Australian sustainable housing initiative and a series of prototype residences
Interior of Tasmanian House 2
Tasmanian House is an Australian sustainable housing initiative and a series of prototype residences built in Tasmania since 2020. The initiative publishes open-source, owner-builder friendly plans for contemporary traditional houses, adaptable to most sites and climates, inspired by local vernacular architecture, utilising traditional crafts and natural materials for aesthetic effect, economy and occupant health. The plans, released for unrestricted use, have been adapted and utilised prolifically in Australia and elsewhere, with 30,000 downloaded copies (August 2025).[1][2][3][4]
The project references times when neighbours worked together to build homes and communities, notably the 1950s postbellum period in Australia. Instead of focusing on innovation for its own sake, it aims to bring back control, affordability and sustainability to homebuilding.[5][6]
Prototype houses
Tasmanian House 1 (2021)
Tasmanian House 1
The Tasmanian House1 was conceived to address Australia’s housing crisis through a blend of traditional and modern approaches. Rooted in concept of locality, the design draws from Tasmanian Georgianvernacular[7] and prioritises the use of untreated, locally sourced materials such as native timbers and sheep wool insulation, avoiding paints and chemicals. Minimising synthetic materials to meet only basic building code requirements, the structure was designed to naturally decompose if stripped of furnishings. The initial cabin formed the first stage of a modular pavilion-style home that could function as one or two independent dwellings, connected by a glazed cloister.[8][9][10]
Tasmanian House 2 (2023)
Tasmanian House 2
The Tasmanian House 2 (also referred to as "Tasmanian Homestead") is a three‑bedroom, two‑bathroom, approximately 120 m² prototype home. It is engineered for affordability and ease of construction — capable of being built in around 6 months by a single owner‑builder — and released as open‑source architectural plans.[2][11] The prototype was completed in 2023 for approximately ⅓ of an equivalent commercial project cost. The design draws on Georgian‑period vernacular architecture and emphasises local materials and traditional building techniques, avoiding heavy reliance on synthetic membranes or modern fabrication, such as roof trusses, in favour of simpler construction methods compatible with single-person construction.
Tasmanian House 3 (2025)
Tasmanian House 3
The Tasmanian House 3 (also known as the “Tasmanian Cottage”) is an affordable, owner‑built two‑bedroom cottage prototype. Designed as a sustainable and low‑cost dwelling, it was completed in 2025 by a single owner‑builder for approximately ⅓ of an equivalent commercial project cost and completed in roughly 5 months, with minimal professional assistance. Emphasising community‑driven construction, the house uses local timber (including cedar beams and Tasmanian oak floors), pine lining, and three‑metre ceilings to create a light‑filled, warm interior in a traditionally inspired design. Free open‑source plans for the model are available, making it a replicable prototype for affordable, self‑built housing.[3][5]
Design principles
The designs share the philosophy of environmental sustainability, affordability and regional vernacular architecture, ecologically sound, culturally grounded and accessible to a wide demographic.[12][13]
Use of Natural and Local Materials
All dwellings prominently feature locally sourced Tasmanian timbers such as macrocarpa pine and Tasmanian oak, as well as natural insulations like sheep wool. The designs avoid synthetic finishes, paints, and plastics wherever possible to reduce chemical exposure and environmental impact.
Emphasis on Affordability and Owner-Building
Each project is conceived to be economically accessible, with construction methods that allow for DIY or owner-builder execution. They prioritize simple construction techniques, modular components, and low-cost materials to demonstrate that well-designed homes can be built on modest budgets.
Health-Conscious Design
The designs place significant emphasis on occupant wellbeing. All designs incorporate breathable wall assemblies, natural finishes, and materials with low or no off-gassing, contributing to healthy indoor air quality, prevention of mould, with proven positive impact on medical conditions such as allergy, asthma.
Inspired by Tasmania's colonial-era architecture, the homes adopt simple, rectangular forms, hipped or gabled roofs, and restrained detailing. This minimalist aesthetic supports both material efficiency and ease of construction.
Replicability and Open-Source Ethos
The designs are intentionally made to be replicable, with some plans available open-source to encourage wider adoption, particularly in rural or underserved areas. This supports broader aims of housing equity and ecological responsibility.
Innovation and Invention
The designs introduced various innovations, such as convection doors, allowing warm or cool air to circulate passively between rooms while maintaining privacy and spatial separation, or simplified and concealed ventilation of construction cavities, utilising single piece of aluminium mesh, folded and guided to seal multiple openings at once, against ember attack and vermin.
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