Places and Spaces: This 70s-Inspired Tasmanian Bungalow Is Bursting With Colour

January 07, 2020 by Rory Carter

The 70s and all its timber panel, shag carpet, rust-toned glory is well and truly back in vogue. The sturdy homes designed and built in this decade are being snapped up by young home buyers and design enthusiasts alike who recognise the integrity and innate potential these homes possess. In Sandy Bay, a town of almost twelve thousand residents who surround the glistening Hobart Harbour, award-winning design practice Flack Studio has given a leafy bungalow a youthful and jaw-dropping revamp.

Looking as much to the future as they did to the past, the design team behind the renovation were careful to respect the original home as much as possible. The brief given to them by the owners of this very special piece of Tasmanian history was to create a home that could provide the backdrop to all of life's special moments for them and their growing children. Therefore, Flack Studio eschewed recent design trends, instead focusing on materials that are both reminiscent of the 70s and fitting for a modern family living fifty years in the future. Terrazzo features heavily throughout and provides a cool and tactile feeling underfoot. It's easy to imagine yourself walking down the long timber-clad hallway before sinking your feet into the salmon pink carpet and lounging on one of the comfy and brightly-coloured seating options by the fireplace. Brick and stone detailing can be found on fireplaces and the striking facade which helps to integrate this place into its natural surroundings.

In terms of spatial planning, the downstairs portion of the bungalow has been transformed into a parents retreat, while the upstairs areas are designed specifically for entertaining and for the young family to enjoy together. The home's position on a hill and various double-height windows mean that there are endless opportunities to admire the sweeping and uninterrupted views beyond. There is also a multitude of generous outdoor areas to sit and relax under the rustling of gum trees, while an enclosed indoor courtyard is the perfect place to host a cocktail party, finished with pastel floor tiles and soft pink walls that offset the enviable plant collection and stunning artworks that hang casually. In a masterful dance between old and new, Flack Studio has prolonged the life of this Tasmanian bungalow for future generations to enjoy.