Heritage Charm – Woodley House by Ian Traill Architects

Ian Traill Architects rejuvenates charming heritage-listed Woodley House, transforming the residence into boutique accommodation with breathtaking views of the city of Adelaide.

Down through an enchanting drive lined by 100-year-old olive trees is Woodley House, a grand 12-bedroom heritage-listed house, circa 1843. The house, situated in Glen Osmond and offering unparalleled views of the city of Adelaide and the Gulf, was in dire need of repair. Working as both client and architect, Ian Traill and his wife Fiona moved from Sydney to Adelaide and discovered there was a charming home beneath the dilapidated structure and overgrown, unmaintained garden.

The richness and robustness of the exposed stone walls instantly became a feature marked through the interior, creating a common identity that unifies the rooms.

With experience in transforming and managing significant properties, Ian and Fiona were prompted to create a boutique accommodation venue, which required a hands-on approach to rejuvenating the aged semi-original house. The unique opportunity of being the client and architect meant that there was a freedom in design choices and prioritising work so that the property could be used for living and working. Having been built in different stages, there were no true finishes and a mixture of different interior spaces had evolved the original construction the house, creating an overall lack of consistency throughout. Choosing to engage a heritage consultant for a historical study, Ian Traill Architects focused on planning all the rooms to feature the grand views Woodley House has to offer and bring back a consistent materiality.

Peeling back to the original stone substrates revealed the true age of the house and uncovered the problem areas that required immediate attention. The richness and robustness of the exposed stone walls instantly became a feature marked through the interior, creating a common identity that unifies the rooms. Extending on the history of the house with simple and neutral colour palettes allows for the natural stone walls to prevail throughout, while accent colours were used sparingly. Throughout, Ian and Fiona’s approach of using limited, simple materials accentuates and reflects the period of Woodley House.

The unique opportunity of being the client and architect meant that there was a freedom in design choices and prioritising work so that the property could be used for living and working.

The grandeur of Woodley House is instilled in the new additions and alterations, while still responding to its heritage nature. The roof space made for the ample expansion of another two rooms and ensuites. The bathrooms take on a semi-industrial feel with concrete toned tiles tying into the natural stone walls, married together with the earthiness of copper tapware and stone finishes. In the shared space, a larger kitchen was implemented to fulfil the idea of turning the house into boutique accommodation. The interiors complemented with a selection of furniture and art found by utilising local auction houses, with a focus on pieces that reflected the historical periods of the home. During the architectural and interiors renovations, Fiona also took on the rejuvenation of the grand garden that spans across 6,000 square metres. An added kitchen garden gives an endless supply of vegetables all year round, and a large outdoor courtyard was developed with a stone pizza oven for entertainment and nights in under the vine-covered pergola.

Taking the heritage-listed Woodley House from a forgotten dream to a quaint house fit for a growing family or an opportune boutique bed and breakfast, Ian and Fiona have undertaken a labour of love. Undaunted by the challenges of restoring a grand building in such a state of disrepair, the pair’s considerable experience and passion for heritage architecture has enabled the residence to live on for another century.