Home on the Hill – Kings Meadows by S. Group

Exceeding expectations of a simple ‘downsizer’, architects S. Group transformed a striking elevated site into an equally distinctive modern home. Perched atop the hills of Kings Meadows, Launceston, the project makes the most of its position and orientation to capture valley and mountain views whilst offering a calm and comfortable experience of place.

A modern injection to a suburban street that is dominated by houses from the 1980s and 90s, this new home is extreme in all aspects. Not only is it built on an extremely steep slope of land, but the innovative design also blends into the topography and boasts views of the valley below, utterly transcending expectations of a humble downsizer. By carefully selecting materials, paying attention to topography and constructing a vertical, open-plan living space, S. Group has designed a home that offers intrigue from the outside and easy living on the inside.

S. Group has designed in a way that is sympathetic to the block, building a three-storey home with a flexible floor plan to accommodate the homeowners and their extended family.

S. Group has designed in a way that is sympathetic to the block, building a three-storey home with a flexible floor plan. The contemporary home is positioned to ensure privacy for the homeowners and their extended family. Built around a vertical cross with the tower as a focal point, the floors are connected by a stairwell within the tower that provides access to each level. On the upper level, inhabitants are met with open-plan living and dining accompanied by views of the mountains from the large windows, which can also be experienced from the large covered cantilevered north-facing deck.

Materials are integral to the home’s design, form, versatility and relationship to its surroundings. Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding and Stria™ Cladding from James Hardie
was used to clad the exterior, the fibre cement product contributing to the home’s modern design aesthetic, breaking down form and scale to define the three distinct levels of the house and offering the flexibility to incorporate colour. Choosing this cladding was also a practical move, ideal for hillside builds due to easy installation, durability and minimal footprint on the block.

The interplay of materials, light and colour nurtures a relationship between the landscape and the building.

The choice of James Hardie cladding was also integral in the cohesion of colour, light and shadow. The cladding allows any paint colour to be used for the façade, therefore acting as a canvas, its texture giving the paint a matte finish and the vertical joint lines a subtlety that allows bold forms and the large window frames to stand out. Meanwhile, rich, dark charcoal colours are offset by softer, warm neutral tones, creating a balance of light and dark.

The interplay of materials, light and colour nurtures a relationship between the landscape and the building. High ceilings and large windows welcome light; views of the mountains and landscape dominate each room, and natural light coming in from the central tower plays off the neutral tones in the timber flooring, white walls and tiles. The cladding also takes on the appearance of charred timber or a metal finish, depending on the time of day. As a result, the home achieves a seamless connection to the mountain vista whilst not distracting from the striking architectural design.