in(design)

Our clients came to us as ‘Empty Nesters’ seeking to downsize and build their ‘forever home’ after recently retiring. The site is quite elevated and the area falls away to the river so the views northward to Mosman Park, along the Swan River and over to the city are by far the site's best qualities. The core idea of the design was to take full advantage of the views and northerly aspect by literally opening the house upwards and outwards. The rather dramatic ‘folded’ skillion roof and the angular plan is an unmistakable response to this idea. This is further reinforced by a huge expanse of glass in the living area which creates a seamless transition to an outdoor living space on the balcony with views afar. River views are a premium in the area and we, as did the client, wanted to be respectful of the adjoining neighbours. The angle (in plan) of the balcony and the roof form was created to provide a greater setback and reduced building height for the southern neighbour. We designed the plan to take advantage of cross ventilation opportunities when needed. Even with a strong south west sea breeze, the entire living space can open up to the river and is perfectly protected. The fall of the site from the rear to front also let us create a very dramatic entry statement with a large cantilever to give it grandeur and interest. Given our clients are the sole occupants, they effectively live on the upper floor. Their bedroom and main living spaces co-exist up there. For investment purposes it’s still a family home futureproofed for resale. The engineering of the balcony that cantilevers nearly 5 meters over the entry was a significant event. The flying tip of this roof also involves a significant amount of cantilevered structure with the ‘fold’ in the roof shape added all sorts of complexities. The rammed recycled concrete and limestone mix is a specialist product and has its own limitations so we had to work closely with the installer to get all our ideas to work, namely the two storey wall that has a cantilever section (which was required to be installed prior to the upper floor slab. We managed the budget throughout the design and documentation phase by having regard for scope and level of finish. The project came in very close to budget and the client proceeded without any changes. The rammed walls are made up of 50% recycled crushed concrete & 50% limestone. They create a very large thermal mass and the house has reduced fluctuations in internal temperature. Zinc cladding is less energy intensive to produce, is 100% recyclable and has a very long lifespan on buildings with minimal maintenance. There are two rainwater collection tanks used for drinking (filtered tap in the kitchen), the garden (including a vegetable patch) and auto leveler for the pool (which has a roll-out cover to reduce evaporation and heat loss – its heated via heat pump).

Sitting high above Perth’s city foreshore and famous Swan River, Camilla Residences is at the border of one of the world’s largest inner city parklands. Picturesque Kings Park offers recreation and fitness options including the Kings Park Tennis Club, Next Generation Gym, Jacobs Ladder and kilometers of cycle paths and walking tracks. The Park also offers scenic picnic areas, outdoor movies, dining options and concerts. Stroll across the Mount Street overpass and immerse yourself in the ambience of Perth’s West End where local and international fashion, entertainment and dining sophistication merge. Sustainability features include- Acoustic and thermal glazing Water harvesting Photovoltaic panels Electric vehicle charging stations Green living with landscaped winter gardens

A truly considered and thoughtful home, this simple addition to a weatherboard cottage in one of Perth’s loveliest suburbs has become an expression of the owners desire for inclusion and commitment to their community. The clients’ brief detailed a love of the outdoors and with two small children in primary school, an important component was for the large backyard to be as much a part of the design as the internal living spaces. Seeking to fulfil this and an overarching vision for a unique family-oriented home with warm, cosy, crafted, beautiful, informal and happy spaces, Klopper & Davis Architects took a holistic approach to the design. Responding sensitively to site, landscape and existing built elements the new addition is modest and thoughtful, positioned with a significant setback and nearly concealed from the street. The addition comprises of living and family spaces designed with direct views from the kitchen through to the back garden, allowing the parents to relax and enjoy the children playing outside – yet still visible. Curved custom-made steel door and windows are a special feature and soften the natural light that floods in. The flat roof that covers the addition extends beyond the windows to create a snug and protected entertaining area between indoors and outdoors. In keeping with their design philosophy of minimal intervention, Klopper & Davis Architects have reconfigured the main body of the original timber house to cater for private spaces. The traditional central hallway with rooms leading off either side has been retained and treated with care, restoring the timber floorboards and painting the internal brickwork walls with a fresh coat of white. Fashioning the original lounge and dining rooms into a master bedroom with large walk-in-robe and fourth bedroom respectively, plumbing in the original kitchen now services a large ensuite for the parents’ and bathroom for children at the end of the hall. Materials of recycled brick and steel framed doors are sensitively juxtaposed against the original weatherboard house. While the recycled bricks used to build the extension are painted in the kitchen and living rooms, they have been left exposed to create a unique final room for the kids. Mimicking the curves of the arches, the team have created a sculptural double curved feature to the building corner, a form expressed and experienced both within “The Kids Room” and outside in the garden. A complement to the textural qualities and simple, informal nature of the house is the stunning landscape design. The design incorporates latticed brickwork, sculptural concrete pipe planter boxes, Jarrah sleeper veggie boxes, a combination of recycled brick and limestone paving, corten edging and steel fencing. Add in a simple pool, grass and an outdoor shower and it is a layered garden, but it works. The condition of the existing building contributed significantly to the overall cost of the project, requiring a near re-build of a heritage house – new roofing, new external walls and insulation to ceilings, walls and below floor – to meet current building codes and...

Sited at a sensitive transition point between low and high density zones, 95 Evans Street sets a strong precedent for high quality, responsive suburban infill. 95 Evans Street is located on the cusp of Subiaco’s new density rezoning; a stone’s throw from Shenton Park train station and surrounded by great pedestrian amenity. The project seeks to respond to the site’s many sensitivities, with single story residences to the eastern and southern boundaries. As a result, the building is shifted to a zero lot setback to the western boundary, maximising the setbacks to the east. In addition to this, the built form is stepped back significantly, with each side responding to the r-code of its neighbour, with a minimal setback to the denser coded western boundary, stepping back to the R15 code of its eastern neighbour. The materiality, extensive landscaping and distinctive planter design reference the rich surrounding architectural and cultural history of Shenton Park, embedding it in its surroundings.

Project vision: Our vision for NOMA is to create a place with refined architectural design, exemplary attention to detail, warmth and personality, taking inspiration from the western suburbs’ unique lifestyle. Drawing from Mosman Park’s rich heritage, natural environment and idyllic location between the Swan River and Indian Ocean, it has been designed to become an enduring part of the Glyde Street community. Place integration and community benefit: NOMA embodies Parcel’s vision for good neighbourhood development – a premium location on Glyde Street, exceptional connectivity and infrastructure transecting Stirling Highway and adjacent Mosman Park Train Station along with established character and amenity. Community is a key driver of the precinct design, both the community that will be created by its residents, the place design principles that help to enable and foster incidental interaction, and their connection and integration into the wider Mosman Park community of established local residents. NOMA makes a significant contribution to The Town of Mosman Park’s future vision for Glyde Street to become an active and sought-after street with new living options, improved landscaping and retail offering through: • An architectural response that pays homage to Glyde Street featuring an elegant podium façade of warm timber and brick which evokes high street heritage • Commercial and retail uses that add vibrancy to the street – providing flexible spaces anchored by NOMA’s high amenity landscaped courtyard space. • The signature public courtyard blendling private and public domain – offering a communal space that can be used as an extension of the commercial tenancies as well as an informal leisure space for the community. The courtyard design centres around the sites signature retained Red Gum tree. • A product mix that strikes a balance between delivering on market demand, whilst creating flexible and adaptable dwellings for a range of demographics. NOMA responds to increasing market demand for medium sized apartment product that enables people to downsize without leaving the area they know and love, as well as families and those looking to enter the market for the first time. Architectural vision and ethos Parcel Property’s philosophy is to ensure the design of every development responds to the character and identity of the area. Each is unique, and meets Parcel’s benchmark for quality design, amenity and finish. NOMA considers internal, external and community design elements in equal measure – ensuring a cohesive response across interior layout, building typology, community and public spaces and importantly, public realm. Designed by award winning architects Plus Architecture, NOMA’s design aesthetic is inspired by Mosman Park’s rich heritage, natural environment and enviable lifestyle – where warmth and personality is coupled with an elegant, refined style. It has been designed with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship - exposed brick, archways, timber and soft landscaping is a nod to Glyde Street’s traditional streetscape, with a modern execution that will bring enduring value and sense of place. Communal areas and the spaces which connect apartments have been designed with people’s everyday needs front and centre. Landscape design and...

The architecture attempts to re-create the atmosphere of Fremantle in a contemporary way and draws inspiration from the existing character of the nearby Prison Precinct. The street facades have been carefully articulated to provide both transparency and depth to help ensure the perceived building bulk is minimised at street level. The material palette of the building will consist of limestone face bricks, exposed steel beams, natural finished concrete, Colorbond metal sheeting and green wall trellises. One of the main features of the building design is the large central green space that all apartments and short stay units are accessed from. This T-shaped atrium ranges from 6m-7.8m wide and forms the central heart of the building. The space will be luscious and green with water features and break out spaces for users to inhabit and interact with one-another.

Dollhouse 2.0 is a long-term family home that works comfortably within its small 174m² inner city site. The design intent was to create functional flexible spaces, adaptable for a growing family. The finishes were selected for longevity to create a low maintenance and sustainable “forever home”. The home is conveniently located adjacent to various active cultural hubs, allowing the planning of the home to be pared back to the essentials. With 2 bathrooms, a powder room, 3 bedrooms and a double garage, the home accommodates the needs of most families. Each of the spaces are carefully considered, many offering the ability to expand and contract for larger gatherings or changes in family dynamics. The void through the heart of the home provides visual interaction with the street, natural light and ventilation with solar access to the north warming up the concrete floors in winter. A void was favoured over additional floor area, as the views and natural light contribute to the feeling of spaciousness in an otherwise small home. Integrated storage and built-in furniture have been designed to maximise the use of space and provide functionality. Cabinetwork is utilised for storage of items, as furniture, as display for personal items and art (like the piano strings found in the laneway), or to create public and private modes of use. The interior palette is an extension of the exterior palette with the added warmth of natural timber. The use of robust and cost-effective materials for the building envelope was intended to create a long lasting and thereby sustainable home. These cost-orientated choices enabled the budget to be directed into quality interior finishes, fixtures and integrated cabinetwork contributing to the aesthetic and functional comfort. The design demonstrates how a small home can be liveable without compromise.

As part of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan, the proposed building has the opportunity to become one of the first project to lead the residential redevelopment. Earthy textures and neutral tones lay the foundation for these well-grounded living spaces. The general layout of the floor plans places all apartments facing north to maximise on northern light. Circulation corridors are positioned away on the south side with louvred windows that allow solar access. Perforated metal screens are used on the facade allowing visibility for residents to enjoy park views whilst letting sunlight into the apartment space. The breathtaking rooftop garden offers a 360 degree view of Perth, including the skyline, river and park.

The Perth DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) is a major shopping complex close to Perth city covering approximately 34,000m². The DFO brand is new to Perth but has a proven track record nationally, attracting shoppers to a range of fashion, food and retail tenancies with various food & beverage options. The design for the Perth DFO draws inspiration from the site’s geographic location and the surrounding natural environment. Ideas of ‘flight’ inform the architecture of the building including aeronautical engineering, man-made flight and the natural flight of the local native Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoo. Linear, bold gestures are generated from plane flight, while organic and lightweight forms evolve from natural bird flight. Externally, this approach renders an architecture of smooth sweeping lines and dark ‘feathered’ facades. The predominantly monotone palette is broken by striking orange elements reminiscent of the Cockatoo’s tail feathers. These elements also serve to delineate and demarcate the building’s form and function. This language translates into structural selections, the ceiling treatments and floor finishes, and assists with internal wayfinding. The parallels between bird and plane flight create a vibrant interface which informs the materiality, textures and patterning of the interior spaces. The sober external skin is punctuated by subtle changes in form and patterning, as well as more dramatic portals and canopies at the primary entrances, each derived from the various metaphors and concepts of flight. The interiors were further inspired by the ‘Golden Age’ of flying in the 1950s and 60s. Sweeping lines and subtle shifts in height envelope seating elements (‘pause pods’) or points of address (customer service desk). These elements are complemented by fabrics and finishes selected to respond to the various precincts within the primary arcades. The exceptional length of the mall space is mitigated by unusually high shopfronts supported by robust vertical steel subframes, integrated with triangular steel-pipe roof trusses. The fabricated roof trusses were rigorously tested during the design and value management phases of the project – and survived the commercial analysis to be realised as an elegant component of the completed building. A special mention to the structural engineers, BGE! The main entrances are the product of external context and internal programming. The ribs featured on the external portals sweep into the building and weave their way through interior spaces as a recurring motif within the malls. Two oculi are located within the food and beverage precinct, one completely internalised, the other on the outer periphery of the building, merging external and internal spaces. Each of the oculi is designed to bring natural lighting and greenery into the building and provide an alternative experience to the internally focussed character and qualities of the retail arcades. The success of the building is due in no small part to a highly collaborative design and delivery process including the client, architects, engineers and builders.

Located at the end of a quaint street, the site on 81 Hastings Street provides a unique opportunity to deliver ocean glimpses while providing sanctuary. Tasked to design a ‘forever house’ for a young family who love to surf and entertain, it was important that the design was flexible, allowing for potential changes in preferred levels of privacy and intimacy. Further rounding off the brief was the client’s interest in surfboarding, skateboards, and street art. The meditatively utilitarian routine of loading, unloading, storing and showering after time at the beach is also central to the planning of this unique residence.

Botanical redefines apartment living in Perth. Connecting the vibrancy of a premier inner city location with the tranquility of a stunning parkland setting. Botanical brings the outside in with an atrium that is bathed in natural light. The louvered roof allows air to circulate through the building interior, creating an internal sense of light, space and calm. On every floor, each apartment is connected with a sky bridge that includes reticulated planter boxes and cascading plants. The highly articulated building form coupled with a distinct material palette results in a positive addition to the streetscape and public realm that subtly references its historical context.

The building is comprised of seven ‘terrace’ houses that overlap each other in an ‘l-shaped’ configuration. Adopting the multiple dwelling plot ratio provisions allowed us to avoid the all-too-common survey strata lots attached to a common driveway. We were able to increase the density of the site whilst maintaining a low-rise building envelope that presented to the street the appearance of only four dwellings. Utilising the above, we were able to treat the site layout in a more flexible manner and could adopt a series of principles that would inform the development of the design; – Cars should not occupy the entire ground plane. – The driveway should offer some form of amenity – Occupants should not be afraid of looking onto the driveway – Cars and people should enter the site at different points – Each dwelling should be provided with a garden on grade – Each dwelling should open fully to the north and south. Each of the dwellings only occupies a small footprint, in essence they are the relative size of apartments, however the aim was to use the spatial configuration and circulation to enhance the perception of space and volume. By providing each with upper and lower floors, there is an increased sense of separation between pieces of program whilst the stepping in the upper floor plate of some of the dwellings creates an added perception of separation between spaces. Whilst the southern elevation adopts a more ‘residential’ and conservative appearance, opening up to the surrounding suburb, the northern elevation is configured solely to address privacy of the occupants. The continuous masonry ‘wall’ is articulated to create enclosures to the ground level courtyards whilst also providing a private balcony to the dwellings with upper floor living. This masonry element provides ample shade and thermal mass to the dwellings and as a result the courtyards each have a wonderful micro-climate to escape the harsh summer heat. The material palette for the building is very simple, being of only painted brickwork and grooved cement board. The intent was to create subtle textural changes that would be emphasised as the sun moved around the building. Deep shadows of the courtyards puncture the northern façade whilst the southern elevation is softened by the addition of natural timber battens that will silver over time. The landscape and gardens have been conceived as the other material across the site. The white building becomes a backdrop to enhance the colours of the varying planting arrangements. The project is intended to test an alternative model of suburban infill, encouraging occupants to appreciate volume and liveability over scale and land ownership. It shows that apartment living does not need to compromise the amenity you are leaving behind with your old house.

Penryn Avenue is a loving homage to the mid-century modernist influences of City Beach. Klopper and Davis Architects have drawn from the context to create a beach home that is warm, textural and responds to the needs of contemporary family life. Sited on a generous 800sqm block, nestled in old City Beach, a classic beachside suburb with views to nearby Bold Park. The design makes the most of its northern aspect, dedicating over half of the block to lush garden and outdoor living. The built form of Penryn Avenue neither dominates nor overwhelms its beautiful block. Nearby homes in this beachside suburbia illustrate the strong housing boom of last century, with many mid-century architectural delights in its midst. Penryn Ave integrates itself into its local context via a modest street presence, articulation of the entry and thoughtful selection of materials and nod to the significance of the suburban garden. The simple design of two floors, bedrooms above and living spaces below, belie the very clear consideration and thoughtful composition that has been incorporated into this project. Signature contrasts between clean and textured materials create interest with a clear nod to the very best of modernist design. Living spaces are bold and generous with walls of glass opening onto grass and pool which fill the internal spaces with Perth’s rich blue sky. The design makes the very best of its environment, with KADA employing passive design principles from the first concept sketch. Glass from head to toe along the northern facade and both floors is carefully considered and takes advantage of the sun’s angles, flooding the living areas with warmth and light during winter months while perfectly positioned eaves offer relief when the overwhelming sun gets higher in summer. Double glazing ensures gained heat is not lost in winter nor gained in summer. Penryn Avenue maintains a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout the year. From pressed tin cladding, textured brick walls and timber framed windows, the material palette is diverse and elegantly arranged into a cohesive composition of warm and human materials. The defining feature of this project is the soaring glulam columns that support the floating roof. These beams are new – but a soaring roof that makes the year-round most of Perth’s lovely sun has become a defining mark of this KADA project. The columns are a bold and striking gesture that draws from its ‘post and beam’ influences and defines the architectural expression. Close consultation with the structural engineer allowed the striking execution of this defining feature of the building. The garden design is the perfect complement to the house, adding shade, softness and playful energy to the outdoor spaces. Striking the right balance between soft- and hardscapes is key in landscape design and here she articulates it so well, offering the client’s two children ample ground for games and activities.

A simple rear addition conceived in the manner of a ‘warehouse’. A large single volume under a skillion roof. Extended along the southern boundary completely open and glazed to the north. A single shift in the orthogonal geometry being a diagonal edge introduced in order to align access with existing house corridor. Reducing in width towards the rear of the yard this balances indoor and outdoor space and in accordance with a sequence of space function requirements. This generates a trapezoidal plan which interacts with the glazed elevation to create a dynamic sloping facade. Requisite shading of glazed northern wall is harnessed to architectural effect. Composed a singular ribbon of zincalume capping. To express an iconic form in the elevation of the facade. Wet areas become interstitial to create a clean break between the existing building and roofline. This is reinforced internally via a corridor compression becoming a tight darkened portal between the spaces before being released into the expanse of living space. A large rugged masonry blade wall also firmly defines the edge of the living areas. Connected to an external entertaining area which edges the yard. The addition presents a bold and monumental form beyond its humble actuality (relatively small scale). Skillful resolution of deviant elements create moments of delight within the form.

Omeo house is designed for a couple, downsizing from a quarter acre block to a terrace sized plot in a new coastal subdivision. The clients wanted something unique and the town planning requirements for the location encouraged ‘landmark design elements’ for the specific site. This prompted us to explore the role a private residence can play in shaping a neighbourhood and how it could build architectural diversity. As the end site to a series of terrace houses, we started by considering the house as an ‘ornamental’ bookend to standard terrace facades. Figuratively, the house takes its shape from the underbelly of the letter ‘O’, a reference to the name Omeo, a ship-wrecked Victorian barque which is visible from the site. The resulting swept form appears like a boat itself. Making virtue of the local design guideline requirements for material difference for lower and upper levels, this form rests above an all timber lower section, much like a boat in dry-dock waiting to be launched. The form above is built almost entirely of brick giving it weight through compositional mass and material and perhaps a somewhat civic quality rather than residential. The bricks are glazed white to the elevations and blue within the reveals, where their natural irregularities create a shimmering, textured façade. The glazed bricks were also a particular choice for a low maintenance facade in an exposed, coastal environment. This horizontal split creates the planning rationale for the building’s internal arrangement: visitors on the ground, residence on top. The living spaces on level one are punctuated by internal courtyards and multiple balconies, broadening the amenity to this building to take full advantage of its location. The main balcony is an indoor-outdoor room with large sliding doors connecting it to the primary living area. Its orientation to the north-west, makes the most of the winter sun while sheltering it from the strong westerly summer breeze and winter storm fronts. The master bedroom maintains this connection to the outside through a private courtyard with a spa and lush greenery.

A new house in a leafy suburb of Perth, which replaces the clients' original home previously on the same block. An existing terraced garden the sole link to what was there before. This forms the focus of the new home, which begins conceptually as a double storey west-facing block with openings strategically located to manage privacy, sun and outlook. At street level, the western elevation is blank with the exception of deep recesses which are carved into the block, providing internal spaces diffused rather than direct light in summer. At the lower garden level, the house opens up to bring the outside in.

Bannister Downs Dairy is a family owned, family run, vertically integrated dairy producer situated in Northcliffe, in the south-west of Western Australia. The company prides itself on quality and its sustainable business model. Their success in the market place has resulted in a radical scaling-up of business and has created the opportunity for a new facility that showcases innovation in dairy production, reflects their ethical milking practises, whilst opening their doors for public viewing and education. The building is a dairy & creamery - a ‘grass-to-gate’ facility, with milking, processing, bottling and packaging all in one location and it is the only planned facility of its kind in the world. The facility houses state-of-the-art robotic milking and other large-scale processing equipment; administration staff and farm workers; café and general function area/space; exhibition gallery and a viewing gallery to all the processing areas. A masterplan based on agrarian planning principles and integrated, just like Bannister Downs. The Masterplan combines three distinct, and very separate groups: cows enter the site from the north; heavy vehicles to the east, and visitors, tourists and workers from the south. The masterplan brings these groups into a common zone - a collection of buildings, service areas and landscapes contained within a soft, pebble-shaped form. The curved masterplan allowed for efficient planning and complex processes to occur within, whilst accommodating planned future expansion. The shape follows the natural contours of the site, limiting the volumetric cut and fill for construction whilst creating a logical drainage system in this wet environment, allowing water runoff from the site in all directions. An identity that services both a family-owned rural operation as well as large scale, state of the art production The main building needed to reflect large scale, state of the art processing whilst retaining a local and rural identity. The building design is consequently split into two distinct addresses: the ‘hard working’ back-of-house (the factory); and the front-of-house (the barn) for visitor experience wrapping around its perimeter. The barn follows the boundary curve, and visually envelops the factory behind. The two functional areas overlap along a public viewing gallery on Level 1, an area made for visitors to experience the full sequence of milk production from milking, processing, and packaging to dispatch.

Mosman Park is a diverse neighbourhood that treads a fine line between the gritty and the riparian. Glyde St, its mini high street has recently been up-zoned by a council trying to accommodate housing density and a more walkable lifestyle for its residents. The recent history of this site in particular was Fernando’s Nursery, a locally famous Spaniard who made up prices on the spot depending on his mood. Our approach was to take these different threads of context and history and weave them into a narrative that acknowledges the past and looks towards the future of the street. 28 dual aspect apartments are intertwined with extensive planting and sit over hospitality tenancies and parklets. A co-working space on the 4th floor invites the community inside while a roof terrace democratically shares the best view with all residents.

Perth Girls School is a magnificent 1930's Art Deco gem perched on high on the hill at the heart of East Perth. Recently re-opened to the public in partnership with Artrage, the Girls School has provided an exciting new dimension to the cultural opportunities with the winter Cinema program and growing role as a Perth Fringe Festival hub. This role will evolve further as the Girls School grows into an exciting new destination complete with additional entertainment, food and retail amenity, ready to support the first onsite residents in a range of exciting apartment living options.

The Exploding! Shed House is an experiment in small footprint in-fill living for modern Perth, whilst referencing a more modest lifestyle of an earlier time. This 1-bed, 1-bath home fulfils the goal of a joyful and simple suburban residence, while respecting its place and location. Greater urban density shouldn’t need to translate to boundary-to-boundary development while ignoring its site and neighbours. The client's brief was simple - A small, affordable home with a yard and an internal 'messy space' for a studio. The contrasting materials used inside and out split the building into weatherboard cottage and corrugated shed-like studio, while the clean white walls and ceiling of the residence give way to the more hand-crafted wood linings of the studio. The house is tied together with a simple, yet durable, concrete floor running throughout the entirety of the home, and the yard is paved with concrete council pavers rescued from a local renovation. The design eschews unnecessary floor area for a backyard, and limits internal walls to allow for open space, natural light, natural ventilation, and views beyond the limits of the house. The mature jacaranda tree anchors the site, and its branches reach over the house to give shade throughout summer. Sliding doors, windows and fans cool the house, and orientation to the North and thermal mass help to heat the house in the winter.

First completed in 1904, His Majesty’s Theatre was the largest of its kind in Australia at the time. The Edwardian Baroque style building (by William G Wolf) was the first reinforced concrete building in Perth and, at time of opening, seated over 2500 people under a retractable dome ceiling. The complex was originally home to a 65-room hotel alongside the Theatre. The building underwent many alterations in the following half century and, following several years with an uncertain future and a public campaign to save it, was bought by the Government of Western Australia in 1977. Around this time the Hotel portion of the building was renovated to provide a home to the West Australian Ballet and West Australian Opera companies, both of which perform regularly in the venue. In 1978 His Majesty’s was entered onto the Register of the National Estate. On 8 April 1994, it was included as an interim entry on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places, before receiving a permanent entry on 16 December 1994. The theatre was named a State Heritage Icon in December 2004. In 2017, Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick Architects were engaged by The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and The Perth Theatre Trust to upgrade the existing front of house facilities, most of which were rather tired 1970’s renovations. The upgrades include the basement level museum bar, ground floor bar and restaurant, box office, first floor dress circle Bar and event space, new commercial grade kitchens/amenities across basement and ground levels and two new connecting stairs between the three levels. The high-level heritage significance of the original building fabric required a design approach that was sensitive to The Maj’s rich history. TRCB worked closely with Griffith’s Heritage Architects early on in the design phase to ensure that as little as possible of the original 1904 building fabric would be impacted and that the only demolition would be of the later additions with limited heritage significance. The original hand-crafted Edwardian Jarrah bar which had previously been relocated to the ground floor was carefully dismantled and reassembled in its new home on the first floor. This sensitivity to the original building has extended to the selection of finishes throughout the three levels. Rich textures, leather finish stone, brass, plush fabrics, solid oak parquet floor and regal colours all work together to complement the existing interiors while maintaining the sense of opulence that The Maj is famous for. Bespoke steel framed glazing and fluted glass shopfronts have been installed along the Hay Street frontage and the original entrance to the box office on the corner of Hay and King has been reinstated to once again address the historic street corner.

Syrinx is a Blue Green Infrastructure Group that brings integrated, smart, value-added solutions to our projects, which cover a wide spectrum of disciplines, scales, types and industries. Our studios are collaborative environments with diverse mixes of engineers, scientists, designers and on-ground implementation experts. We excel at creative, lateral thinking and in turning ideas into practice. We are visionary, strategic and practical. In other words, we are specialists in solving difficult and complex challenges sustainably. [embed]https://youtu.be/KcxWsKtbOLU[/embed]

The clients' brief was to design a home on a 336m² block running East West for a young couple to accommodate their immediate lifestyle needs and their future family. The open plan living area connects directly to the outside living area with an intimate retreat off to one side. The home explores the design intersection of an efficient floorplan, passive solar design principles and local council parameters and regulations. The building's contribution to the street is modest. The palette is a combination of raw textured face brick, white rendered walls and the warm tones of cedar cladding. We prefer our work to be part of the conversation amongst the public to better appreciate architect designed houses – therefore making it more accessible for everyone. The house sits within a historic character protection area, which required an interpretation of a ‘pitched roof’. This requirement resulted in a strong sculptural double storey pitched roof form. Attached to the north side of ‘the barn’ just short of midway, is a single storey box which houses ‘the snug’. This delineates the pool courtyard to the West and carport to the East. One enters the building into a double height void space with burnished concrete floors. The rawness of this slab finish is one of the features throughout the ground floor. The east wall of the brick box continues into the house – part of this is punctured by the concrete stairs and the rest of the wall wraps around the corner to form one side of a narrow corridor. With substantial storage on one side, the corridor links the master bedroom, laundry, winter snug and living areas. Up the stairs are the three bedrooms and bathroom. The kitchen and dining areas open towards the living area and courtyard to the north. The expanse of the main living area is vertically accentuated by the double height internal volume of the barn form. These spaces enjoy good natural light – a concrete awning provides adequate protection from the direct light during the summer and the winter sun warms the floor during colder periods. A small hit-and-miss breeze wall provides privacy to a powder room and entry to the snug. This snug is where parents escape to when the kids are asleep. The playful gestures of the breeze wall carry through on the external portion of the wall with a brick motif reindeer that overlooks the pool and courtyard. Collaboration with the structural engineer achieved an elegant, cost effective design of the concrete canopy that has a generous overhang and span over the sliding doors of the living area. The tender price came back 5% cheaper than the original budget which gave the clients the luxury of adding more cabinet work and other finishes to the interior.

The project site was originally two sites which were amalgamated to invoke a building height bonus in the CBAC zone – which was created by the City of South Perth to promote additional building density around the Canning Bridge Station. Given its proximity to Station (within 380m), Swan River (within 700m), and the CBD (less than 8km away), the design required a solution that was very much driven by the need to achieve a certain density and yield to ensure feasibility. As with all Motus buildings, this yield requirement had to be acceptably balanced against aesthetic and sustainability targets. The circulation spaces on every level are ‘open ended’ to ensure a healthy building through provision of natural light and ventilation. Extensive green spaces – both vertical and horizontal – have been designed with the assistance of Landscape Architect (CAPA) to provide a valuable link with nature. We also integrated communal facilities that include a rooftop terrace overlooking the river and city as well as a ground floor residents workshop and lounge.

The location of City Beach House provides us with a view like no other. Our design approach for the project takes full advantage of the climate conditions and landscape of the site to produce an architectural outcome that makes inside-out living possible. With the functional needs of our clients in mind, City Beach House is a human-centred home design that is simplistic in form but refined in materiality and detail, successfully combining the interior spatial experience with exterior spatiality and views.

Margaret River SHS site is located close to the town precinct, across from the intersection of Bussell Highway and Wallcliffe Road. A well-established existing Campus, the original buildings were constructed in 1953 and the campus was expanded in successive phases. The original master plan follows a ‘courtyard’ pattern incorporating buildings and courtyards, a typical arrangement for this period. Growth throughout the campus has developed in an organic manner, with buildings expanding from the consolidated core of the original campus. While the original additions were linked to existing building’s conforming courtyards in order to follow the original planning intent, preference for detached buildings in recent additions reflect the latest trend in educational and functional planning, resulting in buildings of a dissimilar nature and undermining the clarity of campus original identity. An increase in demographics and school enrolments have brought the need for transportable classrooms dispersed around the site. These structures, in addition to the existing farming sheds, add to the disaggregation of the school, which translates to a multiplicity of temporary structures spread throughout the site. The School’s current capacity is for 650 students in permanent accommodation, however current enrolments are above 1000. The school relies on temporary accommodation with 17 transportable classrooms distributed throughout the site. The proposed stage 1 facility will accommodate 1200 students in permanent accommodation upon completion, including a new Learning Block, a Health and Physical Education Block, a Science and IT Block, as well as additions to the existing Admin and Student Services Block. The new Science Block located on the corner between Bussell Hwy and Wallcliffe Rd, will present a refreshed and contemporary identity for the school. With its geometric cladding patterns inspired by the dappled tree shadows, the new buildings bring a distinctive contemporary character to the site. Despite being located in different areas of the school campus, all new buildings follow a unique alignment with a diagonal axis running through the site connecting the campus with the north-eastern corner of the site. Generous outdoor covered areas will provide ample protection against wet weather, while integrating seamlessly with redeveloped outdoor and skills areas.

The Connect South Project is about creating a positive environment, both economically and socially to support the growth of the South Perth Peninsula and greater region. The project is focused on improved access to transport, improved public amenity and greater economic opportunity. The brief for the foreshore area called for the creation of a Piazza space that would become a key civic space for the community and a gateway to South Perth. It is to be a destination space on the banks of the Swan River that can be seen from Elizabeth Quay and Kings Park and a space that welcomes visitors and commuters to South Perth. The project will provide a range of unique amenities for residents, local businesses and visitors to the City as well as fulfilling the City’s vision for the creation of a revitalised foreshore with high quality spaces to host civic and ceremonial events.

The site was selected as a key urban infill site due to its proximity to Northbridge (within 700m) and the CBD (less than 1.5km away). Tucked away in the low to medium density fringe of the City, the location provides the benefit of a leafy outlook over Stuart Street Reserve. Residents to the building will have at their fingertips a multitude of nearby bars, restaurants and cafes to enjoy. The architecture team has designed with the occupants well-being in mind. Voids that connect the floors vertically provide natural light and ventilation to common areas. Extensive green spaces throughout have been designed with the assistance of Landscape Architect (CAPA) to provide a valuable link with nature.

The suburb’s vernacular is typified by an eclectic mix of federation houses, some remodelled in what is locally known as the ‘European style’ - the result of a largely migrant population modernising older housing stock to meet their requirements. This also brought a form of suburban agriculture to Mt Lawley: vegetable gardens, lean-to’s, drying sheds, incinerators, pizza ovens etc. creating another world of industry and infrastructure to the rear of these blocks and invisible from the street. Remodelling of federation houses became so commonplace in the area, the local Council considered applying a heritage listing to the altered housing stock. While this didn’t eventuate, it presented an interesting idea of the historic and cultural value of these houses that we were compelled to respond to. The Camino House is the outcome of a ‘renovated-renovation’. It preserves the buildings chequered history, embraces its eclectic style and perhaps even amplifies it. We searched for a relevant form for a two-storey extension to the rear of the block. Seen from the street, this form could suggest some tangible association to the backyard. The idea of chimney form, an ‘oast’ presented a familiar figure from the neighbourhood (Lincoln Street Ventilation Stack) and conveyed the aesthetics of a building ‘at work’. It is an industrial motif upgraded for the 21st century, rather than heating or drying, it is naturally ventilating the interiors.

Procure Communications is located within a redeveloped historic building in the heart of Fremantle. The client runs a number of businesses and sought to create a space that would support them in a single setting. To achieve this, the space had to provide staff with a high level of amenity and flexibility whilst working within the constraints of the historic location and textures of the base building. Having been formed by connecting a number of adjacent rooms there is a natural breakup of discrete zones which became the point of response. An open organic planning solution was overlaid with a central work/meeting bench connecting the zones and providing additional storage. The soft end of the work bench lands as an entry marker with a large tree and rug integrated into its end. The integrated planting softens and freshens while a pergola feature with hanging vines and pendant lights provides a tactile and supportive backdrop to the meeting and socialising hub.

FAST FACTS: • 3×2 Main House (+ 2car carport) • 1×1 Studio Apartment with large studio space (+ garage) • East West Inner-City Block • Block size – 416m2 (11.4 x 36.6) • Total floor area main house – 175m2 (Block size 296m2) • Total floor area studio – 80m2 (Block size 120m2) • Over 1,300 visitors during Open House Perth 2019 (November) SUMMARY: A review of the site plan and the client’s needs revealed an opportunity to maximise the site and create two homes. This inner-city urban retreat is a model for the future of inner-city housing. The epitome of “doing less better” the project provides space defying amenity and utility on a tight east west inner city block just a nudge over 400m2. Two light drenched homes providing a multitude of living and working options. One a relaxing pavilion terrace retreat from the corporate banking life for the busy owner and her photographer partner. Clean and crisp living zone seamlessly linked to its northern yard space with purposeful bedroom zones above. Nothing more and nothing less than required. The other is an independent studio with a range of options for secondary working, creative studio space, a home for friends and family, rental income or future sale. The project employs a simple and restrained palette of materials and finishes. A clear design language, subtle variation in form and material placement that respects the urban context and yet achieves a distinctive personality for each. EXPLORATION: Material – • A primary palette of painted brick, timber paneling and iron roof forms to provide a contemporary integration with the materials of the turn of the century neighbourhood; • Whilst the material palette is in part common across both dwellings the placement is varied providing individual personality to each and yet within a common material language; • The monochromatic colour scheme allows a lightness and texture to reflect and provide an abundant sense of light within the dwellings and outdoors spaces; Structural form – • form of the primary street dwelling adopts a steep pitch in response to the heritage guidelines, albeit with contemporary detailing and form as an expression of its modernity; • flat roof form of the rear dwelling provides a more appropriate response to the urban condition of the rear lane streetscape which is an electric mix of functional sheds and other secondary structures; • the variation in roof and wall form between dwellings also allow them to express their own personality and optimise internal solar access to each dwelling; and • the separation and stagger opens up solar access to the private space on the adjoining southern lot which was a critical gesture and response to the neighbour consultation. Urban consolidation – • 3×2 primary pavilion home and 1 bed studio with large additional studio space on a single site; • a multitude of lifestyle, working, creating and investment opportunities; • two integrated but separately accessed and serviced subdividable dwellings; and • addressing investment flexibility and housing affordability through...

The brief called for a functional, low-maintenance home for a professional couple and their dog. The clients enjoyed the vibrancy of the area, but also had a need for privacy and a sense of sanctuary. As fans of Japanese simplicity, they wanted every space to offer multiple uses and ample inbuilt storage. It was important that circulation was efficient, so areas of the home that cost a lot but don’t give much back – such as hallways – were kept to a minimum. Custom-made furniture was also incorporated into the design where possible. A guest bedroom and bathroom is provided on the ground floor, along with a street-facing office for client access. The living areas and main bedroom are located on the upper floor, and feel as if they’re floating above the street.

Affectionately known as the Banjup Rec Centre, our main brief was really to create a true forever house on a semi-rural bush block where our clients Chris & Michelle could enjoy some space, entertain and let their three young boys run an absolute muck! Our first conversation with Chris was heavily based around a go-cart track and a shed. It was also the first thing we designed, basically out of sheer excitement of designing a go cart track. The house momentarily took backstage while we discussed grandstands, footy posts, and an indoor basketball court! As with all of our projects, the goal posts moved a little both figuratively and literally once we started designing the actually home. This was to be Chris & Michelle’s forever home and a place they could see out the next 30 to 40 years. It’s a real privilege to be involved in these projects especially with trusting clients that could truly appreciate the value of engaging an architect. The house pivots around an outdoor activity space. It’s not a defined space, it’s rather generous in size and loose with boundaries but it’s the there. It encourages an interaction between the overlooking spaces whether it’s when if greets you at the entry and invites you in, or it’s from the elevated kitchen looking out, or the dining space spilling out. Maybe it’s the pool or the barbeque and bar, all of these areas interact directly with an outdoor core and encourage well, being outdoors. This setting along with the northerly aspect and views across the bushland also draw you out to the scrub. The house invites you to leave it and get outside and explore, but with its simple passive solar traits it draws you back in out of the blistering black sandy heat or the intermittent downpours. Chris noted just the other day they they’d only used the fireplace twice over winter and it was out of sheer novelty factor and had only used the reverse cycle system to test it. Other than all the sporting options available (which only grew along the way) the materials and design had two blatant overtones; invincibility and serenity. The house is built Tonka Tough. The raw rammed earth walls can take a hit and if they mark, you’ll never notice. Flawless delicate finishes are not for boys, concrete floors, black granite tops, exposed steel and low maintenance is what’s needed. It’s a raw aesthetic that works really well and the textural walls and timber tones soften the spaces. The serenity comes via distance. Physically located in a separate wing Chris & Michelle have a space they can call their own compete with a private courtyard outside the shower for a little slice of tranquillity. Again, the option is there to spill out to that outdoors core and at least keep an eye on the action if needed. For the in-laws, there is a guest wing separated from the house via a breezeway. It’s the only space orientated away...

Three dwellings intertwined into a collective whole explores stealth density in the suburbs. The project responds to. missing middle typologies of housing sitting between single residential housing ad apartment blocks. The ‘Gen Y’ Demonstration House has been accredited with a ‘gold medal’ level life cycle analysis by Etool, meets the principles of the ‘One Planet Living’ sustainability framework, and has been designed to meet the essential requirements of the ‘Livable Homes’ accessibility standards.

‘King George’ is a historic jewel in East Fremantle’s hip George Street that has been converted into a truly modern house for a young family. Careful alterations to the Grade-A State-listed heritage cottage were combined with a starkly contemporary extension to provide an eye-catching, adaptable home. With a mixed-use zoning, the home incorporates a self-contained office and a bedroom that can be leased out. The owners also opted to forego a traditional dining room in favour of a more flexible kitchen and casual eating area; it made sense to allocate more of the limited space to areas the family would use every day. We achieved versatility through the design of a kitchen-island bench that is a prep space and breakfast bar generally, but can act as a dining table for six when moved next to the window seat. The inbuilt courtyard seating is an extension of the garage floor slab; this same flowing concrete form then drives upward to form a BBQ benchtop. A table can be moved into this courtyard nook to allow a group to dine outdoors.

This home explores interconnected spaces, materials and volumes. A young family with interconnecting lives set a brief for a robust family home. Large open living spaces, connection to outdoor areas as well as private living and playing spaces are all elements of an intricate brief. The clients’ material preferences were complex and somewhat inconsistent – a building form developed that celebrated the two directions in a single composition. A significant home with 200m² of basement and 400m² of living with complex state-of-the art home automation, pools, spas and glazed pool windows has been achieved for a rate more consistent with a simpler two storey build, representing excellent value for money. A strong curved form of stone creates arcs through the home, opening up to the street to form an entry and to the rear to access the backyard, swelling in the centre to conceal the machine of the house. Small bridges penetrate through this thin skin to provide access to the servicing side. Partnered with this curve is a massive off form concrete box which floats over the living spaces providing an eave to the North glass and forming a contemporary veranda. This rectilinear form contrast the soft curve and strengthens the impact of both the curve and the floating box through their interrelationship. A third architectural component houses spaces that a shared by the clients (master bedroom and suite, study and family room). The adoption of a stylised domestic roof form is designed to marry more consistently with the architectural language of the street and the context. This residential form is broken down as the roof cladding cascades over the front of the home to conceal garaging. The external spaces make use of the significant falls of the site. The pool forms its own pool fence and has been celebrated through a pool window which transforms the subsurface nature of a pool into a picture window. The front courtyard is raised from the street and open. This outdoor space, coupled with the family room behind, creates a connection with the community which was a critical brief item. The first floor and ground floor are connected by a vertical void space which allows informal interaction from upstairs to downstairs, creating a generous void space to the entry which explores the tension between the soft curve and the mass concrete box in the third dimension. Light is controlled to the North to passively permit winter sun and excluded summer light. The East and West glazed walls are protected by automated external blinds. Automated louvers to the south west are partnered with high level automated windows to allow natural ventilation of the home. The landscape design and structural engineering contribute to the composition of the building. The concrete box was conceived to float over the living spaces, emphasising the contrast between its mass and the light touching to the ground. The landscaping creates a series of external rooms using mass planting and screening which continues the theme of interconnected spaces and volumes.

Sitting on a street of white rendered, pitched roof suburban houses, this project couldn’t be more different, its architecture proudly referencing South Beach’s industrial heritage and providing its owners with a robust and generous ‘warehouse for living’. More than simply a gesture to the site’s history, however, the house’s form and materials respond to an ambitious brief that called for a large home on a deep, narrow block for a family with teenage children. Working closely with client, engineers and builder, we developed an architectural approach that created simple, robust spaces that avoid the use of expensive materials. Using a saw-tooth typology that was once common to the area, rooms are filled with light and air, their materials and finishes tough but not without domestic comfort.