Kaurna people
South Australia
A new residence on Delfin Island, West Lakes, demonstrates a design can honour an established neighbourhood while advancing contemporary living. Drawing on the area's 1970s architectural vocabulary with pitched gables, clerestory windows and raked ceilings, the project reinterprets familiar elements into a composition that reads as evolution rather than interruption. Beyond its streetscape contribution, the dwelling introduces a hybrid live-work model through an integrated mezzanine office, reducing daily commuting and embedding sustainability into everyday life for professional owners. Delivered within budget, the design spaciousness, considered proportions and natural light over costly finishes. The project was recently featured by The New York Times among notable Australian residential listings, generating local, interstate and international interest in South Austrlian West Lakes. Neighbouring property owners have expressed optimism that this attention will positively influence surrounding values, extending the project's benefits well beyond the original brief.
As architect/client we set out to design a home that belonged on Delfin Island while giving our family room to grow and work from home. Raked roofs and clerestory windows sit comfortably among the neighbours, yet the interiors feel entirely our own volumes, natural light, and a mezzanine office that lets us work without disrupting family life. A budget of $645,000 delivered spatial quality we never expected. When The New York Times featured the property, we understood that thoughtful design is the best value a family can make.