Isla Motel

Read the full story here: A contemporary take on retro Australiana revives a dated motel

Seventies Cool
A 1970s beachside motel gets a miraculous makeover that riffs on its retro vibe with graphic interventions in a coastal palette of ivory and ochre, kelp green and french blue. Original blunt geometries are softened with fine steel archways and breeze-blocks. Inside, the suites are warm and luxuriously lined with timbers and terrazzo, while the rear garage is reimagined as a lovely poolside cabana. More than a styling up exercise, Isla is a smart sustainable reuse of an existing built asset, adding decades to its life.

• Location: Batemans Bay NSW
• Date: 2022