Western Australia
When purchasing an existing 1960’s brick house just up the hill from South Cottesloe beach, our clients knew that they wanted to renovate rather than demolish and start again. This strategy was pragmatic, as construction costs were reduced, and sustainable, with existing floors and structural walls retained instead of being demolished. Our challenge was to transform the house, creating a three-storey contemporary coastal home on the bones of a tired beige brick ‘renovators delight’.
Built on a long, narrow north-south lot, the house now opens towards small gardens along its length and to the rear, achieving maximum natural light and ventilation where it was previously dark and inward facing. In the place of a previous tiled roof, a series of shifting roof planes float over the house, gathering up the house and landscape within a matt grey cladding that contrasts with bagged brick walls and granite paving.
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.
