King Island Whale Tail House

Sited on a remote windswept dune on King Island in the Bass Straight, this costal home strikes a balance between minimal dune disturbance in an environmentally sensitive location with a robust design to withstand the wild elements. Bordered by coastal bushland with sweeping views to Yellow Rock Beach the homes takes in the striking coastal landscape and an abundance of natural light from a facetted northern façade.

The homes distinctive Whale Tail footprint emerged through orientation, axis of views and predominant weather patterns. The passive solar design opens to a wide northerly aspect, wide eaves protect from summer sun, its winged roof provides shelter from harsh southerly winds, while the central wedge shaped living room provides a viewing axis from North to South. Strategically placed windows allow for natural cross ventilation during hot summers while polished concrete floors and internal brick walls provide thermal mass for a comfortable home in all seasons.

The Whale Tail house is off-grid, generating its own power and harvesting rainwater for domestic use. New and re-used materials have been sourced locally and the timber has been grown and milled on King Island. This home is all about connection with its wild island location and the owners who invested a great amount of energy to make it their very unique and personal home.

The King Island Whale Tail House featured on Grand Designs Australia in 2013 and published in Issue 3.3.