A compact 234m2 site in the inner-city suburb of Maylands, Perth, was a design dream for architect Orlando Catenacci of X-space Architects.
“Architecturally, working on the home was fun and quite possibly one of the most enjoyable projects I’ve worked on to date,” he explains. “The site itself presented some obvious challenges as it was small, an odd shape and sloped aggressively, but I was able to use these site challenges to my advantage and spark some unique design decisions.”
As the owner/architect and builder of the home, Orlando set out to create a spacious home that would embrace the quirks of the angular block, while also packing a punch to the streetscape.
“I wanted the home to feel alive and fresh, whilst still having a sense of opulence,” he says.
The contrasting dark and light levels place emphasis on the materials and geometric angles of the home. The white upper level gracefully floats over the chocolate brickwork on the lower level, while the eye-catching cantilevering feature evokes a sense of luxury.
“The upper level of the home was designed to have a hotel inspired, penthouse vibe,” says Orlando. “The large cantilevering overhanging elements also created some interesting protected spaces below.”
The home sits harmoniously in its parkland and waterway surrounds, taking advantage of the natural and built-up views views. The upper level holds the main living and entertaining areas, with windows strategically placed to capture the Perth skyline and change of seasons. One of Orlando’s stand out features is a window carefully positioned to frame the Perth city. Externally, all the windows on the upper level are celebrated through an extruded steel box.
Having not only executed the design of the home, Orlando committed to also building the home as an owner–builder, overseeing every fine detail from start to finish.
“This was another challenge I set myself, which was very much a trial run to see if I had what it takes to go onto become a registered builder someday,” he says. “Dealing with tradesman as a builder as opposed to being an architect, was certainly a different experience and I now have an increased amount of respect for builders and what they endure daily.”
X-space Architects
Xspacearchitects.com
Photography by Dion Robeson
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Smeg appliances
Masson Triangle pendant in dining room
Masson Roman pendant in kitchen
Sofa from Nick Scali
Dining chairs from District
Rug from West Elm
David Moreland Framed chair from District.
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“The upper level of the home was designed to have a hotel inspired, penthouse vibe,” says Orlando. “The large cantilevering overhanging elements also created some interesting protected spaces below.”
The home sits harmoniously in its parkland and waterway surrounds, taking advantage of the natural and built-up views views. The upper level holds the main living and entertaining areas, with windows strategically placed to capture the Perth skyline and change of seasons. One of Orlando’s stand out features is a window carefully positioned to frame the Perth city. Externally, all the windows on the upper level are celebrated through an extruded steel box.
Having not only executed the design of the home, Orlando committed to also building the home as an owner–builder, overseeing every fine detail from start to finish.
“This was another challenge I set myself, which was very much a trial run to see if I had what it takes to go onto become a registered builder someday,” he says. “Dealing with tradesman as a builder as opposed to being an architect, was certainly a different experience and I now have an increased amount of respect for builders and what they endure daily.”
X-space Architects
Xspacearchitects.com
Photography by Dion Robeson
Dissection Information
Smeg appliances
Masson Triangle pendant in dining room
Masson Roman pendant in kitchen
Sofa from Nick Scali
Dining chairs from District
Rug from West Elm
David Moreland Framed chair from District.
We think you might also like State Of Kin: Encouraging Perth’s appetite for incredible designabc 
Designed by Koichi Futatusmata and Yasushi Arikawa of Fukuoka-based Case-Real, the structure sits on 471 metres-squared of a total 1685 metres-squared site area and includes a kitchen, restaurant and public kitchen open for community use. The initial client brief included a request to take the breathtaking ocean view into consideration in the architecture, including a request for “light architecture”, utilising steel as a more transparent component in the design.
The one-story steel frame structure is comprised of two interconnected spaces parallel to one another, both with with double-arched roofs. Case-Real architects explain, “The terrace portion of the roof uses an opaque white wave plate with a permeability that conjures a feeling of openness, and natural sunlight pouring through the roofs of both arches creates differing atmospheres in the indoor and outdoor spaces.”
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With many objectives at play, Dina looked to one of the founding fathers of modernism to inform her vision. “The home was inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s long-standing architectural principles of extreme clarity and simplicity,” tells Dina. Similarly, reductionist thinking echoes throughout the home. Concrete, steel and glass are the primary materials while a simple palette of walnut, white and black meet the brief of timeless and minimal interiors.
The home goes to great lengths to achieve the simplicity trumpeted by the German-American architect. For an aesthetic free of ornament, audio conduits, curtain tracks, glazing and pivot door requirements were all recessed into the concrete slab of the extension before it was poured.
Conscious of the building’s heritage, a delicate dance between restoring the old and embracing the new abounds in the home, with stunning results. The Hawthorn brick façade in the heritage home – uncovered and brought back to life during the project – become a backdrop in the extension, adding texture and warmth to the modern rooms.
The second floor’s steel mirror cladding was chosen for its now you see it, now you don’t appeal, its reflections merging the new build with the natural surrounds. “The new should be ideal 21st-century living but [should also be] almost invisible on the site,” explains Dina.
While the design may retain a sympathetic outlook to its foundations, Dina’s home is far from traditional – just take the bedroom in the upstairs apartment. The multipurpose space throws out the rulebook entirely, its glazed glass walls evading the stuffy boxed-in feel that usually hinders small rooms.
A glamorous yet relaxed space, the open-plan library, kitchen and sunken lounge is the heart of the home. Here, the family eat, relax and share stories. It is the ultimate gathering place, just as Dina planned.
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Designed by architecture practice Square Design, Decus Interiors were co-opted onto the design team once construction had begun. As the project evolved, so did their involvement, and ultimately the team took on a significant portion of the design scope which included the design evolution of the kitchen, bathrooms and joinery.
“Dan Cliff from Square Design really considered the volumes of the spaces and how light enters the home through highlight windows,” continues Alexandra. “Maintaining a sense of free-flowing space throughout was of utmost importance to a very sociable client couple who wanted an ‘un-beachy’ beach house. We endeavoured to balance the open sense with a rich, textural palette, adding cosy nooks and a few little hidden gems of space.”
The result is a richly evocative interior scheme that draws in colour and texture from the surrounding natural environs. The house’s luxury factor is further amped up by a palette of lush finishes which include dark timbers, black steel paneling, marble and the integration of leather and hand blown glass. “We also deployed little details to keep a clean and uncluttered look, such as the stone upstand in the kitchen, which hides ample storage,” adds Alexandra. “This is then balanced by softer lighter elements seen in the wall colour, stone and flooring - and of course - the ample natural light.”
Standouts rooms with the modern Australian beach house include the “the bijoux powder room,” – a favourite of the designers for its “rich tones and incredible visual texture of Breccia Nera stone,” which is layered on a bespoke vanity unit. “The entry to the room is a hidden door set within the library joinery – it’s a beautiful surprise,” adds Alexandra. Another unexpected design element includes the use of custom sliding panels made from electro-plated custom bronze mesh which conceal the library adjoining the living area and all the AV equipment – further evidence of Decus Interior’s commitment to their clients’ distinctive brief and personal vision.
Ultimately, this house balances the vast, striking majesty of an exceptional geographic location with a rich interior that showcases the clients treasured vintage pieces and passion for antiques – with great sophistication.
Decus Interiors
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Although their design offering still very much embodies a light-hearted, playful approach, in the years since foundation (2014) their approach to business and design has auto-refined.
First of all, their work has remained far from superfluous. On the contrary, it’s very much based on functionality and need. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” says Will, rather poignantly. “We call our products life tools; tools that will be around forever and not fade with the trends. Our products are fun and help people live a better life.” And while they may seem niche to some, a global market allows the team to reach the world. As Will points out, an online market means they’re not bound by their base.
The running of the business is another way in which the company has matured. In the beginning George & Willy may have run more or less as a 24/7 operation – that’s often what it takes to get a passion project off the ground. That can be exhilarating, but also stressful. In recent years, the founders have been able to hire staff to distribute the load – both mental and physical. Now everyone has set hours, and they stick to them.
What that definitely doesn’t mean, though, is that the workshop is off limits for personal use. “The team at work obviously have free reign over the workshop and are encouraged to have personal projects going all the time,” says Will. “It’s a fun space.”
And it seems that not only do the team have a personal connection with the pieces they are designing, manufacturing and sending out to the world, but they also have a strong personal connection to one another – like a family. The whole crew got together for the renovation of Will’s house, also in Mount Maunganui. Everything from the laundry basket to the couch to the letterbox outside was made from scratch.
George & Willy are a small, tight-knit community of five that live and breathe design. But watch this space, it’s a growing community.
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The façade for example – incorporating the main entrance – faces onto a laneway that provides access to a garage, above which are a series of stepped terraces and balconies. A set of steps leads to a foyer lined with a trellis that opens into an open-plan living space occupying most of the ground floor.
The lounge and dining space are arranged around the double-height courtyard, which is flanked on one side by the trellis. Creepers and climbing plants help to shade the interior from direct sunlight, while the full-height retractable glazing ensures an uninterrupted connection with the outdoor space.
The courtyard is topped with a circular opening that allows natural light to filter down. A matching circular window overlooks the garden from the master bedroom above. The main lounge space on the ground floor is connected by a set of louvred wooden doors to a large enclosed terrace with built-in concrete planters.
Also on this level is a shrine based on the Shikhara – a pyramid-like structure found in some Hindu temples. The shrine is positioned at the base of a triple-height void that allows daylight to flood into the heart of the building.
Stairs ascend from the dining area to a family room occupying the first-floor landing, which is surrounded by three en-suite bedrooms. The master bedroom features sliding glass doors that open onto a private balcony sheltered beneath a cantilevered roof. Plants spill over from the edge of the balcony to overhang the terrace below.
The stairs continue from the family area to a second floor accommodating a further two bedrooms. Fitted timber joinery throughout the rooms offers a warm contrast to the stone flooring and rough, plastered walls.
Ultimately, Jungalow House is a stunning example of how inner-city living does not have to meet a disconnect with the vitally important natural world.
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