The kitchen is articulated with restraint; American oak cabinetry
is darkened with black japan stain, offering a subtle tactility, while
a fine, white engineered stone benchtop and vertical subway tiling
provide a refined and contemporary feel. The living area offers a
generous vertical volume to the roof ridge, while the perforated
brick screen casts ephemeral patterns across the double-height wall
throughout the day.
Vehicle access is via a rear right-of-way and a double carpark is
provided in a carport to the east. A roller door conceals a plywood-
lined “man cave” with a robust workbench and ample storage for
tools, fishing gear and five bikes. A playful, china blue entry door
leads occupants to the southern “mudroom,” a place of coming and
going, for hats, coats, shoes, helmets, bags and umbrellas.
Local remilled jarrah treads and risers gently sheath the central
stair, ascending to the centre of the house: a bright and welcoming
office space. Despite the small footprint of the house, privacy is
maintained through the upper level by locating the three bedrooms
in the corners of the floor plate with no shared walls. The raked
roofline creates a sense of spatial compression in the bedrooms,
crafting intimate, attic-like rooms.
Although the home has no “special” view, windows are stra-
tegically sized and positioned to edit glimpses of native trees and
nearby rooftops and to draw in natural light. Three operable sky-
lights to the south provide diffused light and effective cooling,
while all operable windows are louvred to invite cooling sea breezes
to enter the interior. Pivot doors allow generous openings to the
bedrooms, enabling breezes to flow through the house.
The bathroom and ensuite are at the western edge, where a
continuation of black-stained cabinetry is complemented by
a natural-toned tile that lines the floor and walls. Conceived as a
Japanese-style wet room, the ensuite’s tiled alcove offers a tranquil
retreat flooded with soft natural light.
A void to the lower level occupies the fourth corner of the upper
floor plate and connects the house vertically. From each space,
occupants can cast their gaze through adjacent spaces. “In this
way,” Natalie explains, “the spaces borrow from each other and
have allowed for the inclusion of program elements not often seen
in a house of this size.”
Indeed, a feeling of spaciousness is maintained in Grey Street
House that provides a high level of amenity through access to
natural light and ventilation. At its core, “the project is about
making – making with brick, making with light and making the
most of things,” says Natalie. Through strategic design thinking,
Local Architecture has demonstrated the possibilities of subdivision,
resulting in a house that has longevity and purpose and hums with
the activities of family life.03 A void to the lower level
provides connection and
transparency between
adjacent living spaces.04 The raked roofline
helps to craft angular,
attic-like bedrooms that
retain a sense of privacy.
Artwork: Jordy Hewitt.03 04