A collaboration initiated by Ross Harding of Finding Infinity, KTA set a design direction and worked closely with Wilderness Building Co and our client Aspen Group to deliver on what is very much a light touch that demonstrates the power of the edit. Located in Merimbula on the New South Wales Sapphire Coast, the project reimagines Boyd’s 1960s design as a collection of intimate guest rooms that balance nostalgic coastal charm with modern comfort. KTA’s intervention was careful and considered, working with the existing features to enhance the building’s heritage qualities while honouring Boyd’s architectural vision.

The design retained the motel’s distinctive linear form and relationship to the landscape as a foundation to celebrate simple, honest materiality. Timber linings, terrazzo flooring, and carefully detailed joinery create warm, tactile interiors that feel both familiar and fresh. Each room opens directly to the outdoors, maintaining the democratic relationship between interior and exterior that characterised Boyd’s approach, while introducing contemporary standards of comfort and amenity.

KTA’s approach extended beyond the guest rooms to encompass the broader site, considering how visitors move through and experience the property. Landscaping integrates native plantings that ground the building in its coastal context, while outdoor spaces create opportunities for guests to engage with the natural environment and the adjacent coastline.

The project is of a smaller, intentionally minimal scale; nothing is superfluous, every gesture is purposeful. Central to the approach was the quality of materials, the generosity of light, and the connection to place in shaping the guest experience. The modest interventions reflect broader values about craft, sustainability, and adaptive reuse, while demonstrating respect for Boyd’s architectural legacy and showing that thoughtful approaches can be applied effectively regardless of project scale or typology.