Ma’s House by Studio Steen

Ma’s House by Studio Steen was a personal endeavour for the architect, who sensitively considered the functionality, wellbeing and future of both the dwelling and its inhabitant.

Established by principal architect Clare Steen and her husband Andrew, Studio Steen is based in Launceston, Tasmania. “Studio Steen starts each project with a comprehensive briefing process that reveals the client’s aspirations and project drivers – quantitative and qualitative – and also interrogates the site’s unique attributes” says Clare. “We base our work on first principle passive solar design, emphasising optimal orientation for solar exposure, natural airflow and roof overhangs to provide summer shading. We’re committed to using sustainable, natural materials that harmonise with the surrounding landscape.”

Studio Steen’s projects traverse a number of contexts, but Ma’s House, a project completed in 2018, perfectly encapsulates their ethos and enthusiasm for sustainable yet soulful architecture.

Studio Steen’s projects traverse a number of contexts, but Ma’s House, a project completed in 2018, perfectly encapsulates their ethos and enthusiasm for sustainable yet soulful architecture. Designed and built for Clare’s mother, the residence is set on a steep block of land. Accessibility and a navigable footprint were key concerns, as were budget considerations and level-access connection to the garden from every room. As a keen gardener, Clare’s mother had been challenged in her previous home by limited accessibility between the living space and gardens. During the design phase of the project, it was revealed the use of a wheelchair was likely in the future, so accommodating this possibility was crucial.

To ensure both functionality and comfort, and to best engage with the local micro-climate and surrounding environment, the project is embedded with universal accessibility and principles of ageing in place. A butterfly roof allows a pitched ceiling above the open-plan living room, enhancing the sense of light and space in what is a relatively small footprint. The exterior materials and treatments were guided by regulatory requirement, as well as a desire for modesty, material honesty and reduced maintenance. Shiplap ironbark cladding and blackbutt-framed windows are protected by a substantial overhang. Prior to exterior board installation, coats of Lanotec oil were applied, resulting in a zero-maintenance material that will gradually develop a silver patina. Inside, the use of plywood and Tasmanian oak gives a sense of warmth and order. A concrete floor was chosen for its durability and thermal properties.

To ensure both functionality and comfort, and to best engage with the local micro-climate and surrounding environment, the project is embedded with universal accessibility and principles of ageing in place.

“In the period since [the project was completed], not only have costs surged, but increased information on carbon cost and material travel has allowed for better choices. Ma’s House is, however, filled with wise decisions. The attitude to materials is pragmatic, confident and straightforward, allowing it to age gracefully,” says Clare. The residence exemplifies how to consider homes and structures in their wider context and accommodate the lifestyles of those who inhabit them to ensure longevity.

Architecture and interior design by Studio Steen. Build by Andrias McMahon.