A young family moving from another part of Mount Lawley, the owners of this Mount Lawley lot had big plans for the most unassuming house on the street. It was easy to see the appeal of this property, situated high on the mount with incredible views – both east to the hills and west to the city skyline. But along with the dream block came a run-down Californian bungalow which the owners were very keen to renovate.

The property falls within a heritage precinct. This meant our first challenge was to develop a design which would give the clients the modern extension they wanted, within the strict heritage guidelines. Our design worked around this with a new wing down one side of the home, similar in style to the existing frontage. This addition disguises the main extension, a clean modernist box which is cantilevered out over the rear garden at the back.

With the final design approved, we set about harmonising the two very different faces of this unique home. The use of red recycled brick grounds the home into the heritage precinct, and this material was extended out to provide structure and continuity within the rear garden. This area is one of the owners’ most cherished features, giving the family room to live, grow and play against the backdrop of the city. The fire pit forms another outdoor ’room’, with ample seating for guests under the WA sky. The raised level of the pool also acts as an intrinsic pool barrier, allowing us to reduce the use of pool fencing and amplify the open feel of the garden.

Inside, a modern industrial aesthetic reconciles the old and new aspects of the home. Warehouse-style fittings in the kitchen and tiles with a rusted steel effect in the bathroom add warmth, interest and detail. A combination of industrial and natural materials brings the rest of the home together, with a harmonious palette of polished concrete floors, grey-stained plywood, jarrah screening and concrete-look benchtops.