Kangarilla
Soft curves and natural textures create a timeless retreat.
locationKangarilla
floor area710 m2
completion2025
Soft curves and natural textures create a timeless retreat.
Set amongst the rolling gum-dotted landscape of Kangarilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula, this award-winning and extensive transformation reimagines an existing rural home as a contemporary family sanctuary centred on wellbeing, connection and a deep appreciation for its natural surroundings. Created for a growing family entering a new stage of life, the home reflects a shared vision of relaxed, enduring design that supports everyday living. It collected the award for Renovation or Addition $1M to $2M category at the Master Builders SA – Building Excellence Awards 2026.
Rather than replacing what was already on site, the project carefully extends and reshapes the original residence, creating a series of interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces that feel both expansive and intimately connected to the landscape.
Drawing quiet inspiration from Mediterranean and North African architecture, the home balances strong horizontal forms with softened rendered curves, layered outdoor rooms and an earthy palette of timber, stone and textured render. The influence is intentionally understated, expressed through proportion, materiality and light rather than overt stylistic gestures.
Crisp fascia lines and vertical metal cladding contrast with full-round native timber posts and warm natural finishes, creating a contemporary design language that feels grounded within its rural setting while responding to the site’s BAL-29 bushfire requirements.
Rather than relying on a single outdoor entertaining space, the home is organised around a sheltered central courtyard. This design creates multiple interconnected destinations that support different activities throughout the day without losing visual connection throughout the home.
A generous timber pergola provides shelter above the oversized solid timber front door, while a translucent canopy filters natural light and offers weather protection. An angled pergola beam subtly guides visitors towards the entry, and a corner window softens the threshold by offering glimpses of the interior beyond.
Terracotta tiles continue from the curved entry steps into the interior, reinforcing the connection between outside and in. Full-height timber battens rise from the entry wall before extending across the ceiling, creating a warm feature that draws the eye forward. A gently curved wall then guides movement naturally towards the home’s central living spaces, with a softer curved transition between terracotta and polished concrete replacing a conventional straight junction.
A natural timber band frames an extensive wall of painted cabinetry, providing generous storage while reinforcing the warmth of the home’s material palette.
A substantial island bench combines a robust concrete benchtop with an inset brass farmhouse sink and finely crafted solid timber joinery. An integrated timber dining table supported by tree-trunk-sized table legs creates a natural informal gathering place for family and friends.
Polished concrete flooring gradually gives way to timber, dividing the kitchen from the formal dining area, which is further divided from the main living area by a double-sided fireplace.
The sunken living area creates a sense of intimacy without disconnecting it from the surrounding spaces. From the seating area, views align almost directly with the neighbouring paddocks, allowing mature gum trees and grazing Black Angus cattle to become part of the everyday experience. Exposed timber rafters span the raked ceilings with discreet linear air-conditioning slots preserving the clean ceiling forms. Minimal-profile dark-framed glazing captures natural light and uninterrupted rural views.
The Basket Range sandstone fireplace anchors the living spaces, its stone cladding continuing beyond the glazing to form an external column that reinforces the relationship between the interior and exterior spaces.
Indoor and outdoor living are seamlessly integrated throughout the home, with the alfresco area functioning as a genuine extension of the interior rather than a separate outdoor room.
As the living space opens outside, flooring transitions once again to warm terracotta finishes that reference the home’s entry. Exposed timber rafters continue beneath a crisp white ceiling, maintaining the design rhythm established inside.
Careful detailing throughout the project ensures floor levels and material transitions remain seamless as occupants move between the interior living spaces, sheltered alfresco area and surrounding timber decks. Designed primarily for entertaining, the alfresco living area incorporates a substantial timber entertainer’s bar.
These transitional spaces are just as important as the enclosed rooms themselves, creating a relaxed rhythm between gathering, retreat and everyday living.
One of the most distinctive features of the project is its natural swimming pool.
Water quality is maintained through a carefully designed natural filtration system supported by water-lily beds, eliminating the need for chlorine while creating a living ecosystem that complements the surrounding landscape. Rich dark internal pool tiles contrast beautifully with the lighter edge treatments, adding visual depth.
Softly curved pool edges and generous entry steps echo the aesthetic language established throughout the home, reinforcing the consistent use of organic forms across both the building and landscape design.
Positioned in the central courtyard, the pool remains a constant visual presence from the kitchen, dining and surrounding decks.
Sheltered from prevailing winds by the surrounding built form and softly curved rendered walls, the protected sun deck provides a peaceful outdoor retreat for relaxing, reading or simply enjoying the surrounding landscape throughout the year.
A large planter integrated directly into the timber decking introduces another layer of landscape into the space, and hints at the gradual growth of its future shade tree that will continue to soften the courtyard over time.
Adjacent to the protected sun deck, the outdoor kitchen expands the home’s entertaining capabilities.
Surrounding curved rendered walls soften the space, while tiled benchtops incorporating an inset barbecue provide a durable and highly functional preparation area.
Carefully considered lighting, offering a further nod to the home’s Mediterranean influences, creates an inviting atmosphere for family gatherings and entertaining.
Timber deck walkways continue from the outdoor kitchen, linking the various parts of the home and encouraging movement between outdoor living areas, the pool and multi-generational apartment.
Recognising the changing needs of modern family life, the home incorporates a fully self-contained multi-generational apartment connected to the main home by external timber walkways. Complete with its own living area, kitchenette, bathroom, laundry and bedrooms, the accommodation provides independence while remaining closely connected to the everyday life of the home.
This thoughtful addition reflects the project’s broader vision of creating a home capable of adapting to changing family dynamics and supporting multiple generations for years to come.
Supporting the clients’ vision for a home centred around health and wellbeing, a dedicated wellness retreat extends the lifestyle opportunities offered throughout.
Accessible directly from the alfresco living spaces, the retreat includes a fully cedar-lined sauna complete with handcrafted cedar seating, an adjoining ice bath, private bathroom and gymnasium. Warm natural timber envelops the interior, with a carefully positioned portal window framing views towards surrounding gum trees.
Together with the natural swimming pool and sheltered outdoor spaces, these facilities create an environment where relaxation, exercise and everyday living coexist seamlessly.
Environmental performance was embedded within the project from the earliest stages of design. As a fully off-grid home, orientation, natural ventilation and seasonal shading were carefully considered to reduce energy demand and maintain year-round comfort.
Deep overhanging eaves, pergolas and external shade structures respond to the changing sun, with elements such as reverse brick veneer construction introducing protected thermal mass to help regulate internal temperatures. Operable highlight windows, ceiling fans and strategically positioned louvre windows encourage natural cross ventilation, allowing warm air to escape while drawing cooling breezes through the home and across the courtyard.
Careful demolition of the original residence enabled valuable building materials, including windows, to be reused, reducing waste and preserving embodied energy. Integrated Smart Home Automation further supports the home’s environmental performance by managing blinds, fans and lighting to respond to changing conditions throughout the day.
This project from Finesse Built demonstrates how thoughtful planning and skilled craftsmanship can create a home that feels calm, enduring and deeply connected to its environment.
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