Visiting the architect's own home

During her lightning visit to Tasmania (ostensibly to choose a builder), Neal-the-architect also showed Viktoria around his own home (which, naturally, he had designed himself).
You can see on the JAWS website some photos taken of Neal's home during its construction here - although it's obviously in a far more advanced state of completion now than shown in these pictures.  And the photos really don't do it justice - it's quite a wonderful space to be in, with a logical sense of movement and pause, openness and enclosure.
Although it's constructed of robust materials (predominately bluestone block work and concrete) the curvilinear walls and integration of the bush setting lend the building a lightness and very human softness.
Viktoria cannot thank Neal and his family enough for making her feel so welcomed into their private home, and for the delicious barbecued Tasmanian salmon steaks we had for dinner. Mmmmmmm....
Actually, Viktoria ate like a king when she was there (yes, when Viktoria becomes king, even women will be allowed to be king).
If you are ever in the Hobart area and feeling hungry, we recommend stopping at Fish Frenzy at Elizabeth Street Pier, and trying the self-titled "Fish Frenzy" - a selection of blue-eye trevally, calamari and scallops with a generous serving of hot chips, wrapped up in a paper cone. It will feed one very hungry person, or two not-so-hungry people for AU $17.

The "Fish Frenzy" at Fish Frenzy

You can see from the reflection in the water in the photo above how beautiful and clear the weather was while she was there.
Viktoria stayed at Gattonside Heritage Accommodation in Battery Point which offered very reasonable winter rates - and was in very convenient walking distance to everything from the JAWS offices to Salamanca Markets and numerous coffee shops (as well as being in the beautiful historic Battery Point itself).


Gattonside in winter

Sadly, it will probably be some time before either Viktoria or the Android can return...