First class living
Two Polish glider pilots have landed in South Australia in the most magnificent way, transforming a Malvern cottage into a unique home.
A bright red door greets visitors to Marta Najfeld and Ziggy Kusiak’s Malvern home – a playful hint that the circa-1900 single-fronted cottage holds far more than its heritage facade suggests.
Polish-born couple Marta and Ziggy, too, are full of interesting stories just a scratch beneath the surface. Marta is a world record holding glider pilot and aeronautical engineer, while Ziggy is a staunch glider enthusiast, crash survivor and practising doctor in aviation. Together, they’ve travelled the world, lived in cities big and small (including Queensland’s Dimboolah, with a population of 1800), and seen the best and worst of the prestige sport of gliding. In 2011, they bought “the worst house on a good street” after deciding they wanted to live in Malvern, South Australia, crossing the border from Victoria.
“We said, it doesn’t matter what the house looks like, we actually want to be here,” says Marta, describing the area as peaceful, beautiful and green. “Then we realised, the aircon is not working, we can’t open the windows because they’ve been painted over … it was a shocker.”
Some years later, what started as a quote to add a bathroom to the modest property progressed into a showstopping whole-house transformation that pays tribute to late architect, Anatoly Patrick.
“We are really very happy and lucky that Anatoly did it, because it is very unique and it suits us,” Ziggy says. “The only regret is that he didn’t get to see it.”
Working closely with the pair, Anatoly’s vision was brought to life by J. Turner Constructions and interior designer Marcus Syvertsen of Little Road.
The restored single fronted cottage houses two guest bedrooms and a generous hallway that leads to a moody, intimate lounge room colour-drenched in dark olive. A collection of candles takes the place of a fireplace, while an original Timothy Oulton “Aviation Blackhawk” coffee table, which the couple imported from the US, centres the sitting area. Various other nods to aviation are displayed proudly in the home – tin signs and sculptures collected over time, not to mention Marta’s framed world record certificates.
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Her first world record – for speed over a 100-kilometre triangle – was achieved by accident, she explains.
“When I first set the world record, I was only aiming for a national record – I didn’t even bother looking at the world record,” Marta says. “It turned out that mine was ten kilometres an hour faster than the standing world record. I did it twice more, flying in the US, Nevada – I kept beating myself.”
Her 2007 record of 163.14km/h still stands. “No one has beat her,” Ziggy beams, proudly.
The pair met two years later in Hungary, where Marta was competing and Ziggy was crewing for an Australian glider pilot (he had moved Down Under in the ’80s). “Long story short, a year later here’s me with two suitcases arriving in Melbourne,” Marta laughs.
While Marta could continue flying – and has a valid commercial flight licence, too – the pair gave up the sport 10 years ago, after Ziggy nearly lost his life in an horrific crash.
“He got in a wind shear [a drastic change in wind direction or speed] upon landing,” Marta explains. “He spent six months in hospital, another three months in rehab … he’s got more titanium in his legs than anyone else.
“In this sport at a competitive level, you’re walking a very fine line. You either push it to get the results you want, or you play it very safe. You can’t have both.”
At the heart of the extension is a dramatic open living and dining area, defined by a striking cathedral-style window to the rear of the home. Here, heated dark grey polished concrete flooring, engineered stone benchtops and premium light fixtures create a sense of refined luxury.
The kitchen is minimalist with clean, uninterrupted lines – a PITT cooktop the only real piece of equipment in sight – while natural materials and shades add warmth. A glass splashback will soon overlook a wall of green as ivy grows outside, while an island bench allows for easy entertaining. That island bench continues through to a compact laundry – a space that doubles as a “wet bar” when the couple entertain friends. “We can put ice in the sink, and glasses there,” Marta says.
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An eye-catching pendant light titled Little People by designer Kenneth Cobonpue, another item the pair collected over their travels, proudly anchors a round dining table.
A relaxed open sitting area with two occasional chairs overlooks the dining space; a lower ceiling, here, helping define the zone. An open bookshelf cleverly doubles as a divide to the laundry, where there is also a “hidden” bathroom (just push the panelled timber wall in the right spot, and you’ll find a bathroom complete with sunken shower).
The variations in ceiling height and atmosphere are integral to Anatoly’s design.
“Anatoly wanted you to see from the front door all the way to the backyard, and you can,” Marta adds. “And he wants you to have these hero pieces coming as you walk through.
“You pass the two bedrooms and walk into the moody room – he called it the cigar room; the first hero – and you come through this double height void with a circular skylight and the stairs, which opens up, and then you get the compression with the lower ceiling, and then you get the expansion again. That’s what keeps it interesting.”
The bespoke black steel circular staircase with perforated sides, designed by Little Road, leads to the primary bedroom on the upper floor. A lesson in restraint, the space encompasses a king bed, built-in-wardrobes and en suite, while an open steel balustrade maximises views to the lower level, as well as the outdoor treetops.
“You wake up in the morning, and you see the birds sitting in the branches,” Marta says. “We have a couple of rainbow lorikeets out there at the moment.”
Amplifying natural light and architectural interest, narrow skylights were installed along the length of the bedhead, inviting late-night star gazing. Meanwhile, a circular skylight over the staircase acts as a showpiece – one of Anatoly’s ideas, which Marta “had to have”. Fittingly, at the bottom of the staircase, the couple installed a plaque honouring the work of Anatoly Patrick, who died suddenly in his sleep in 2022.
Back in the kitchen area, fully retractable screen and sliding doors lead to the backyard, which comprises native landscaping by Lee Gray, a pool, and a studio-like shed, where Ziggy unwinds from his working day – by building model glider planes.
It’s been quite a journey for the pair, one not free of turbulence, but they are overwhelmingly grateful to be exactly where they are.
“I remember going to hospital every day because it was uncertain if he [Ziggy] was going to make it through,” Marta recalls.
“Since then, it’s like, ‘We want to go on that trip? Let’s go. You want to drink the fancy bottle of wine? Drink it today’. Because, who knows.”
“Time passes by very quickly,” Ziggy adds. “My motto is: enjoy your day. Anyone can do it – you just have to try.”
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