Sonny’s: Design Theory
Nestled within tall tuart trees off a bustling strip, Sonny’s, with its articulately curated wine list, is Mount Hawthorn’s newest neighbourhood bar brought forth by passionate hospitality veterans Jess and Aaron, crafted by Design Theory.
His Majesty’s Theatre – Balcony reconstruction: Griffiths Architects
Located in Perth’s west end on Hay Street, His Majesty’s Theatre’s immediate context includes many former showrooms and offices from the early twentieth century. Like almost all Perth buildings, the theatre balconies were removed via a 1947 Act of Parliament enforced in 1953 and replaced with a simple awning, in common with many Perth and Fremantle buildings. In a touch of irony, COVID-19 recovery funds made the reconstruction of the balconies by Griffiths Architects possible, and they opened with huge fanfare in February 2023.
Clifton and Central: MJA Studio
Formerly a quintessential Australian icon, the corner store deli has regrettably given way to the expansive reach of supermarkets and servos in recent times. The deli has always symbolised more than convenience for locals. Across the suburbs, they have seemingly embedded themselves within our streets, generating activity and serving as vibrant meeting spots where residents and neighbours alike can socialise and interact with the wider community. Clifton and Central by MJA Studio with CAPA Studio is a boutique mixed-use development in Mt Lawley on an old corner store site.
Deepwater House: AHA Studio
Deepwater House by AHA Studio references the nearby location at which the Djarlgarra /Canning River is at its deepest; but it is perhaps better understood as a metaphor of an architecture borne from a deeper critical engagement with its place among Perth’s Swan Coastal Plain.
Modern Gothic: The architecture of Iwan Iwanoff
Born in Bulgaria in 1919, Iwan Iwanoff graduated with a degree in architecture and engineering from Munich University in 1946 and emigrated to Perth in 1950. Initially working in Perth for Krantz and Sheldon architects, and Yuncken Freeman Architects in Melbourne, he set up his own Perth practice in 1961. A fellowship from the Australian Institute of Architects was awarded in 1972, and he was the recipient of several international design awards for residential houses during the 1970s. Iwan passed away in 1986.
Tanoa: vittinoAshe Architects
Originally one half of a duplex built in the 1960s, Tanoa was lovingly restored in the early 2000s by local architect, Gerard McCann. With the ever-increasing demands of a family with teenagers, the current occupants simply required more space in which to grow. vittinoAshe were approached to respect as much of the existing residence as possible, while adding new spaces for the family to be both together and apart.
Two good rooms
We aim to design at least one good room in a house – the living room, the one we spend our waking hours in, the one we live in. The best living rooms are also directly connected to a garden which provides fresh air, sunshine, warmth, a connection to nature, as well as another space to live in, a second living room – just outside.
Farrier Lane House: MDC Architects
Farrier Lane House stands as an exemplary model for affordable, sustainable, and well-designed homes. This abode is more than just a personal residence for architect Matt Delroy-Carr, the director of MDC Architects; it’s a manifesto, a challenge to the norms, and a tangible illustration of what he believes good architecture should symbolise.
Architect at work: Kate Hislop
When we think about architects at work, we often jump back to the idea of the drawing board, the mechanical pencil, or 3D modelling and rendering on a screen. However, it’s important to remember that at its very core, architecture is about problem solving, which often takes an unexpected form.
Bassendean Hotel: Woods Bagot
It is a truth universally acknowledged that nothing brings a community together quite like the local pub. A hub for gatherings and haven for hedonists, the local pub acts as the neighbourhood nucleus, and as such, should look like it too. The town of Bassendean is layered in heritage and hums with the history of a bygone era. And so, one would expect exactly that of the newly renovated Bassendean Hotel. After ninety years of continuous trade, the Basso (as it is known colloquially) ensured that Woods Bagot had their work cut out for them.
