Our clients commissioned a new home for their family of four – including two young children – with an emphasis on interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces for everyday activities, and hosting and entertaining family and friends.

Located opposite a nature reserve, they wanted to embed the home into a richly textured garden, taking advantage of the outlook across the reserve and lake, while achieving a sense of privacy and security.

Given the east-west orientation of the block, we sited the home along the long southern boundary to maximise northern exposure.

The design explores the interplay of thresholds and transitions across a series of three ‘pulled apart’ masonry pavilions. Each pavilion has its own unique character, thanks to changing volumes, heights and materials, and they are strung together interstitial spaces that open up to ‘outdoor rooms’ and gardens.

The pavilion closest to the street contains bedrooms and bathrooms over two levels, crowned by a roof terrace. The central pavilion places the kitchen at the heart of the home, and the rear pavilion combines the garage with an upper-level adult’s retreat and gym, as well as a ground floor children’s play space.

While the exteriors are deliberately monolithic and spartan in character, the interiors – designed in conjunction with Katherine Samantha Studio – add texture and warmth through detail and layering. Natural materials such as rich timber veneers and Donnybrook stone create homely and comfortable spaces, and provide a robust backdrop for family life.

The northern façade steps in-and-out in keeping with each room’s function, so that social areas open to generous outdoor terraces, and private bedrooms connect to a narrower atrium space.

The extensive garden – designed by Jem Hanbury – follows a similar design philosophy to the house, whereby each section has its own distinct character. Gardens unfold as a sensory journey around and through the home, from the native verges on the street, to the diverse, exotic northern garden and natural pool, and the more arid roof gardens.

These planted roof spaces increase the green plot ratio across the site, and ensure there are no metal roofs visible from the uppermost point: a rooftop deck that offers 360-degree views across the neighbourhood and park.

The house is very comfortable thermally thanks to the considered integration of passive design principles and high thermal mass materials. Recycled brickwork and face brickwork for the walls combine with polished concrete and Donnybrook stone paving floors, to keep internal spaces passively cool throughout summer.

External perforated brick screens offer reprieve from Perth’s harsh light; these openings exclude summer sun while allowing winter warmth to enter.

The roof gardens create an insulating earth layer above the living spaces. These work in concert with double-glazed, timber-framed windows to deliver stable indoor temperatures across the course of each day and changing seasons, without the need for air conditioning or ceiling fans. The house achieved an 8.4-star NatHERS rating.

Details

Status: Completed 2025

Project Type: Homes – New House

Client:   Private

Materials: Recycled brick, bagged brick, off-form concrete, timber, Donnybrook stone

CREDITS:

Architecture – MDC Architects

Interiors – Katherine Samantha Studio

Construction – RK Brine

Landscape Design – Jem Hanbury Studio

Natural Pool – Think Green Waterscapes

Photographer – Lajos Varga