group Accommodation, North East Tasmania.
Located in the picturesque region of northeast Tasmania, Dales Of Derby is a home away from home and a place to stay next to the river on the edge of town.
An introductory building to Derby, the gable roof suggests a link to the local mining history, calling to mind utilitarian tin miner accommodation, high country slab hut or tractor shed.
Facilitating large groups, the building presents a series of varied experiences, perhaps even evokes a certain memorable naivety of fun, friends, kids, and a splash of primary colour, a splash in the river, a fireplace, a place to remember.
The built form is a singular functional object separated into pieces and strung out across the hill between road and river.
Gaps become significant framing moments of eucalypt forest while nighttime gable lighting castes a permanent golden hue to greying timber walls; a memory of the raw timber cut, glowing on the outskirts of town.
Photographer
Luke Hesketh
TV Feature – Australia By Design Architecture Season 4
Awarded 2019 Tasmanian Architecture Awards
The Barry McNeill Award For Sustainable Architecture
Award Jury Citation:
“On a steep block of land between the main road and the Ringarooma River, Dales Of Derby is a well-mannered and beautifully detailed building. The building is naturally ventilated and the heavily insulated envelope is warmed by passive solar gain. Solar photovoltaics on the roof provide electricity for use during the day and power an efficient heat pump hot water system that stores hot water in a series of cylinders under the building. The reliance on natural and renewable materials contribute to the cosy and yet pared-back aesthetic. The result is an intriguing exemplar for future sustainable tourism development in the region.”
Awarded 2019 Tasmanian Architecture Awards
Award For Commercial Architecture
Award Jury Citation:
“Over the last few years the small town of Derby in northeast Tasmania has experienced exponential growth in visitor numbers as the town has transformed into a world-class, international mountain biking destination. On a steep grassy bank, a long, linear, gabled form stretches along the contours, providing accommodation for these mountain bikers. The building, clad in vertical band-sawn Tasmanian Oak and galvanised steel cladding, is both familiar and curious. Details and invention driven by economy abound, interspersed with moments of irreverence and bold use of colour, while built-in furniture, joinery and other bespoke elements have a beautifully simple, workmanlike quality to their design and resolution.”
Awarded 2019 Sustainability Awards
Commercial Architecture (Small)
Award Jury Citation:
“Designed as a base for adventure tourism and harking back to the farming history of the tin shed and the miners’ cottage, the Dales highlights the use of responsible timber, with fun and efficient lightweight design. With Solar PV and onsite waste treatment, this development will provide low impact accommodation for those travellers coming to enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings.”
Honorable Mention 2019 International Design Awards
