This glass-fronted river shack is the ultimate off-grid retreat in New South Wales

Marra Marra Shack was designed by Swiss practice Leopold Banchini Architects and features a simple yet striking form that cantilevers from the riverbank over the water in the Marramarra National Park, New South Wales.

The cabin is situated on a wide stretch of the Hawkesbury River, at its junction with Berowra Creek, on the traditional land of the Darug People. The house is designed as a remote oasis, paying homage to the landscape while blending sympathetically into the hillside.

The clever eco-home is constructed from a mix of cement fibre, plasterboard, ironbark, spotted gum, and recycled timbers, including 200-year-old electricity poles from the early colonial settlement of Marramarra Creek. The design revolves around its remarkable setting, with the centrepiece of the open-plan layout being a single 6-metre-high window overlooking the creek. Facing north, this window opens fully onto an outdoor deck, dissolving the boundary between indoors and outdoors.

While its boxy form references traditional shack architecture, the off-grid house doesn’t skimp on comforts. A floating steel fireplace heats the living room and creates a dramatic focal point, while the interior celebrates craftsmanship with exposed wood throughout. The elevated kitchen has a custom steel sink and cooktop installed and is furnished with bespoke timber furniture. Solar energy and water are harvested on the cabin’s flat roof and stored on-site, making the home fully self-sustainable.

Two bedrooms and a bathroom are tucked at the rear of the cabin, making it suitable as either a full-time residence or a holiday let for those seeking seclusion.

Its buyer can also future-proof their privacy: an adjoining 790 sq m block is available for sale via separate negotiation with agent Caelia Collins of Riverfront Real Estate, with prices for the plot and the house available upon request.