Located one hour east of Adelaide along the banks of the Murray River, Wellington Marina’s timber clad retreats combine simple designs, robust natural materials, and a subdued palette to connect the pitched roof forms to the surrounding natural landscape.
The sharp angular designs of the six retreats are Cumulus’ second major tourism project in South Australia. “From the beginning of the project we wanted a collection of retreats that, through their design and materials, would highlight the region’s rich natural environment to visitors,” explains Cumulus Associate Architect and project lead, Jet O’Rourke.
“The design’s simple layout makes the most of a minimal footprint while the floor to ceiling windows complement the individual perspectives of each retreat over the river and nearby wetland — filling the spaces with light but retaining a sense of privacy and quiet observation for guests.”
The collection is made up of three smaller ‘ecopods’, which can accommodate up to two people, and three ‘luxury pods’, designed for families and larger groups that visit the area for recreation and relaxation. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2022 and is part of Wellington Marina’s broader tourism redevelopment strategy.
“We feel these designs navigate the sensitive ecology of the site and offer a new type of tourism experience to the region, one that will become an essential part of a larger connected development,” Jet adds. Much like Ponderosa — Cumulus’ first SA tourism project on the nearby Fleurieu Peninsula — Wellington Marina’s prefabricated retreats will be locally made in Adelaide and feature integrated solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems.
The project evolved from an initial feasibility study and was developed through Cumulus’ close collaboration with Wellington Marina’s owners, the Coorong Council, and local native vegetation specialists. Source and images Courtesy of Cumulus.