Peeling Back the Layers – Hollow Tree House by Core Collective Architects
Through the restoration of the original Georgian building, Hollow Tree House reveals its layered and rich narrative. Collaborating with a close team of dedicated crafts people, trades and makers, Core Collective Architects respectfully reimagines the original home as a place of both historical significance and contemporary comfort.
Sitting north-west of Hobart, the estate of the same name is located in the lushly green central highland surrounds of Hollow Tree and was originally named ‘Strathborough’. As a restoration project, the process of collating and bringing together a series of the best-aligned and impassioned trades, craftspeople and makers was integral in ensuring a less than traditional approach could be adopted in bringing the historic beauty to life again. As an unravelling of history, the new works both peel back layers of the many iterations over time and reveal the home’s original origins in the process. Built in the early 1800s, the Georgian Colonial stylings of the homestead have been retained and enhanced through a process that inserts a series of considered and measured gestures, while sitting under a modern and sensitive guise. Core Collective Architects responds to the home’s layered history and its representation of craft through time.
Built by Paradigm Construction with structural engineering by JMG Engineers & Planners, Hollow Tree House sees the restoration of the homestead’s main residence and stables. The removal of layered and added ill-fitting additions over time revealed the original materiality and details, which could then be restored and highlighted. Fortunately, much remained in its original condition, with the process discovering original fireplaces, floorboards, timber joinery and window coverings, and rendered plaster details. Reflecting its original time, Hollow Tree House was the result of many ‘DIY’ efforts, which needed alignment to ensure their historical relevance could be carried through and become part of the home’s permanent narrative.
As part of the uncovering and restoration process, various tonal colours were found in each of the rooms, which then became a feature that the team wanted to reinstate. Through close consultation with Heritage Tasmania, processes and techniques were able to be used to ensure a level of authenticity was also instilled into the spaces and the new works. All new elements had to be held to the same rigour and process to ensure there was a similar vein and consistency throughout.
Hollow Tree House captures a moment in time and tells the interesting story of its previous owners and custodians. Through careful and deliberate interventions, Core Collective Architects has ensured this important historical architectural totem is preserved and has a future.
