Set in the incredible surrounds of a renowned wine region, this off-grid haven immerses its inhabitants into the lush landscape.

Conceived as a luxury accommodation, Esca Blewitt Springs is a premium escape where guests can relax and be surrounded by nature. Bringing the vision to life is Das Studio from Adelaide (Kaurna).

The architects have considered this dwelling to be more than just a structure, it’s a meticulously crafted and integrated building that welcomes the outdoors in with long sightlines and picture windows.

The design focuses on orientation and floor-to-ceiling glazing, ensuring the breathtaking views take centre stage. Despite the challenges posed by being sited on a working vineyard with limited accessibility and a tight booking calendar, the project team, led by Das Studio in collaboration with ESCA, successfully delivered this second off-grid retreat.

Partnering with luxury tourism providers ESCA, the team reimagined the retreat’s exterior and interior, drawing inspiration from the post-harvest vines’ gilded hues and the enchanting Golden Hour sunlight that bathes the site in the early evening. Architecturally commanding and aesthetically exclusive, this retreat is the result of the collaboration that underpinned Das Studio and ESCA.

The carefully curated space includes features rarely found in luxury hotel rooms – a full kitchen, discreet laundry amenities, underfloor heating, and a wood-burning fire. With a decked terrace splaying out on three sides, guests can move into different zones as the weather conditions change or capture the changing dioramic moments of the day.

While being small in scale, ostensibly a studio space, there has been consideration of functionality with a central plinth serving a divider and creating a space for the fireplace and wood store on one side and a bedhead on the other. This cleverly separates the living areas from the sleeping quarters without obstructing the vineyard views.

The Esca Blewitt Springs retreat is an exercise in small-scale architecture, that delivers big results.

Project details

Architecture and interiors – Das Studio
Photography – Anthony Basheer

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