White House | Spaceagency

White–House explores the enduring image and value of the ‘white painted timber cottage’ and seeks to construct a contemporary interpretation that riffs on the detail, material and cultural associations.

The Carnac St precinct, South Fremantle, is typified by the collective aesthetic of small timber and iron workers cottages that characterise the streetscape.

The existing weatherboard cottage, C1899, registered on the Municipal Heritage List for contribution to the streetscape. The verandah and front two rooms of the cottage are retained and restored, presenting as foreground to the streetscape with the rear extension set well back.

The north aspect is welcomed into indoor outdoor/living areas, extending the sense of space and easy connection to the garden, alfresco terrace and swimming pool, generous and flexible spaces that can evolve with the family as their needs change.

The project emphasises preservation, functionality, and sustainable design that contribute to the legacy of the site.

Warders’ Cottages Block W2 | Matthew Crawford Architects

The Warders’ Block W2 was built in 1853 in the Victorian Georgian style as the second of three rows of terrace houses designed to house the Warders serving at the Fremantle Prison. The Warders’ Cottages represent places of significant cultural heritage and are registered on the National Heritage List. They are associated with the development of the Convict Establishment, a precinct that links the Fremantle Prison World Heritage site.

The challenge facing any adaptive re-use of such sensitive heritage is to ensure that not only does the fabric get retained but that the essence of the building is not lost. We therefore aimed to create an immersive heritage experience where patrons are well aware that they have just entered into a building from 1853 but added luxury elements to make it suitable for today’s demands and a rear elevated walkway for universal access.

W Residence | John Murphy Architect

Located on a gently sloping, north facing site the home is designed to interact with and enjoy the
outlook over the adjoining park. W Residence brings joy to the owners and is highly customised to suit
their specific needs.
The home is a combination of close collaboration with the clients and respect for the surrounding
“Garden suburb”context of Coolbinia. Garden views are present from almost every corner of the
home. Landscape is integrated via courtyards, internal planters and green roofs. Courtyards allow
both ventilation and the warmth of winter sun to penetrate the home & seamless indoor/outdoor
flow.
The design pays respect to the Modernist legacy and Garden Suburb Movement principles of the
original town planning scheme, whilst fulfilling the clients wishes for an urban sanctuary – allowing
for individual spaces or communal living as desired. Biophillic & sustainable design with robust
and natural materials enhances the overall sense of calm.

Vijayasekaran Residence | Klopper & Davis Architects

Framed by undulating hills and nestled amongst the Australian flora of Eagle Bay, Vijayasekaran Residence emerges as an architectural testament to serene coastal living. The project is an ode to tranquility, privacy, and resilience, fostering a seamless transition between the home’s interior spaces and the natural environment. The design preserves the large, sloping site’s inherent beauty, imparting the clients with a living experience that is sheltered, yet expansively open to the elements.

Victoria House | MJA Studio and FINESPUN Architecture and PLACE Laboratory with Palassis

This project at Victoria House involves significant Restoration, Alteration and Addition to a State Heritage asset designed by AE Clare in order to adapt it into a true mixed–use development with a long future ahead.
Originally constructed in 1938, Victoria House carries the heritage legacy for the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital site and has been designed as the centrepiece of the Montario Quarter redevelopment. The retention of Victoria House enables the public to engage with the building with modern adaptations providing for hospitality and health uses.
Careful study of the materiality of Victoria House directed the Project team to develop a material palette for the new buildings that was sympathetic and a built form which is referential so that they can exist comfortably in polite conversation.
Victoria House is a clear example of the benefit of collaborators and clients working with shared vision, principles and passion towards an exemplary outcome.

Van Wyk Residence | Klopper & Davis Architects

Located on the family-friendly Griver St, Van Wyk Residence is a two-storey home for a young couple and their children. It features a simple, yet site-sensitive design nestled amongst the mature Peppermint trees & wide, grassy verges of Cottesloe. The home is a light drenched sanctuary, a space where family connect, where long lunches spill out into the garden, where the kids play, mess and create. Inspired by memories of white-washed barns in the South African winelands, a white, two-storey brick gable runs East/West along the southern boundary containing the majority of the accommodation, with a secondary dark single-storey pavilion sitting along the north. Between, a glass box connection divides the outdoor areas in two; a generous backyard & alfresco to the rear and a lush, pool deck to the street.

Treetop House | Whitehaus

Treetop House delivers a unique family home for a family of six in Subiaco. The brief was to keep as much garden as possible to ensure space for four active kids and provide a robust passive solar house for the future. The south facing addition provided challenges for getting in northern light into the garden and the house and this was achieved through a double gable roof style and north facing windows cut into the living and kitchen areas. To conform to the height limits without compromising the quality of the resulting spaces, we included raked ceilings in the new upper–level bedrooms. These have a fantastic cubby–like feel, thanks to their outlook into the established garden’s generous tree canopy.Our clients were extremely pleased with the resulting design and made statements to the fact that they could never have imagined achieving a result of this quality and delight.

Tomich House | Mark Jeavons Architect with Ohlo Studio

Completed in 1971, Tomich House stands as one of Iwan Iwanoff’s most distinctive houses. However, multiple alterations and a three–level extension in 1986 deviated from the architect’s original vision resulting in compromised planning and gradual disrepair.

Guided by thorough research into Iwanoff’s oeuvre, a comprehensive restoration and adaptation was undertaken. Revitalisation of the original character of the house was achieved through thoughtful re–planning and the use of finishes and detailing sympathetic to Iwanoff’s original design. Sustainability was prioritized through innovative approaches that seamlessly integrate new technologies while restoring and uncovering heritage architectural fabric.

The Tomich House renovation stands as a contemporary ode to Iwanoff’s architectural legacy by achieving a harmonious fusion of old and new, while preserving the essence of his original design and adapting it to modern living.

TL Robertson Library Refurbishment | Hames Sharley and Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects in Association

Originally constructed in 1972, the brutalist TL Robertson Library is Curtin University’s largest and most historic building. Its refurbishment sought to redefine the purpose of the campus library, shifting away from preserving books towards prioritising social connection and a sense of community.

The library’s collection of books was consolidated and relocated to a high-density compactus system, freeing up space to accommodate a spectrum of learning settings; from social learning on the lower floors to silent study areas on the upper floors. The relocation of services enabled the addition of a new seventh level, with an event space that allows the library to host functions with up to 200 guests.

The previously enclosed building has been redefined to enhance its permeability and accessibility, with more legible entries, open floor plates and light-filled spaces, positioning the library as a beacon at the heart of the campus.

The Old Corner Store Subiaco | Paul Hofman Architect

Built circa 1922, 142 Hensman Road (formally 120 Nicholson Road) Subiaco was originally a two room butcher’s shop. From 1925 to the late 1970’s it operated as general store. It was heritage listed by the City of Subiaco in 2015, being one of only five surviving examples of interwar corner stores in the precinct.

The property was in very poor condition when the client, a niche perfumer, took ownership in 2020. Her vision was to develop an atelier with residence.

Approval was granted to restore the building, reconfigure the existing accommodation and reactivate the commercial space. New living and creative studio spaces were added, wrapped around a northern courtyard and aromatic garden, and the bull nosed veranda was reinstated.

This restored and sensitively developed property now sits comfortably within the secondary village hub on Nicholson Road, much to the delight of local residents.