An Off-the-Grid, Minimalist Retreat on a Wild Island Off the Tasmanian Coast
Photography by Rob Maver,
courtesy of Maguire & Devine.
Dr. Sophia Shih grew up in a Japanese-style house that gave her an appreciation for “highly crafted minimalist design." For her dream cabin, she set her sights on wild Bruny Island off the coast of Tasmania, and, after acquiring 99 acres of land, mostly conservation forest, she approached architecture firm Maguire & Devine, who embraced the idea of a well-planned retreat with nothing extra.
The cabin is "a place of renewal where she can engage in the simple pleasures of reading, playing violin, and star gazing,” write the architects.
East- and west-facing decks extend off the sides.
“The only furniture allowed was a low table and mattress on the sleeping loft,” says Maguire.
The Japanese-style pine table sits on a raised platform inset with storage cubbies—things like roll-up futons and games go here.
The loft has a king-size mattress on the floor, with views out the horizontal window.
Central skylights further brighten the interior.
Black ceramic tiles create a hearth for the wood stove.
Ultimate star gazing: the western deck is inset with a tub that disappears under wood paneling when not in use.