Boa Vista
Perched in New Town, just beyond Hobart’s city edge, Boa Vista carries the quiet assurance of a home that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Originally built around 1910, the Federation-era residence arrived with strong bones and a certain inherited grace. For Jason Licht, founder and principal of Hobart-based Licht Architecture, the project was as much about personality as it was about planning. “When we reflect on how the project feels now it’s complete, it really comes across as a true expression of our clients – there’s a quiet confidence to it, and an overall sense of warmth that feels like a relaxed hug,” he says.
The home leans into warmth rather than formality – its character shaped by clients who, as Licht describes, are “bubbly and quietly confident”.
That sense of ease is evident from the outset. The approach avoids grandeur in favour of something more grounded and personable. While the suburb itself carries traces of its once-elevated status, the home leans into warmth rather than formality – its character shaped by clients who, as Licht describes, are “bubbly and quietly confident”.
The reworking of the plan is subtle but transformative. A former bathroom, once interrupting the flow of the home, has been removed to open up the central living areas. This single move reshapes the experience of arrival, allowing sightlines to extend through the dining, kitchen and living spaces in one continuous sweep. The original Federation arch now frames the dining room with renewed presence, becoming both a visual anchor and a quiet nod to the home’s past.
“In this project we really leaned into colour. It was a really fun part of the process.”
Beyond this, the plan unfolds with a gentle rhythm. Public and private zones are clearly legible yet never feel rigidly defined. Bedrooms and shared spaces sit comfortably within the original footprint, while the extension at the rear introduces a new layer of living. The transition between old and new is deliberately articulated – weatherboards are left exposed at the threshold, offering a moment of pause and a tactile reminder of the building’s evolution.
Colour plays a leading role throughout, not as decoration but as expression. Rather than holding back, the palette leans into boldness, guided in part by the clients’ own sensibilities. “In this project we really leaned into colour. It was a really fun part of the process,” Licht explains. “One of the clients has a really playful approach to their everyday workwear, and that sense of fun became a key influence – shaping the confidence behind many of the colour choices.”
This confidence is most apparent in moments of contrast. A vivid balustrade enlivens the staircase, turning a functional element into a sculptural gesture, while softer, clay-toned hues bring balance within the main bedroom. Elsewhere, greens anchor the living spaces, culminating in a kitchen that feels both grounded and expressive. The choice of stone – arrived at almost by accident – introduces veining that echoes the greenery beyond, visually linking interior and exterior in a way that feels instinctive rather than imposed.
Materiality follows a similar logic. Finishes are tactile and honest, chosen for their ability to age gracefully and sit comfortably within the broader palette. There’s a cohesion here that doesn’t rely on uniformity, but on a shared sensibility – one that prioritises warmth, texture and a certain lived-in ease.
For Licht, the project also carries a more personal resonance. Having known the clients prior to the commission, the process unfolded with a level of trust that allowed ideas to be explored with openness and conviction. “What I’m most proud of is the trust they placed in us, and the level of care they brought to every detail – everyone involved was deeply invested, and that really comes through in the final result,” he reflects.
That care reveals itself not in any single gesture, but in the overall atmosphere of the home. Boa Vista doesn’t announce itself loudly. Instead, it invites you in, holds your attention, and lingers – much like the “relaxed, warm hug” Licht describes.
