When photojournalist Bob and music teacher Merinda bought their bushland block in the Shoalhaven region on the south coast of NSW, it was with the intention of slowing down. But after a lifetime of creativity, the urge to continue stays strong, even in retirement.
Especially in retirement.
That meant adding an extra building to the modular home they had built. And, as they weren’t strangers to the concept, prefab was the obvious choice.
“In short, we got what we wanted, and had control all the way. We would happily recommend the Greenspan experience.”
Made for music
In 2014, Bob and Merinda found the perfect block of land to ease into retirement. Just over an acre of pristine native bushland and beautiful banksia forest, nestled into the rugged sand dunes on the south coast of New South Wales.
It was peaceful, private and the perfect place to build a new house and life, ready to enjoy retirement.
But with their home complete, and time once again on their hands, that urge to continue creating grew stronger, and it dawned upon the couple that they had overlooked an essential.
“Not long after settling into our home, we realised that we needed a creative space for Merinda to play her cello, sing and maybe teach (even though we had retired), that was separate from the house, but not too far and relatively soundproof,” Bob tells us.
Like most creative pursuits, music has a way of taking over a household.
By its very nature, it’s loud. Instruments and equipment are bulky and take up space. When you’re teaching, students are coming and going, or online lessons are taking place. Additionally, setting up and packing down for sessions can be time-consuming and disruptive.
“We needed a space that we could set up for an interview or a music gig and be able to close the door and walk away,” explains Bob.
Made simple
Having experienced the many advantages of modular construction firsthand with their home, they saw no reason to do things differently this time. Building this way had shown them what off-site construction could do – the speed, the efficiency, and, with such a pristine location to protect, its minimal environmental impact.
“We were open to having our studio prefab rather than built on site,” Bob says. “Which is what we prefer, rather than having someone destroying your place for six months.”
And by choosing Greenspan, it also meant that the new addition could be designed to sit naturally next to their home, rather than looking like an afterthought.
So, on their next trip to Sydney, Bob and Merinda visited a Display Centre and, having done so, knew they had made the right decision.
“This ticked a lot of boxes. We were excited at the prospect of what could be created,” they say.
It wasn’t just the potential of what they could create, though. It was the ease of the process – something that really matters when you’re three hours outside of Sydney and have just completed another major building project.
“Plans were simple, staff helpful and knowledgeable,” they recall. “After finalising the design, an onsite inspection confirmed the final details, and it was full steam ahead.”
This efficiency continued to delivery and beyond, with installation delivering everything they hoped for by building this way.
“Team arrived in the morning and were finished by afternoon, brilliant!”
Made to match… mostly
With the building installed to lock-up stage, it was over to Bob and Merinda to apply the finishing touches, and create the cohesive extension of their home that they had intended from the start.
“During the next few weeks we painted, insulated, soundproofed, lined and painted some more,” says the couple. “It gave us speed of build and input to finish at our pace.”
The building design they had selected was a Melwood Mod 18. And it was chosen with the existing structure firmly in mind. The Mod’s contemporary profile with a skillion roofline and highlight windows mirrors those of the main house, while the board and batten cladding has been painted in the same light and dark grey palette as the home’s corrugated exterior. Together, the two buildings feel less like separate structures and more like architectural intent.
Positioned just beyond the end of the home and linked to it by a shade sail, the studio continues the flow of the main residence, where a central module connects its two separate wings in much the same way. This creates a natural progression from one section to the next, and without knowing otherwise, you would assume the home and studio had always been designed as one.
Well, almost.
Because Bob and Merinda couldn’t resist giving it a unique flourish.
“All around the door trims and the windows, we painted it purple to give it a lift.”
It’s a pop of colour against the coordinated greys, and a small detail that could only belong to this Melwood… and them.
Made to keep making
Eight years later and Bob and Merinda’s Melwood is as well-used as any other part of their home.
“The room is used a lot, which is great,” Merinda states.
It’s still very much her music space. But like so many Melwoods, its purpose has evolved over time.
“We have enjoyed the space, for not only music, but occasional overflow for visitors, a reading quiet escape and more.”
The years have seen it adapt into a multimedia studio equipped for photography, videography, and interviews, because, just like Merinda, photojournalist Bob’s call to create remains strong. However, life admittedly does take a slower pace these days.
“We’ve been able to walk into retirement, which is a drastic contrast to when we were both working full time,” Bob says.
And it’s a space that’s opened up new possibilities and pursuits for the couple to explore. Because while retirement may have slowed the pace of life, it certainly hasn’t slowed Bob and Merinda’s creativity. With the time and space to explore new interests, the studio has become a place for fresh ideas as much as familiar ones.
“We’re dabbling in other things; we’re learning to make films and learning to put soundtracks through them,” they tell us.
Made for retiring… or not
As a building project, Bob and Merinda’s Melwood delivered exactly what they were looking for.
“As a prefab build, the site was left clean and not looking like a ‘bomb site’ which can often happen when multiple trades come and go over a period of time,” confirms Bob.
And, soundproofed, insulated and facing north to capture the winter sun, it has delivered everything they ever wanted by building it.
“Our Melwood is a dedicated creative space. We can close the door and leave creative happenings still intact, ready to go rather than having to take down at the end of the day.”
Students still get taught, music still gets played, interviews still take place. And sometimes this supposedly retired couple even relaxes on the chaise with a book.
“It’s such a gift.”
| Design | Melwood Mod 18 |
| Size | 3.2m x 5.4m |
| Add-ons | 1.3m x 5.4m deck |
| Cladding | Board and Batten |
| Doors | Double timber-framed full glass |
| Windows | White aluminium |
| Roofing | Surfmist Colorbond® |
All measurements are approximate.
A Melwood is always made to match.
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