trouthouse revitalizes derelict museum as charred wood cabin in rural australia

trouthouse immerses the cabin retreat in nature

In the rural expanse of far East Gippsland, Australia, The Temple represents an adaptive transformation of a former lantern museum turned indigenous history museum into a charred wood cabin. Originally established in the small sailing town of Metung, the structure shifted ownership to Almo Troup of Trouthouse in the 80s. Then, intended to function as a museum of local artifacts, it was moved to a rural property in nearby Nungurner. In March 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic, Almo Troup undertook a year-long process to revitalize the structure into a serene retreat, utilizing minimal new materials with a budget of approximately $3000.

repurposed materials give a third life to ‘the temple’

During the 80s, financial impracticality had led to the closure of the then artifact museum and the property fell into disrepair over the next 30 years. Trouthouse’s intervention thus began with breathing new life into the structure using methods of repurposing and enhancement to craft a serene cabin. The design team began with temporarily removing the cladding for insulation, followed by a manual charring process using a wood fire. Notably, existing elements of the structure, such as timber from the original perimeter deck and weathered merbau steps, were repurposed for the mezzanine flooring and seating elements within the cabin.

Functional adaptations included the addition of a mezzanine to maximize The Temple’s height, converting it into a sleeping loft. This allowed the lower level to become an all-day living space, with a spacious deck effectively doubling the usable floor area. Salvaged windows from a separate project were additionally strategically utilized to capture bay views.

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project info:

name: The Temple

designer: Trouthouse
lead designer: Almo Troup

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