Houzz Tour: A Modern Off-Grid Holiday Home Inspired by the Aussie Shed

Nestled in SA's coastal bushland, this low-maintenance holiday house is designed for flexible, informal and sustainable living

Rebecca Gross 26 October 2016

Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."

Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More

Comment43

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

The Fleurieu Peninsula, just one hour from Adelaide, is one of South Australia’s great holiday destinations with natural bushland, unspoilt coastline, secluded beaches and a variety of wildlife. Waitpinga Retreat is set within this magnificent landscape; it is the second residence of an Adelaide couple who plan to make it their permanent residence once they both retire.

With attention to flexibility, informality and sustainability, architect Martin Williamson has designed Waitpinga Retreat as an off-the-grid, single-bedroom retreat that expands to accommodate larger groups of family and friends. “It is a true holiday home providing casual and informal living within flexible spaces,” says Williamson, “and it reflects the owners’ desire to live as sustainably as possible.”

Mountford Williamson Architecture

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple who live between here and Adelaide
Location: Waitpinga, SA
Year completed: 2015
Size: 232 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Architects: Mountford Williamson Architecture
Awards: Commendation for residential architecture, SA Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, 2016

Waitpinga Retreat is set on a coastal site surrounded by picturesque bushland, with dramatic views of the water. It is approached via a track that winds through the bush and offers views that gradually reveal the house. This siting takes advantage of the location, respects the context of the site, and is optimised for passive solar design.

Mountford Williamson Architecture

The house has a narrow plan that consists of an enclosed breezeway and deck separating the guest quarters – a bedroom, bunk room and bathroom (to the right) – from the main living space and master bedroom (to the left). “The conceptual framework of the project came from discussions about how the building was to be used,” says Williamson. “The three underlying principles that emerged were: flexibility of space, the facilitation of casual and informal living, and the desire to live sustainably.”

Thus, the house can expand from a self-contained one-bedroom home to accommodate larger groups. It does not replicate everyday life but rather promotes a casual, informal lifestyle among the beauty of its natural surroundings. And, by functioning off the grid, it provides for its own power, water and wastewater management.

Mountford Williamson Architecture

Elevated off the ground to leave the natural topography in tact, the house sits very comfortably within its setting. The simple form of the house references the old galvanised shearing sheds throughout the area, as do the robust materials with galvanised steel, blackbutt timber, fibre cement sheet and glass.

This structure and choice of materials also achieves greater thermal insulation performance with a 120-millimetre timber frame, core-filled concrete walls and ‘Energy Advantage’ glazing.

Mountford Williamson Architecture

At the intersection of the private home and guest quarters, there is a central breezeway, which acts as the focal point of the house. It has large sliding doors and windows that facilitate a flexible indoor/outdoor space, significant cross ventilation, and bushland views on one side with rolling hill and ocean views on the other side.

Mountford Williamson Architecture

“This verandah space can be used in different ways in response to the weather conditions,” says Williamson. “Either as a breezeway with the glazed bi-fold doors open, or as a conservatory or sunroom with the doors closed. This flexibility means the owners can always find a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. It’s where conversations occur, food is shared, and views of the ocean and bush are enjoyed.”

Mountford Williamson Architecture

Inside the house, that same flexibility of space, and desire to live casually, informally and sustainably, continues. The main section of the house accommodates the kitchen, dining area and living space, with the master bedroom and bathroom concealed behind the concrete-block wall in the centre of the room.

Copper pendants: Willie Stewart Interiors

Mountford Williamson Architecture

In a palette of grey, the kitchen complements the galvanised steel and fibre cement sheet on the exterior of the house. It has polished concrete and stainless steel benchtops, and painted plywood cupboards.

The window above the kitchen sink opens to the breezeway, while the kitchen island provides a place for food preparation for people to gather, socialise, eat and drink.

Polished concrete kitchen benchtop poured and polished on site by the builder: Catalyst Homes; stainless steel kitchen benchtop: Advanced Sheet Metal; tiles: Tiles On Bradman Drive

Mountford Williamson Architecture

Timber floors and frames are in harmony with the bushland outside, as well as being a sustainable choice. “We reused Australian hardwoods for flooring and decking instead of cheaper Southeast Asian rainforest timber, which is often harvested without regard to its sustainability,” Williamson says.

An oversized window seat next to the kitchen and lounge provides a place to read, relax and sleep – as well as the option of another bed, if needed.

Timber-framed windows and doors: Woodlite Joinery

Mountford Williamson Architecture

The master bedroom and bathroom continue the same material palette with timber floors, plywood joinery and a concrete-block wall. Natural light is filtered through ribbon windows; in the bedroom this offers views of the outdoor setting, and in the bathroom it functions like a skylight.

Mountford Williamson Architecture

The guest quarters are on the other side of the breezeway, with a bedroom and bathroom downstairs and a bunk room upstairs. “This second bathroom also ensures the owners have a level of privacy while entertaining guests,” says Williamson.

Bunkroom plywood: Australian Timbers

Mountford Williamson Architecture

In addition to flexibility and informality, sustainability was a major aspect of the project, and the house has been designed to function off the grid.

The house is oriented east-west to take advantage of the winter sun to the north, and double glazing is used throughout. “High-level vents via ducting and low-wattage fans deliver warm air from the living room to other rooms, and large operable glazed doors and windows offer extensive cross ventilation for cooling in summer,” Williiamson says.

Power is produced by solar panels and stored in a battery bank; additional heating is via a slow combustion wood heater that burns fallen timber collected on the property; rainwater is collected and stored in four tanks with a total capacity of 90,000 litres; wastewater, which is treated through a aerobic sand filter, is used for irrigation in the garden.

Mountford Williamson Architecture

This low-impact and low-maintenance house certainly ticks all the boxes for its owners: it’s sustainable, informal and flexible and serves both as a holiday house now, with a view to being the couple’s permanent home in the future.

TELL US
How do you like this modern shed-style holiday home in the country? Tell us in the Comments section.