This property was a house attached to a much-loved old corner shop in North Perth, a well-known feature of the neighbourhood which the owners wanted to retain. With plans to expand their family, they were looking for a way to create the spacious home they needed, while still enjoying the inner-city location they loved.
Our design restored the deli, located on the north-east corner of the block, and retained key elements of the existing home on the opposing south-west corner. The old shop would become the couple’s new photography studio, while keeping its character and original shape. We then carefully removed the structure from the centre of the block to make room for the new home. This central space became the heart of the new home, where the family could spend time together, as well as the boundary between the business and the private areas of the house. We added an upstairs level for the bedrooms, with the master bedroom incorporated into a mezzanine off the open plan living area. A roof terrace can be accessed as both a private retreat off the master suite as well as an additional outdoor space for entertaining on warm WA nights.
The design raises a ‘folded visor’ over the old shopfront without touching it, in response to the owners’ desire to make the addition visually ‘theirs’ without compromising the original form. We also kept a firm distinction between the old and new parts of the house, and the home maintains its inner city feel with urban materials and views of the streetscape.
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This home presented a unique challenge for Chindarsi Architects. Built in the 1960’s by Donald Bailey of Perth’s celebrated Howlett and Bailey Architects, it held a lot of significance and showcased many of the trends and idiosyncrasies of the era. It was also terribly run-down; initial discussions with the owners centred on demolition and rebuilding from scratch.
We accepted the commission on the condition that we be allowed to retain and build upon the existing house – a condition which the owners thankfully accepted. As experienced builders, they were well aware of the challenges of the alterations and managed the project themselves. We started with a concept of ‘designed separation’ to distinguish the old and new areas of the home, with many of the existing elements, like the shallow butterfly roof, offering inspiration and departure points for the newer work. The owners wanted to retain accents from the original home, like the suspended copper fireplace, which we then perpetuated in the new sections, with elements like the striking copper front door and entry canopy. We kept the original open plan and interior transparency which the owners enjoyed, with a high skillion roof and ample glazing on the northern aspect to bring natural light deep into the plan, but we also incorporated timber screens to allow for more privacy in the living areas.
The owners also wanted a home that would give them the best of Perth’s contemporary indoor/outdoor lifestyle and keep them comfortable year-round. We extended the new roof to encompass the outdoor alfresco, barbecue area and garden pavilion, uniting them with the family’s indoor living spaces. Comfort and sustainability were slightly more challenging; the original 1960’s house required some significant work to become properly energy efficient. We added abundant insulation over all of the ceilings, as well as within the new lightweight walls. High performance glazing was paired with the existing slatted timber sun-shades to keep out the worst of the summer sun, and we added a ‘brise soleil’ matrix of fin elements across the new southern facade to provide additional protection in the hot afternoons.
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It didn’t take much to see the potential in this Federation Era home in North Perth. The owners’ vision was a ‘best of both worlds’ approach, combining the sustainability, materials and aesthetics of a modern addition with the character and traditional values of the original house.
Our design adds two new bedrooms, a bathroom and powder room linked to the existing building via a sitting room. The different elements of the home – the original house, the garage and the studio – are now united under a single undulating roof, which wraps around the courtyard. The owners wanted to make the most of the outdoor spaces, so we combined the durability of metal deck-cladding with the natural beauty of timber and plywood for the courtyard and roof terrace. With the addition of high-level ‘lantern’ windows and artificial lighting, this area is suffused with soft, golden light, allowing the family to enjoy warm summer evenings under the stars.
The owners also really wanted to retain the interaction with the street which the Federation-style front verandah traditionally provided, an aspect of community which is unfortunately disappearing with newer homes. We updated this concept with a rooftop terrace over the garage, which not only offered them a connection with the neighbourhood but also an outdoor entertaining area with beautiful views of the jacaranda-lined street and city skyline.
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A professional who travels a lot for work, the owner wanted a sophisticated, low-maintenance house which would be a retreat for her when at home in Perth. Privacy and a sense of self-containment were priorities for the owner, but she also wanted to feel connected to the wider world.
The corner lot is small, but offered great opportunities to capture unique views. Our design maximised the space with a vertical, multi-level plan with outlooks over the green parks on each side. In contrast, the entry courtyard is intimate and welcoming, even though it faces the street. Given the vertical nature of the home, we wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible. The central void houses a staircase with glass treads to allow light to penetrate throughout the home. Convenience and self-sufficiency were important for a sole occupant with a lot of time commitments, so we included a private gym and a dumb waiter to connect each level from the basement to the rooftop. The home also has extensive multimedia throughout, offering the owner ‘windows on the world’ through technology.
We were very aware of keeping the potential resale value of the property at a maximum. While the lot is small and perfect for one, it was important to bring as much into the space as possible and consider its future possibilities. We maximised the living space by sinking the carport into a half basement and adding a rooftop terrace with room to entertain and a plunge pool with a spectacular view. For the interior we designed a stepped-level plan, dividing the house into two parts offset from each other vertically. This effectively gives the structure five levels, with the light-filled stairwell in the centre – plenty of room and enough privacy for a couple or a family. The uniquely pitched roof and glass-ended plunge pool also add significant street appeal to the property, capitalising on its elevation and prime corner position.
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A family home in one of WA’s most beautiful towns, this residence was designed to make the most of its surroundings. The owners are keen gardeners with a love of the rural feel of the property, and they wanted to stay buylexaprousa true to its history with the new design. This was to be a country escape for them and they wanted a unique, contemporary residence, in contrast to their traditional-style home in the heritage precinct of Mount Lawley.
The existing house had been designed and built by a local Bridgetown artist, a lovingly created jumble of stone, wrought iron, found timber and stained glass. We salvaged as much of this material as we could, and our design centred on keeping the old house and all of its significance at the heart of the new house. The original raw logs and tree branches still feature in the walls, and we spent days in a nearby paddock retrieving more of the local stone which anchored the building so beautifully to its surroundings. We drew from a rustic, textured palette for the remaining materials, selecting timber, plywood, corrugated metal and cement cladding with a painted weatherboard appearance.
The outside area and common deck were exceptionally important. One of the qualities which drew the owners to Bridgetown was its distinct four seasons – a rarity in WA – and their garden is an ever-changing mantle of vibrant spring bulbs, golden autumn foliage and green summer shade. The north facing windows make the most of this view, with access from all of the bedrooms to the main deck for time spent together. With older kids and a lot of visitors, privacy was another big consideration, so we separated the master bedroom from the children’s wing, and seated the shared living areas in between.
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Architect Joe Chindarsi’s own home, this property was subdivided from a small block in North Perth. Situated in an area built predominantly in the 1920’s, the new lot was compact at 207sqm, another example of the move towards higher density living in Perth. The architect and his partner wanted the home to reflect the role of design and art in their lives; a house that wasn’t just a beautiful place to live, but an expression of home as art.
The Deco-era surroundings inspired the design from the beginning. The industrial motifs and angular patterns of Art Deco are present in the saw-tooth roof style, which scoops natural light and air into the living spaces as well as providing north-facing platforms for solar panels. The shard-like shapes of the internal spaces are also a nod to iconic crystalline Deco forms, echoed in the laser-cut metal screens over the east balcony and entry, which offer a sheltered space for the family to enjoy the afternoon shade. Joe and his partner also gave careful consideration to the location of walls in relation to natural and artificial light, in order to display their own beautiful collection of art. Thick walls and window niches effectively guide natural light into the interior spaces, creating a soft, filtered effect much like a gallery.
The choice of materials was very important, as were the home’s sustainability credentials. Heavy concrete, granite and face-brick, with their own industrial beauty, form the bones of the structure, contrasting with Deco-style crystalline white marble, solid timber, glass and brass elements. The result is a stunning home which is – just like art – beautiful, thought-provoking and deeply personal. The architect’s investment in sustainable technologies as part of the build also earned the home an 8.5 NatHERS rating; the house is completely self-sufficient for energy and collects a substantial portion of its own water requirements.
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Far removed from the city, this property was a new build in the middle of the vast suburban expanse between Perth and Mandurah. Our unique ‘bunker’ design is a reflection of the owners’ desire for a protective sanctuary – not only from the coastal elements, but also from the emptiness of the landscape around them, which was very stark at the time.
We designed the whole front of the house to lean back at seven degrees, with the side wall and roof following suit. This gives the home a look of braced solidity from the outside, and a sheltered, secure feeling inside. Beyond this fortress-like facade, the home opens up completely, ending in a wall of glass which floods the main living areas with morning light. The upper level soars with high ceilings and unimpeded vistas of the sky, while the view from the master bedroom feels like a private window on the neighbouring golf course, framed with natural wood panelling.
Outside, we created a landscaped, water-wise garden as a unique space for entertaining. Continuous flooring unites the lower level with the alfresco, and the outdoor area is broken up into ordered segments defined by colour and texture: paving, lawn and gravel. Inspired by traditional formal and zen gardens, it offers the owners a place to enjoy the peace of their natural environment, in contrast to its superficial harshness.
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This property is situated on what was once a playground adjoining an old church in Shenton Park. Though they loved the surrounding heritage precinct, the owners’ tastes are very contemporary and they didn’t want to compromise on the design of their family home.
Our initial proposals were rejected by council; the modern design simply didn’t conform http://buylevitra24.com to the requirements of the heritage-listed streetscape. Instead of attempting to diminish the strong aesthetic of the original design – which the owners loved – we developed a ‘mask’ for the home. A new facade complemented the church next door in pitch and proportions, grounding the house in the street and disguising the sleek residence behind it.
Inside, the home is a showcase of minimalist design. The owners envisaged the living area as a ‘large room’ – open, uncomplicated and full of light. The back of the house is a wall of glass, bathing the room in natural light and creating an open-air, spacious feeling. A white interior with long lines and clean finishes illuminates the rich colour of natural wood in cabinetry, the front door and the staircase. The utilitarian areas of the open plan kitchen/dining area were finished in stormy grey and recessed behind white bi-folds, so they quite literally disappear from sight when not in use. This living area transitions effortlessly into the outside space, which is landscaped in similar minimalist style. Clever use of clear and frosted glass also lets natural light all the way into the more intimate areas of the home, without compromising privacy.
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The owners of this beautiful bushland property wanted luxury in the country. Their vision was a very contemporary, comfortable home with an idyllic timber cabin feel, nestled among the trees with a view across the ocean.
Our concept combined the iconic Australian rural shed with the contemporary Danish ‘Sommerhus’, with all of its luxurious style and modern amenities. The external surface is wrapped in corrugated metal cladding, true to the rustic Australian bush setting. We ‘cut away’ from this solid shell to create the windows and open the house to the outside, exposing the softer, timber-lined interior to view. This also refined the shape of the house and gave it the angular, modern aesthetic the owners wanted. Inside, the house is divided into two ‘modules’, separated by the entry vestibule. The bedrooms and the open plan kitchen/dining/lounge areas drink in the light and the views of the Indian Ocean, cooled and shaded by the overhanging frame of the external structure. Outside, a grassed terrace level becomes an extension of the living space, so the family need only slide back the glass doors to enjoy warm evenings in the coastal air. At the back of the home, the smaller bathroom and laundry rooms face the bushland, combining privacy and utility.
Technology added the extra stroke of luxury the owners were looking for. Solar passive design, lighting control, underfloor heating and a traditional wood-fire stove keep the interior comfortable in the many moods of the coastal climate. Data and audio connectivity make it the perfect retreat for entertaining and relaxing, and the home is self-sufficient for power and water. Sustainability and safety were also big concerns: we installed phosphate-removal septics and an integrated bushfire protection system as part of the build.
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Another subdivided inner-city block, this property belonged to a young family of three. With a small lot and a limited budget, they were looking for an affordable two-storey home which was as sustainable – and as low-maintenance – as possible.
Our design combines an open, contemporary plan with an ‘upside down living’ approach, with the kitchen and living areas situated upstairs. Downstairs, a large open plan space is perfect for entertaining family and guests, and three bedrooms are positioned at the back of the plan, away from the road. White concrete flooring and plywood finishes kept costs low and delivered the low maintenance living spaces the owners wanted, with a raw, industrial aesthetic. From the street, the unique roof terrace is a distinguishing feature, fully enclosed by an adjustable screen of red cedar slats which take on a silver-grey patina with age. A shaded, breezy outdoor area to enjoy during the day, the terrace takes on a unique luminous quality at night, becoming a lantern over the home.
Living sustainably is something the owners are very passionate about, and this home is proof that sustainability and affordability are not mutually exclusive. With an 8-star energy efficiency rating, our design is built around solar passive principles and energy saving materials. Both the open-plan upstairs living space and the covered roof terrace face north to catch the winter sun, with their western faces sheltered from the worst of the summer heat. For the main structure, we reduced costs and energy consumption using concrete block and Thermomass concrete panels – poured in-situ and tilted into position by crane – with insulation ‘sandwiched’ inside the walls. This also gave a clean, industrial feel to the property which the owners loved – so much so that we left areas of raw concrete both inside and outside to add colour and texture.
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