Western Australia
The landscape setting is wild and has a muscular, visceral quality. The home needed to maximise the view and its connection within the monumental landscape.
Small simple buildings are carefully grouped together: a simple gable form for the accommodation; separate flat-roofed pavilion for the carport, and a large water tank. Corrugated steel forms both walls and roofs, with Colorbond Woodland Grey chosen to visually recede within the bushland setting.
The home’s concrete, corrugated steel, timber and stone recalls the vernacular context of Bremer Bay and creates a low maintenance home within a Zen-like gravel and rock garden. The raised concrete podium allows the home to be defined as separate from the surrounding landscape and deters snakes.
Taking a passive, self-sufficient approach to services and sustainability, the house features solar PV cells, electric hot water system, on-site grey and black water processing, on-site composting and an EV charging point.
Coming from a family with a long connection to the sea, Native Dog Cabin realises a lifetime dream of having a place overlooking the ocean. The design is relaxed and peaceful, and makes the most of the great view of the ocean from every room in the home. The natural materials used throughout the home really help to connect back to the surrounding landscape. There’s plenty of light, and the home captures the sea breezes beautifully. It’s a wonderful place to escape to – when I’m there, I can really detach and unwind.
Brian Gibson Vega, Graduate of Architecture
Joe Chindarsi, Design Architect
Matt Wellinger, Graduate of Architecture
35 Degrees South, Land Surveyor
Bio Diverse Solutions, Bushfire Consultant
Deep South Civil Contracting, Civil and Geotechnical Engineer
Engenuity Engineering, Structural Engineer
Modus Compliance Pty LTd, Building Surveyor (Certificate of Design Compliance)
Modus Compliance Pty Ltd, ESD Consultant
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.
