Step Inside a Stunning Nature-Inspired Sanctuary in South Australia
The stony, exposed ridge that overlooks South Australia’s Backstairs Passage and Kangaroo Island was an ideal place for artist Winnie Pelz to design and build her 452-square-foot studio, but the extreme weather, unpredictable soil and nosy wildlife proved a bit more difficult for a surrounding garden.
"It's an experiment that has taken me out of my comfort zone and made me question my sanity at times," she says. "Low rainfall, gale force winds, heavy clay soil full of rocks, rampant rabbits, kangaroos and parrots have created a challenging garden environment." But after a six-year battle with the terrain, her sanctuary is complete, allowing her time to focus on painting. And the arrival of 20 species of birds to her garden has provided welcomed inspiration.
Studio at a Glance
Who lives here: Winnie Pelz and her labrador-mastiff dog Bristle
Location: Cape Jervis, South Australia
Size: About 452 square feet (42 square meters)
Cost: $25,000 AUD (about $23,115 USD)
The studio design is based on a simple square with ample natural light for painting and views to the coast. For the studio, like her main house, Pelz has chosen colors and textures that meld in with the coastal environment. "I wanted the studio to look like it had been there for the last 50 years, achieved by using mainly recycled materials," Pelz says.
Laserlite is used for the front gable to let in additional light.
Douglas fir roof trusses originally from a wool shed dictate the layout of the structure. The timber for the windows and doors are recycled, too.
A combustion wood fire keeps the studio cozy during harsh winters. Large windows bring in light and a feeling of connection with the garden and wildlife. The concrete slab floor was made with a light-colored sand and white cement.
Pelz created a low-maintenance garden, including a rock labyrinth, framed by a mix of Australian native and exotic plants. "The most successful natives are correas, grevilleas, casuarinas, westringias, hakeas," she says. "Many of the plants are those that thrive in Mediterranean climatic conditions — olives, rosemary, irises, tough old-fashioned roses, pelargoniums, and a wide range of succulents."
Pelz's 3-year-old dog, Bristle, enjoys the view out to the coast. "Elements of the garden are deliberately designed, such as the labyrinth," says Pelz. "Other areas have grown organically and the planting choices have had to adapt as things have either thrived or died."
Pelz gets inspiration from the abundant birdlife attracted by the native vegetation as well as a small pond and a number of bird feeders. Here she displays a collection of old wire cages.
The studio looks south towards Australia's Kangaroo Island. The stone spiral was created from limestone found on the property.
Tour Pelz's main house | Show us your creative studio!
