SITTING abreast the sand dunes of Island Beach on Kangaroo Island is Sandhill Pavilion House, designed by architect Max Pritchard as the epitome of a holiday abode.

The colours of the house blend almost seamlessly into its natural surroundings – the grey-blue Colorbond into the sky, the grey roof into the clouds and the timber features into the sand, stone and trees which encompass the property.  The light timber frame, double-glazed windows and corrugated Colorbond reinforce a relaxed and timeless setting while embracing the coastline and bushland.

This unique four-bedroom home, built in 2008, is split across three stand-alone pavilions and was designed as a family holiday destination.

The main pavilion, which hosts the open-plan living space, sits at the highest point of the sand dunes.  The virtually unobscured views down the dunes are enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows, the natural environment coming to the forefront in a delicious concoction of coast and bush.

Open-plan living is emphasised in the main pavilion, which is designed to maximise interaction between the occupants.  The kitchen adds to the holiday-like ambiance – it doesn’t have a hotplate, with cooking done instead on the outdoor barbecue, and a high island bench encourages everyone to congregate, if not help with meal preparation.

In the middle of the living area sits a large wood fire, which becomes the focal point of the room once the views disappear behind a shroud of darkness. It also helps transform this beach house into a year-round holiday destination.

The pavilions are connected by external timber stairs, sheltered by a strip of roofing. The two lower buildings house four bedrooms with adjacent private en suites; one bedroom has bunk-beds for when the owner’s friends come to stay.  The sleeping arrangements also offer an element of privacy in an otherwise family-orientated holiday home.

At the base of the house is an outdoor shower, helping ensure that the sand which it embraces so well remains an outside feature only.

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