Western Australia
27 Rule Street is conceived as a place connected to ground, street, garden and longer views, unusually public with carefully considered privacy. An upside-down house on a sloping site, the split level presents a modest street presentation and offers the public glimpses right through the house of the spectacular outlook afforded by its location and elevation.
Providing spatial equity between house and garden, and ample deep soil areas through a compact footprint, it demonstrates that exploiting the natural topography of the site allows for sweeping vistas to be enjoyed while respecting streetscape and not compromising privacy of adjoining properties.
Inspired by the upside-down beach house typology, 27 Rule Street purposefully engages with both the neighbourhood streetscape and the expansive view beyond.
Architects Officer Woods’ intuitive design approach to the site and context has resulted in a modest, yet impactful architectural statement that is executed with technical refinement. Working intuitively with the sloping site, the architecture offers a big gesture to the neighbourhood by sharing a vista through the house to the view. Although compact and deceptively simple, the floor plan features a fluidity and structure that balances social interactions with the community on verge-side without compromising the privacy of its inhabitants.
Integrity is at the heart of the project. The architecture effortlessly integrates principles of aging in place, passive sustainability, and the use of robust, high performing and authentic materials. Quietly enriching the lives of those who engage with it, 27 Rule Street represents timeless minimalism, with considered investment in all the right places.
The first thought that comes to mind is that the design works for us. It is a joy to live in a house that aesthetically is exciting to look at, and functionally so enjoyable to use. We set out to build a well-performing house in contemporary style with sustainable solutions and Australian materials. We also envisaged simplicity, balanced openness and upside-down living to allow for street interaction as well as ocean views. All these priorities have been met and the clever and original use of space and easy flow between in and outside throughout the house has exceeded our expectation.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
