The Forest: Growing a New Standard for Sustainable Design
July 27, 2026
When the University of Tasmania challenged Woods Bagot to deliver a 30% reduction in embodied carbon, architect Alastair Flynn turned to the island’s most abundant natural resource - timber. The result is a building that smells of the forest, feels like the forest, and perhaps changes the way Australia builds in the future.
Kindling: Where Tasmanian Blackwood Meets Molten Glass
July 21, 2026
In the private dining room of Yiaga restaurant in Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens, a bespoke pendant light overhangs, a design you won’t see anywhere else. Named Kindling, it is the product of an ongoing collaboration between woodworker Adam Markowitz and glassblower Ruth Allen - a meeting of two crafts, pushed to their material limits, unified by one extraordinary Tasmanian timber.
Tasmanian Oak for Sport Floors: Proven Performance for Elite Competition
July 8, 2026
For architects specifying sports facilities, the choice of timber flooring is critical to delivering safe, high-performance spaces that meet international standards. Tasmanian Oak has earned its place as a premium flooring solution in sports stadiums across Australia and New Zealand, with a proven track record spanning decades in basketball courts, netball centres, squash courts and multipurpose venues.
Tasmanian Timber in the Wilderness: Touchwood Veneer at Lake Pedder Lodge
June 8, 2026
Pedder Wilderness Lodge is located in Strathgordon, on the shore of Lake Pedder, within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Built originally in the 1960s to house Hydro workers during construction of the Gordon Dam, and now a retreat at the end of the scenic Gordon River Road. A recent renovation has transformed the lodge’s accommodation, at its heart is a product born from the same Tasmanian landscape that surrounds it; Touchwood Veneer Panels by Britton Timbers.
Mountain River House: Framing the Valley with Tasmanian Oak
May 20, 2026
Tucked into the lush landscape of the Huon Valley, the Mountain River House sits beside a mountain stream that flows year-round off the mountain peak known to locals as ‘sleeping beauty’. Designed by Simon Linardi of Atelier Cartel Architecture and Interiors, and built by Kerry Vince Builders and Earthmovers, this bespoke residence for a professional couple is quite extraordinary. The result is a home where the materials do the talking – from the Tasmanian Oak ceiling above to the stone and timber cladding that wraps the exterior.
Building a Healthier Future: How St Lukes Brought Timber to the Heart of Launceston
April 13, 2026
When St Lukes Health set out to consolidate four ageing Launceston offices into one headquarters, they did not simply want a building. St. Luke’s bold ambition was to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet by 2050. The result is a seven and a half thousand square metre mass timber office, the largest mass timber building in Tasmania and arguably the most sustainable build undertaken so far. From Tasmanian plantation hardwood CLT floors and ceilings on the St. Luke’s corporate levels to decorative Tas Oak and minor species used extensively throughout the build, St. Lukes has demonstrated why Tasmanian timber belongs at the heart of it.
The Science of Fire: How Tasmania's Forest Managers Use Fire to protect and Regenerate Native Forests
April 8, 2026
Dean Sheehan has been around forestry and fire since he was a child. Growing up on a farm in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, he watched his family clear forest on their farm to convert to pasture and plant hardwood plantations. His father worked at a wood chip mill for over 40 years. And there was an old neighbour in his seventies who selectively harvested for hydro poles with bullock trains, cracking the whip as they heaved logs out of the bush.
YIAGA: A RESTURANT CONNECTED TO COUNTRY AND CRAFTMANSHIP
March 30, 2026
Tucked within the heritage grounds of Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Country, Yiaga is a restaurant that knows exactly where it belongs. Shaped by place, season and community, it arrives as one of Australia's most stunning dining experiences: a space in which every detail, from the food to the furniture, speaks of a deep and genuine connection to this country and its makers.
Alastair Flynn
February 25, 2026
Alastair Flynn talks about the extraordinary new University of Tasmania campus, The Forest. This stunning project, in the centre of Hobart's CBD, includes a glass forest dome, with over 3,500 plants including mature trees and a disappearing tarn. Through the reuse of original materials and the use of low-carbon construction methods, including timber and carbon-negative Hempcrete, the Forest is Australia’s first carbon-neutral university campus.
Hunter Huon Valley: Where guests are surrounded by timber, trees and stars
January 21, 2026
When Ben Hunt and his family left Melbourne for Tasmania's Huon Valley, they were looking for the perfect place to build an accommodation business and a place to call home. That search led them to build Hunter Huon Valley, three intimate cabins in Glen Huon, and to make a material choice that would define every aspect of the guest experience: Tasmanian timber.
Sylvie Restaurant: Where Tasmanian Timber Meets Local Flavour
January 12, 2026
Walking into Sylvie, you're immediately enveloped by the warm, aromatic scent of Huon pine, a fitting welcome to a restaurant where everything speaks of Tasmania. From the seafood on the plate to the timber beneath your elbows, chef and owner Martin Dreyer has created a space that's a genuine reflection of the island's natural bounty.
Broadwaters by Studio Ilk: A 1970s Revival Through Timber and Thoughtful Design
November 17, 2025
In Hobart’s picturesque waterside suburb of Sandy Bay, a remarkable 1970s home has been lovingly restored by Studio Ilk, bringing together a passion for original architecture, local craftsmanship, and the warmth of Tasmanian timber.
Honeyworks House: How Blackwood and considered design created a home that hasn't aged in ten years
November 3, 2025
When architect Paul Butterworth was commissioned to design Honeyworks House a decade ago, the brief was clear: create a modest, garden-oriented home for empty nesters returning from North Queensland to Brisbane that would sit comfortably amongst its mid-century modern neighbours. What emerged was a masterclass in how authentic materials, particularly Tasmanian Blackwood, can transform a house built on a tight budget into a warm, enduring home, that has gained a cult following.
Built to age gracefully: Spring Beach House, the little cottage that glows.
October 27, 2025
Nestled along the rugged Tasmanian coastline of Spring Beach, a modest 100 square metre retreat demonstrates how thoughtful material choices can create extraordinary spaces. Designed by Scale Architecture for two sisters seeking a grounded, warm little space to spend time with their loved ones, the Spring Beach House is a masterclass in local sourcing and the artful application of Tasmanian timber.
Structural Timber: Radiata beams, the hero of Warwick Street House by Dock4 Architects
August 6, 2025
In the heart of West Hobart, Warwick Street House is a story of timeless materiality and contemporary transformation. Dock4 Architects have reimagined a classic 1900s Federation home to better suit the needs of a growing family, drawing light, warmth and life deep into the residence with the expressive use of timber.
Carcassonne by FMD Architects
July 28, 2025
Located in Melbourne’s south-east, a once-obscured 1920s heritage-listed house has been transformed into a layered, light-filled family home. Carcassonne, designed by Fiona Dunin and the team at FMD Architects, is a sensitive yet bold alteration and addition that draws on the history of its site, the heritage of its occupants, and the timeless warmth of Tasmanian Oak. From the street, Carcassonne presents a walled façade, a respectful nod to the historic Cité de Carcassonne in southern France, which inspired the name and the architecture. The new addition, concealed behind a contemporary reinterpretation of the wall, reveals a richly articulated roofline that hints at the life and light within.
Timber, Community & Care: Aged Care Facilities by Cykel Architecture
July 16, 2025
Cykel Architecture is redefining aged care design in Tasmania, bringing warmth, sustainability, and a deep connection to local materials through their work on OneCare’s portfolio of aged care facilities across Tasmania, including the latest Barossa Park Lodge and OneCare Kingston (Bishop Davies Court). A key feature of these projects is the extensive use of Tasmanian Oak, a material chosen not only for its aesthetic and functional qualities but also for its role in fostering a homely and inviting environment for residents.
Villa Løken by Oslotre: A Testament to Sustainable Timber Architecture
June 30, 2025
Nestled amongst the serenity of a small island outside of Oslo, Norway lies a vision of sustainable residential architecture - the Hosla project. A testament to the transformative power of thoughtful design and considered materials, this hidden timber gem seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings while embodying a blend of tradition and craftsmanship. Spearheaded by project manager Jørgen Tycho and the creative minds at Oslotre, a renowned timber design firm based in Oslo, the Hosla project unfolds a compelling narrative whereby, embracing timber as a regenerative building material, we unlock a pathway to a more sustainable future.
Valley Wood Project - Pioneering Timber Innovation in Norway
May 26, 2025
In 2019, the completion of Oslotre’s Valley Wood project marked a significant milestone in Norway's architectural landscape. Standing as the largest and tallest timber office building in the country, this seven-story structure pushed the boundaries of timber construction, showcasing innovation and precision in design and execution. Known for pushing the boundaries in timber architecture, Oslotre’s Valley Wood building serves as a testament to the advancement of construction techniques and highlights Oslotre's expertise in timber construction and their commitment to healthy, durable and sustainable architecture.
