Provided as part of Conceptual Visualisation Outcomes
Karma House
Sustainable Home & Future Retreat Vision ● Margaret River
Designed by Matt Burleigh ● Feasibility Study
Provided as part of Conceptual Visualisation Outcomes
Karma House is a sustainable residence designed by Cynosure Architecture on a rural property north of Margaret River, with the flexibility to one day serve as a resort reception. The project reimagines the footprint of a previously planned building as a future-ready, biophilic home that engages with the surrounding vineyard and bushland. While unbuilt, the concept focused on rammed earth walls, Passive House principles, and cross-ventilation strategies to achieve exceptional thermal comfort and energy efficiency. The design creates a warm, contemporary home now — with the long-term potential to become the heart of a boutique retreat when the timing is right.
Karma House began as a feasibility concept commissioned by a private client for their rural property north of Margaret River, with the vision that it could one day evolve into a resort reception. The brief called for a future-ready, biophilic home that engaged with the surrounding vineyard and bushland while meeting ambitious sustainability goals. Our concept proposed rammed earth walls, Passive House-inspired detailing, and cross-ventilation strategies to deliver exceptional comfort and energy performance. The client responded positively to the design and the possibilities it offered, but ultimately chose to defer the project for the time being.
Rammed earth walls and timber detailing anchor Karma House in its rural setting, bringing warmth and cohesion to the design while framing views of the surrounding vineyard and bushland. These natural materials create a tactile counterpoint to the home’s clean lines and contemporary form, grounding the building within the landscape. The design intent was to deliver a low-energy, climate-responsive residence that celebrates outdoor living, harnesses passive solar orientation, and maximises cross-ventilation — creating a comfortable, sustainable home today with the ability to function as a welcoming reception space in the future.
More than just a new build, Karma House was conceived as a study in sustainable, landscape-led living. The design applied Passive House principles — optimising solar orientation, insulation, airtightness, and cross-ventilation — to deliver year-round thermal comfort with minimal energy demand. Biophilic planning connected every interior space to the vineyard and bushland beyond, encouraging a constant dialogue between inside and out. Natural materials such as rammed earth and locally sourced timber reinforced the sense of place while supporting durability and low embodied carbon outcomes. The result is a concept that demonstrates how thoughtful design can balance performance, beauty, and long-term flexibility — ready to serve as either a residence or the future reception hub of a boutique retreat.
In its ultimate vision, Karma House becomes the heart of a future 28-chalet eco-retreat - a high-end reception and wellness centre designed to welcome guests into the landscape.
The residence gracefully transitions into a public hub, with its generous rammed earth walls, expansive glazing, and warm timber interiors creating a sense of arrival and calm. Spaces are reimagined to include a wellness pavilion, lounge areas, and gathering spaces that connect to shaded courtyards and vineyard views.
This transformation positions Karma House as both the symbolic and functional centrepiece of the resort, embodying its commitment to sustainable tourism, restorative architecture, and immersive connection to country