Barossa Valley Guest House
Barossa Valley Guest House was designed to drink in extraordinary views of the old shiraz vineyards and fledgling olive grove, that spill down the hill on which the house rests.
Constructed from a striking mix of natural, renewable materials, the architectural brief requested the design include an open plan living/entertaining space that would connect seamlessly to a generous undercover entertainment deck.
The client also wished to integrate a flexible sleeping space that could be opened or closed to the main living areas. This was achieved through clever use of cavity sliding doors serving as retractable walls for the bedroom adjacent to the kitchen.
Strategic design techniques were used throughout to optimise natural light and ventilation as a passive resource to regulate the internal comfort of the house. A glazed wall and door connect the main bathroom to the outdoor wet area, creating a sense of the natural landscape beyond the wall and inviting abundant natural light to suffuse the area.
A sweeping curved strawbale wall on the western side of the house, encloses the outdoor shower, while also integrating thermal mass and acting as a thermal buffer to the living spaces. This well-considered feature enhances the capacity of other passive design principles within the house and, aesthetically, provides a sense of warmth to the open space as a whole.