Discovered on a brochure at a local real estate agent in Aldinga, John and Yvonne saw potential in a desolate, unloved stone farmhouse located off the beaten track in Myponga.
Perched on top of a hill, the two building property was once attached with an undercover car park. To save on time and cost, their architect advised them to build elsewhere on the land and use the existing buildings as sheds and storage. However, John saw this as a loss of material and human energy to start again and challenged his architect to come up with a design that could simply make it work. The project started in 2008 and took three years to complete. The two buildings were annexed with a corrugated iron extension and lightweight roof structure where the carpark once was. This established space for an entrance, a bedroom with an ensuite, a main bathroom, a laundry and a custom made steel staircase with Australian oregon treads to access the top level of the tower.
The single storey building was gutted, creating an open plan living, kitchen and dining area with polished concrete floors throughout. The ceilings were raised and the end wall was replaced with glass looking out on to the deck with an uninterrupted panoramic view of the countryside. The two storey tower was also cleared, creating a top level office space under the pitched roof and two bedrooms below with access to a corner balcony that allows the light to flood in.
As designers, the two wanted to create something unique, adding their own textiles, restored furniture and a collection of artwork to create the feel of a 'mini museum' of contemporary art and design. Although the interior of the property has been transformed, the original stonework of the exterior has been left untouched.
John and Yvonne joined 'trees for life', and along with their three children and friends, they planted around 4000 local eucalyptus and acacia trees around the property. Today, the land is in better condition in both built form and landscape than it has ever been.
Lapito House is named after John and Yvonne's three kids Lara, Pia and Toby, and has been a country getaway for the family and their two dogs Hugo and Doug for many years. The property spans over 116 acres and borders with the Myponga Conservation Park and Heysen Trail. Just an hours drive from Adelaide, it is the ideal escape to unwind, enjoy and explore the Australian bush. It has been a hidden treasure for sometime, which is now being shared with others to enjoy. Lapito House will be sought primarily as a vacation rental for couples, groups of family and friends, and yes, pets are welcome. If you are interested in hiring the property for events, location shoots or company retreats, please contact us for more details.
2017
