Architects Ink

Perched atop a hill in Carrickalinga, this residence reinterprets the Australian Federation farmhouse through a series of deliberate manipulations. Confronted with extreme winds, the design stretches the traditional farmhouse form into a square, carving out a central courtyard. The roof is inverted, shifting the verandah to the ‘wrong’ side—an adjustment that creates a sheltered eave over the garden, optimizing solar gain and access.



Strategically aligned apertures frame views of the landscape, while industrial shutters allow the inhabitants to modulate light and climate, fine-tuning the home’s response to seasonal shifts. Every room enjoys a dual aspect, capturing both the sea and the protected garden.


Heritage galvanized corrugated iron wraps the exterior walls and shutters, folding over the ridge to extend into the valleyed interior roof. Structural columns double as downpipes, harvesting rainwater and reinforcing the project’s sensitivity to its environment. With a restrained material palette and a deep respect for site conditions, the dwelling embeds itself within the landscape, minimizing its impact both visually and environmentally.


In the words of the owners:

“Finally, I’m homesick when travelling, missing the stunning visual geometry, light-filled transparent spaces, internal silence, serenity balancing wild farm ocean winds, milky way star filled bedrooms.
No longer yearning to camp wild in the Flinders Ranges looking for peace, a break from work in firefighting and child protection. We have found it here, in this amazing place.
Family, friends flock to visit, rest a while, gather in the simple yet magnificent rooms gazing upon the panoramic ocean through frames, pick herbs from the internal garden where little grandchildren play and learn, protected.
We breathe deeply and live longer.”

^words of the owners from Architects Ink’s website