Architect Hobart
Hobart is one of the few Australian cities where architecture still has a strong and immediately recognisable sense of place.
Its Georgian houses, sandstone buildings, weatherboard cottages, steep streets, gardens, verandahs and roofs descending towards the Derwent give the city an architectural character quite unlike that of mainland Australia.
That inheritance should be a starting point for new architecture, not an inconvenience to be overcome.
As an architect working in Hobart and throughout southern Tasmania, our approach is based on creating buildings which belong to their location: responding to climate, landscape, existing buildings and local architectural traditions rather than reproducing the same fashionable architecture from one city to another.
Hobart does not need buildings that could just as easily have been built in Melbourne, Sydney or Copenhagen.
It deserves architecture that looks as though it belongs in Hobart.
Architecture suited to Hobart
Good architecture begins with the particular circumstances of a place.
In Hobart this may mean steep land, difficult access, strong winds, cold winters, valuable northern sun, distant views, established gardens, neighbouring heritage buildings or streets whose character has developed over more than two centuries.
These constraints are not necessarily problems.
Quite often they are what gives a project its identity.
A steep site, for example, may suggest a building stepping down the land rather than sitting upon a large engineered platform. A narrow inner-city property may require carefully composed courtyards and vertical spaces. An established heritage streetscape may call for restraint rather than architectural spectacle.
Our work aims to find an architectural order within these conditions rather than impose a preconceived style upon them.
Houses in Hobart
We design new houses, alterations and additions throughout Hobart and southern Tasmania, from modest dwellings to larger country and suburban houses.
A house should first work well as a place to live.
Rooms should be comfortable and appropriately proportioned. Circulation should make sense. Windows should admit useful light and frame worthwhile views. Service spaces should be practical. Outdoor areas should be sheltered and connected naturally to the interior.
These considerations sound obvious, but they can easily be lost when architecture becomes primarily an exercise in producing unusual shapes or striking images.
We generally prefer buildings whose plans are clear, whose construction is understandable and whose architectural character grows from proportion, material, craftsmanship and the arrangement of openings rather than novelty for its own sake.
A well-designed house should still make sense when fashions have changed.
Traditional and classical architecture in Hobart
We have a particular interest in traditional architecture, classical architecture and contemporary buildings informed by traditional design principles.
This does not mean that every project should imitate a nineteenth-century house.
Traditional architecture is useful because it represents a long accumulation of knowledge about scale, proportion, construction, climate, streets and human comfort.
Hobart itself provides abundant evidence.
Many of its most admired buildings are remarkably simple: well-proportioned walls, vertically proportioned windows, strong roofs, limited materials, carefully placed doors and a clear distinction between principal and secondary elements.
They have survived changes in taste because their architecture does not depend upon novelty.
The same principles can be applied to buildings constructed today.
Sometimes the result may be recognisably traditional. At other times it may be considerably simpler and more contemporary. What matters is that the building is coherent, durable and appropriate to its setting.
Alterations and additions
Extending an existing house is often more difficult than designing a new one.
The architect must decide what should remain, what may change and how the new work should relate to the old.
Our preference is not to begin with a predetermined rule that every addition must either imitate the existing building or contrast dramatically with it.
Both approaches can work.
The more important questions concern scale, proportion, roof form, material, hierarchy and the relationship between the original building and the addition.
A modest historic cottage should not become visually subordinate to an oversized extension simply because contemporary living areas are expected to be large.
Likewise, a new addition need not disguise the fact that it was built in the twenty-first century.
The objective is to make the entire building feel considered.
Heritage architecture in Hobart
Much of Hobart’s character depends upon its older buildings.
We provide architectural services for heritage houses, renovations, restorations, adaptive reuse and additions to historic buildings.
Heritage work should not consist simply of preserving everything old, nor of retaining a decorative facade while replacing everything of architectural value behind it.
The first task is to understand what gives the building its character.
That may lie in its overall form, roof, masonry, timberwork, windows, proportions, internal sequence of rooms or relationship to the street and garden.
Once those qualities are understood, it becomes much easier to determine where alteration is appropriate.
Buildings have always changed.
The aim should be to ensure that our generation’s contribution is good enough to sit comfortably beside what previous generations left behind.
Architecture, landscape and views
Hobart has an extraordinary landscape, and it is tempting to design every house almost entirely around the view.
Views matter, but more glass does not necessarily produce better architecture.
A distant mountain, river or harbour can become more powerful when framed deliberately rather than exposed continuously through an entire wall.
Windows have other jobs as well: admitting light, providing ventilation, giving privacy, establishing the scale of a room and composing the exterior of the building.
We therefore treat windows as architectural elements rather than simply areas of glazing.
Likewise, the relationship between a house and its garden should involve more than opening a large sliding door onto a deck.
Courtyards, verandahs, terraces, walls, steps, paths, trees and changes in level can gradually connect architecture to landscape and create places which remain pleasant in different seasons and weather.
Materials that belong
Tasmania has a strong tradition of building with a relatively modest palette of materials: timber, weatherboards, brick, stone, render and metal roofing.
We generally favour materials which age well, can be repaired, and become more convincing rather than less convincing with time.
This does not mean rejecting modern construction.
Contemporary building standards, insulation, glazing, membranes and services can substantially improve the performance of buildings.
But there is little reason why technical improvement should require the abandonment of architectural character.
Good architecture should bring the two together.
Sustainable architecture
The most sustainable building is not necessarily the one with the longest list of environmental products.
A building that responds sensibly to sun, shade, orientation, ventilation and climate begins with an advantage before technology is added.
Durability matters as well.
If a house remains useful and valued for a hundred years, can be maintained and adapted, and is made from materials capable of repair, that longevity is itself an important form of sustainability.
We therefore regard environmental performance and architectural permanence as closely related rather than separate concerns.
A building that people value is more likely to be retained.
Planning and difficult sites
Architectural projects in Hobart frequently involve planning constraints, heritage considerations, overlooking, steep sites, bushfire exposure, difficult access or established neighbourhood character.
These matters should be considered early.
A design which depends upon fighting every characteristic of its site generally becomes expensive and compromised.
We prefer to understand the constraints at the beginning and use them to help establish the architectural solution.
Where required, our services can extend from early feasibility and concept design through planning, consultant coordination, construction documentation and construction-stage architectural services.
Residential, commercial and civic architecture
Although much of our work is residential, we also undertake commercial, mixed-use, civic, community and masterplanning projects.
The principles are much the same.
Buildings should make understandable places.
They should contribute positively to streets and public spaces rather than behaving as isolated objects.
Entrances should look like entrances. Important rooms and spaces should be given appropriate prominence. Buildings should have a comprehensible beginning, middle and end.
At the urban scale, streets, squares, gardens and buildings should work together to make places people actually enjoy inhabiting.
These ideas are neither old-fashioned nor radical.
They are simply fundamentals which much contemporary development has forgotten.
Architect Hobart
Jiri Lev Architect provides architectural services in Hobart, greater Hobart and throughout southern Tasmania, as well as elsewhere in Australia.
Our work includes:
- new houses and country residences;
- renovations and house extensions;
- heritage architecture and restoration;
- traditional and classical architecture;
- contemporary architecture;
- residential and commercial projects;
- planning and development advice;
- masterplanning and urban design; and
- architectural documentation and construction-stage services.
We are particularly interested in projects where the client values architecture as something more permanent than a fashionable product.
The ambition need not be extravagant.
Some of Tasmania’s best buildings are small and simple.
What matters is that the architecture is carefully considered, appropriately built and contributes something worthwhile to the place in which it stands.
If you’re searching for an architect Hobart who combines thoughtful design with a strong understanding of Tasmania’s landscape and lifestyle, this Hobart architect offers a comprehensive approach to contemporary architecture. They specialise in residential, commercial, and heritage-sensitive projects, delivering solutions that respond to the local climate, natural materials, and the character of Hobart’s historic streetscapes.
With a focus on sustainability and craftsmanship, this architect works closely with clients to translate vision into built form—whether that means designing a new home, reimagining an existing space, or guiding a complex development through planning and approvals. Their design philosophy centres on creating spaces that are functional, refined, and deeply connected to place.
From concept to completion, clients benefit from a collaborative process, clear communication, and an architectural outcome that enhances both everyday living and long-term value. For homeowners, developers, and businesses seeking an experienced architect in Hobart, this designer delivers tailored, thoughtful architecture shaped by Tasmania’s unique environment and culture.