Both tenacious and visionary, Adelaide Green Homes co-director Daniel Morton started his plumbing career in the remote, arid Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands on the SA/NT border. With a lack of trades on call, he was exposed to a range of jobs, from concreting to landscaping.

Well-equipped with industry and trade knowledge, Daniel returned to Adelaide at the age of 23. He joined forces with Rebecca Robinson, a licensed residential building supervisor, to launch their own business, Alliance Development and Construction. They soon expanded the business by launching Adelaide Green Homes (AGH), which delivers energy-efficient residences that remain affordable without compromising quality or design.

In the early stages of this build, Daniel worked closely with the clients to incorporate their must-haves, which included natural light, easy flow and plenty of storage. ‘The first challenge was to design the layout to fit all their requirements in this tight block,’ says Daniel. His solution was to go down, not up, introducing a lower-level floor.

The clients then threw him another twist: Could they create secret rooms, hallways and doors? ‘I could already see a slight reference to Batman’s lair,’ says Daniel, laughing.

From the sculptural curved stairwell to the sunken living space, this striking home is brimming with exquisite details and design. Polished concrete flooring, perfectly paired with black cladding and a monolithic stone island, creates an earthy yet cutting-edge aesthetic.

When they broke ground on the build, the Adelaide winter hit. Going down meant they had an expansive hole in the ground that kept filling with water. Apart from dealing with the temporary lake on the site, all design elements and construction plans were meticulously detailed, so everything else ran to schedule and was completed in twelve months.

The resulting home is a serene sanctuary, emphasising sustainable living and quirky elements, including hidden rooms and underground lairs – a surprise at every turn.

Internal lifts provide ease of movement between the spaces, and the underground gym even has a purpose-built wrestling ring. The inclusion of R4.0 insulation, double-glazed windows and eco-friendly materials enhances the home's passive design.

One of Daniel and Rebecca’s highlights was winning the 2024 HIA-CSR South Australian Home of the Year, which made them finalists for this year’s HIA-CSR Australian People’s Choice Home Award, voted by the general public, with the winner announced at the 2025 HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards.

HIA South Australian Executive Director Stephen Knight says, ‘This is more than just a residence – it's an iconic achievement in South Australian home building. It's a stunning display of artistry and meticulous workmanship, establishing a new benchmark for excellence in our industry.’

Now voted by the public as the 2025 HIA-CSR Australian People's Choice Home, Daniel and Rebecca are enthralled. ‘We knew we had something truly special,’ says Daniel. ‘We’re so incredibly honoured; we can’t thank everyone enough for voting. For us, it reflects the passion and dedication behind every home we build.'

Materials:

• Exterior walling: Framing 140mm stud wall frame. Hebel cladding in Monument by Dulux; Vacoa cladding stained in Black from Mortlock Timber
• Floor coverings: EC Carpets ‘Orchard’ bedroom carpet in Foxwhelp; Bremworth ‘Galet’ cinema wool carpet in Sage, all from Choices Flooring
• Main staircase & lower-level library floor: Chateau Oak flooring 790 in Espresso from Godfrey Hurst
• Upper level hallway & kitchen flooring: Black Forest Wild Oak engineered flooring for Linwood Collection from Choices Flooring

First published on 16 June 2025.