{"id":86271,"date":"2025-08-22T00:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T00:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/86271\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T00:55:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T00:55:11","slug":"architectural-lake-house-in-beautiful-clare-valley-premium-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/86271\/","title":{"rendered":"Architectural lake house in beautiful Clare Valley – Premium Property"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the 1980s, when John Bastian and his family lived in Darwin, they often admired homes that were designed by Troppo Architects.<\/p>\n

So, when the family embarked on a project to build their own home in the Clare Valley, Phil Harris and Hugh Wilkinson of Troppo Architects were the obvious choice to design it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhil came back to Adelaide, and we\u2019d also moved back. We had this land and asked him (Phil) if he would consider designing something for us,\u201d says John, a company director.<\/p>\n

The Bastians had bought a parcel of land, which had previously been owned by Taylors Wines\u2019 chief winemaker Adam Eggins, next to two vineyards they owned in the Clare Valley.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe (Adam) was living in a cottage on the land where the house is now, and he sent me photos and a letter saying that he had to sell the house, and here\u2019s your vineyard \u2013 maybe you should buy it. And we bought it the next week,\u201d John says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019d been looking everywhere for a house site and hadn\u2019t thought of one which was overlooking our vineyards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Construction was carried out from 2002 to 2004, with a priority\u00a0to create an environmentally-friendly, east-facing house with views of the surrounding vineyards and nature.<\/p>\n

This positioning means the northern aspect of the house is sun-drenched during the chilly winter months and cool during the hot summers.<\/p>\n

Another key element of the design was the outdoor entertaining area, which is cleverly sheltered from the wind.<\/p>\n

Set on 9.68 hectares, the three-bedroom home includes two bathrooms and space for up to four cars.<\/p>\n

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There is a spacious open-plan living and dining area, while a master suite features a private study, en suite and walk-in wardrobe.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding can be stressful at times, but it is a great pleasure to build something that\u2019s exactly to your liking,\u201d John says.<\/p>\n

The architects were given free rein in the design of the dwelling, which included using Mintaro slate found on the property to construct internal and external walls, as well as the family\u2019s beloved fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe sat down with us and asked about how we would use the house,\u201d says John.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it\u2019s not the structure but, \u2018Who\u2019s going to be living there?\u2019, \u2018What are the activities?\u2019, \u2018What are the things that you want to do?\u2019, and so, out of that came what we call a breezeway, which is a second sitting room or parents\u2019 retreat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Constructing a lake on which the house sits \u2013 a feat of engineering \u2013 was also one of Phil and Hugh\u2019s ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lake was important in terms of reflecting the house and keeping it cool, and they used the University of Adelaide\u2019s engineering people to get that structure right,\u201d says John.<\/p>\n

Indoors, the interior design was led by Kevin Westlake Interiors with extensive use of timber and specially commissioned furniture. John is open to including the furniture with the sale of the home.<\/p>\n

Since the home last appeared in SALIFE Magazine in 2008, outdoors, the natural environment has been totally transformed from a barren paddock to the oasis it is today.<\/p>\n

Designed originally by garden guru Merilyn Kuchel, the garden features eucalypts, she-oaks, grevilleas, hakeas, westringia, correas, acacia and eremophila.<\/p>\n

John says there are now more than 20 turtles, two species of fish and 30 breeds of ducks and water birds that use the lake as habitat.<\/p>\n

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The Bastians have also kept one small vineyard behind the house, where they grow riesling and fiano, which is used by Pikes Wines to create their award-winning wines.<\/p>\n

The 5.3-hectare vineyard is currently being leased to Pikes Wines, with the option to extend that lease if the new owner so desires.<\/p>\n

John says one of his favourite features of the property is a bench where he likes to sit and take in the surrounding views.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we go walking, that\u2019s a place to stop and rest and enjoy the view,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

He also enjoys the parents\u2019 retreat, which they have dubbed the Bali room.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBoth sides of that can be opened up to let the breezes through,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

After more than 20 years of calling the Clare Valley home, John says he and his family are now looking to downsize.<\/p>\n

He will miss sitting by the woodfire and watching the footy during winter.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, members of my family are disappointed, and I certainly have some regrets, but I think the time has come in life where you maybe need to simplify things and downsize,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The sale of 96 Greenwood Park Road, Auburn, is being handled by Mark O\u2019Meagher<\/a> of Ray White Clare Valley.<\/p>\n

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