Canada
USA
Japan
2019
LOCATION: Mount Pleasant
BUILDER: Formview Building
ENGINEER: Andreotta Cardenosa Consulting Architects
ENERGY CONSULTANT: Natalie Stark
MURAL ARTIST: Bel, the artistic owner!
PHOTOGRAPHY: Dion Robeson
STYLIST: Anna Flanders
LOT SIZE: 507m²
HOUSE SIZE: 245m²
ZONING: R20
VIEW CONSIDERATIONS IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
When designing homes, clients often request an orientation that takes advantage of available views, especially in Perth where views might include the city skyline, river, or ocean. However, we believe that views can sometimes be overrated. Do we really spend time staring at the view? Often, it’s the sensory experiences—like the scent of the sea or a cooling breeze—that truly matter. For this house, the owners decided against an ‘upside down’ house, which would have provided city views from the living areas. Instead, they opted for ground floor living that fosters a strong connection to the garden.
CLIENT BRIEF AND DESIGN STRATEGY
This home was crafted for a growing young family, providing space that they can enjoy and expand into over time. The design includes four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and ample living and outdoor dining areas. Given the beneficial northern block orientation, the design maximizes thermal comfort and functionality. The main living space—encompassing the kitchen, dining, and lounge areas—is rectangular and oriented north-south along the block’s length. Positioned towards the west, it allows for an eastern courtyard that opens into the kitchen, welcoming the morning sunlight. Separating the courtyard and garden is a covered outdoor dining area with views of both green spaces. The first floor includes the parents’ bedroom and ensuite, isolated from the rest of the house and capturing beautiful city views, especially at night.
STREET APPEAL AND BUILDING FORM
The home features two distinct architectural forms. From the street, clean rectilinear shapes dominate, creating a modern and minimalist facade with limited openings for privacy. These forms hide the dramatically pitched roof of the rear living areas, designed to pull northern light into the interior. To maintain high ceilings and comply with council height restrictions, no upper floor was built over this living space. The two-storey portion is located at the front, while the rest of the home remains single-storey.
MULTI-FUNCTIONAL BEDROOM DESIGN
The size of a project significantly impacts costs. By designing flexible, multi-functional spaces, we can reduce the overall space needed. To stay within budget while meeting the family’s needs, we designed bedrooms to serve multiple purposes, including play areas. Instead of a separate ‘games room’, we focused on enhancing the quality of existing spaces. A concealed sliding wall between the two children’s bedrooms allows them to combine the rooms into one large play area. As they grow, they can choose to close or permanently separate the rooms. Currently, the children love the shared space and prefer to keep the wall open.
UNIQUE FEATURES AND DETAILING
In-built storage solutions are thoughtfully designed, ensuring spaces are sized and located for specific items like vacuums, towels, pots, and toys. This attention to detail enhances efficiency and ensures the home meets the family’s exact needs. The rear elevation features a distinctive thick black fascia, forming an inverted ‘V’ around the living room glass. To prevent metal warping—an issue known as ‘oil canning’—we used precise detailing, including thick metal fitted around marine ply. The builder did an excellent job executing this complex detail, ensuring durability and aesthetic appeal.
