Spring Bay Mill is a sustainable events venue on the East coast of Tasmania situated on the site of what was once one of the world’s largest woodchip mills. Old industrial buildings have been restored into unique event spaces, and the natural landscape is being regenerated with natural habitat and organically grown food. My proposed accommodation project aims to provide further opportunity for visitors to learn more about sustainable living beyond their experiences on site.
Cross section A-A
The conveyor belt that cuts through the centre of the forested area is a remnant of the devastation of the wood chip industry on Tasmania's ancient forests, but will now serve as a symbol of the regeneration happening on site, reclaimed by native vegetation as a central feature.
Plan and long sections
The accommodation consists of 8 individual units each designed for a unique experience to make the most of its specific microsite and conditions, catering for a variety of double and family group sizes including accessible options and fully ramped site circulation.
Cross section B-B
Each unit explores its unique relationship with the conveyor structure and adjacent land. Here, for example, the conveyor separates wet areas from living spaces to enclose a private courtyard protected from strong coastal winds.
Construction sequence
Two main construction methods are utilised throughout to differentiate experiences of the on ground and raised structures, primarily consisting of contrasting straw bale and cross laminated timber structural systems. Continued regeneration of the site incorporates rainwater tanks, solar panels, water treatment reed beds, a rock retaining wall and excavated soil heaps planted with native grasses into the landscape design.
Exterior and interior renders
Straw bales provide great insulation and thick wall depths that invite habitation of recesses, while CLT demonstrates prefabrication efficiency and results in a continuous plate structure that is free from timber framing and wraps the floors, walls and ceilings longitudinally to frame westerly views.
'Animation'
Visitors are encouraged to observe the variety of construction techniques and materiality used to provide comfortable and unique spaces that bring out the site’s virtues through carefully curated experience of each unique site along the conveyor belt.
In the spirit of reconciliation Monash University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
