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Saturday, November 9, 2024

Not One But Two Incredible Holiday Spots On Kangaroo Island

There’s something special about Emu Bay. Just ask Richard and Emily Young, who met on its sands as young adults, and were married 12 months later. They’ve each been holidaying at Kangaroo Island for 50 years, and both were there to defend the island from the devastating bushfires earlier this year.

The pair have now transformed their family holiday homes on the 5km stretch of secluded beach at Emu Bay into accommodation (which were fortunately spared in the fires). Hamilton House is a retro 1960s beach house with all the modern conveniences, while Dune House is a totally new build, set into the landscape and overlooking the bay.

Searching for the dream Australian beach holiday? You’ve found it!

Practical Tips to Prep for Holiday Travel

Practical Tips to Prep for Holiday TravelPlanning travel around the holidays is rarely simple. Coordinating flights or ground transportation is often just the beginning, and safely arriving at your de

Middle Eastern Stuffed Chicken with Freekeh and Oranges – The Design Files | Australia's most popular design blog.

Jad and Hady Choucair of Mankoushe leave us today with one of their favourite recipes – stuffed baby chicken with freekeh and orange.

This dish, inherited from an Egyptian neighbour Jad and Hady knew when living in Lebanon, combines garlic, ginger, turmeric, orange and olive oil. It’s a recipe that it hasn’t changed from its origins in Alexandria, via Beirut to Brunswick East.

 

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A Multigenerational Family Retreat In A Blue Mountains Valley

creative-peoplearchitectureA Multigenerational Family Retreat In A Blue Mountains Valley

The creation of ‘Stonelea’ by Matthew Woodward Architecture started with a photo of three generations: grandparents, their five children, and a ‘swarm’ of grandchildren in tow.

‘It is a special place where the children (big and small) swim in the river, lunch on log benches, ride horses, grow veggies and pick fruit from the many fruit trees,’ is how the architects describe the site. 

This project was to be a country retreat for them all – a new home to house a lifetime of past and future memories.

Having owned the Blue Mountains site for several years already, the owners had grown attached to the location of an existing cottage on site. The siting of this cottage was contrary to the common practice of finding the most attractive and pronounced position on the rural site, but was nothing Matthew Woodward’s expertise couldn’t overcome.

Aesthetically, the clients were interested in emulating one of the traditional barn style country houses they’d seen on Pinterest. ‘We liked the direction they were heading but thought we could make the home be more reflective of its place in the Blue Mountains, NSW,’ says principal architect Matthew Woodward. 

Drawing on the local shed vernacular instead, a single, pitched form was created, alongside a new pool.

The new house’s material palette is distinctly Australian, encompassing recycled hardwood timber shiplap wall cladding, metal sheets, and local stone. Pink granite from the former cottage’s chimney pillar was retained in a nod to the home’s past. 

The interiors contain various entertaining areas to congregate and engage with the beauty of the place, including a dining table suitable for a minimum 14 people. Matthew’s favourite space is the main living room with the fireplace on one side, and sliding doors that retract back behind walls on the other, creating an outdoor pavilion-like space.

Despite the new house sitting in the exact same location as its predecessor, the clients say they never could have imagined the views being so spectacular. 

‘To sit in this room with the roof hovering above, listening to the sound of bird songs, while looking to the ridge-top mountain to the south is particularly memorable and leaves a lasting impression following one’s visit,’ Matthew says. 

‘We really had a great team of contractors and consultants on this project who pulled together to collaborate on making something we all believed to be very special.’

‘Stonelea’ is a new house situated in a Blue Mountains valley. Photo – Brett Boardman


The clients requested a country retreat to suit multiple generations. Photo – Brett Boardman


The practical home is built on sound environmental principles to house a lifetime of new memories.  Photo – Brett Boardman


An existing cottage was chosen as the site for the new home. Photo – Brett Boardman


The home is a unified, elongated, low-lying pitched form that draws on the Australian shed vernacular. Artwork by Ngupulya Pumani. Photo – Brett Boardman


Materials include recycled hardwood timber shiplap wall cladding, metal sheets, and local stone. Photo – Brett Boardman


The design manages the balance between intimate country-living and the need to accomodate a large family,  Photo – Brett Boardman


Photo – Brett Boardman


Large sliding doors open living spaces out to the outdoors including a wraparound timber deck, paved stone terraces, and native gardens. Photo – Brett Boardman


The new house better reflects the clients’ love of the land and embracing the elements.  Photo – Brett Boardman


The heated swimming pool was inspired by the family’s travels to Iceland. Photo – Brett Boardman


This pool was at the top of the client’s brief. Photo – Brett Boardman


Despite the new house sitting in the exact same location as its predecessor, the clients say they never imagined the views to be so spectacular. Photo – Brett Boardman


Stunning views across the valley. Photo – Brett Boardman


The new house facilities the core objective for the clients, a place for the family to meet, share, and play. Photo – Brett Boardman


Appropriate design principles and sustainable technology mean a lifetime of activities can happen with minimal environmental impact and sound ecological consciousness. Photo – Brett Boardman

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