Retired chef Phillip Murphy lives in a quirky cluster of disconnected buildings in the picturesque town of Stanley in Tasmania. His bedroom and bathroom are in an old woodshed. His kitchen and lookout are in an 1870s heritage-listed windmill a few metres away.
For six years, Phillip has rattled between the two, but he's had enough. Now he's engaged his friend and architect, Greg Prentice, to design a house that will link the three small historic structures (including a decrepit rocket-shaped outhouse) into a contemporary, cohesive whole.
The new building will be a direct contrast to the old, using modern materials, lots of glass and a cantilevered lounge oriented towards the spectacular view. As the property is directly below a volcanic plug called The Nut, the exterior will be clad in dark stained ply, reflecting the colours of the location.