‘SupaShak’ – Kangaroo Island holiday accommodation

An award-winning, nature-based holiday shack at Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island.

Winner – Small Projects | 2014 Australian Steel Institute Steel Design Awards

The Kangaroo Island ‘SupaShak’ sits on a unique coastal bush site beside the iconic Vivonne Bay Beach. Designed as a prototype for contemporary transportable housing, the shack uses modular construction principles and was engineered and built off-site to allow for transport across Australia.

Developed to suit a range of climate conditions, the ‘SupaShak’ offers a flexible model for nature-based tourism accommodation in remote, regional and environmentally sensitive locations.

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Design approach

The Kangaroo Island ‘SupaShak’ is an award-winning example of what nature-based tourism accommodation can be. Guided by strong environmentally sustainable design principles, the project challenged the conventional transportable house model at a time when prefabrication has an important role to play in improving future housing sustainability.

Because the building needed to withstand high winds during transportation and perform in an exposed coastal environment, we selected fibre cement cladding for its durability and resilience. The material has weathered well over time, supporting the building’s low-maintenance approach.

We developed a compact and efficient 90-square-metre floorplan by focusing on the essential requirements of a holiday house and removing unnecessary excess. Designed to accommodate up to 10 guests, the SupaShak includes three bedrooms, a combined bathroom and laundry, and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area that opens directly to the surrounding bushland through large windows and sliding panels.

A raking ceiling and high glazing expand the sense of space, framing views of deep blue summer skies, passing weather and the surrounding landscape. This open, immersive design strengthens the guest connection to local nature and wildlife, creating accommodation that encourages time outdoors and a more direct experience of place.