1718 Light and Shade House

By Craig Steere Architects

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A steep advantage

Our clients owned a challenging site with steep rising contours at the front of the block and a gradual rise towards the rear. They approached Craig Steere Architects to design a custom, architecturally-designed home that would leverage on site opportunities without compromise the family's lifestyle. The sloping site afforded the home with a logical undercroft garage slightly lower than the street level. The main home works closely to the middle contours of the site, and is planned around a central courtyard.

Responding to site

Following several site visits we developed a number of considerations to address and work with in the design of the new home. The somewhat introverted elevation of the home facing the main street has been screened with privacy of the occupants in mind. The driveway approaches the home from an infill cut to the south-west corner. This enabled a central entry approach into the home. Occupants and guests arrive at the ground level facing into a landscaped courtyard. Two primary zones split the home in spaces for adults and children respectively. Both zones have been located to the south side of the lot and overlook the courtyard. The siting of the home to the south maximises good, northern light into the interiors. Conversely, a plunge pool and lawn runs along the north edge of the site.

Mod squad

Our clients have a keen interest in mid-century modern style, a nod to the architectural styles found around the Perry Lake precinct. As a result, the home expresses itself as a low-profile, linear structure reminiscent of this style. Because of this simple roof form, the project was assisted by cost efficiencies in construction. Materials and construction details borrow from mid-century styles, giving the home a sense of elegance and timelessness. Contemporary hues used throughout the home have been adapted from mid-century colour palettes.

Easy breezy living

Highlight windows within the home take advantage of excellent cross ventilation of natural cooling breezes. Due to their height, the windows also provide occupants with privacy from the southern neighbour. The home is sited to maximise its northern exposure to the central courtyard as a means to draw north winter sun deep into the majority of the home. The home is also designed with other features for comfortable living including thermal mass and double glazed windows.

Craig Steere Architects
Western Australia
1718 Light and Shade House

Professionals used in
1718 Light and Shade House

Craig Steere Architects
Craig Steere Architects
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About the
Professional

Craig Steere Architects is an award winning practice designing luxury family homes for Metropolitan Perth and the South-West region of Australia, including Margaret River. 

The practice is comprised of a small professional team offering a personalised architecture and interior design service. Craig Steere has collective experience in a wide variety of architectural disciplines, obtained since graduating in 1985.

Our Vision.

Craig Steere Architects is committed to design excellence. Our enthusiasm, creativity and attention to detail, together with a priority to listen, provide the catalyst for successful and high quality, world class and award winning solutions.

Our value statement.

  • Empathy – we believe in listening to and understanding our clients' needs
  • Reliable – you can rely on our service to respond responsibly to your requirements
  • Efficient – we strive to be efficient at all times in every aspect of our service
  • Creative/innovative/original, but practical & functional – our service aims to respond to our clients' requirements in a creative, innovative and original way, whilst also being practical and functional
  • Integrity – we believe in being ethical together with being socially and environmentally conscious of our clients, architecture and society in general. We provide an honest and trustworthy service
  • Teamwork – we believe in supporting our staff through listening and training and encourage active involvement and contribution to help uphold our values

Philosophy.

Craig Steere Architects is committed to design excellence and a high standard of professional service. Each project is approached with an enthusiastic and specialised response in order to achieve the desires of each individual ‘client brief’. Our creative designs are not restricted to satisfying just the client brief, but are always conscious of the surrounding social and environmental impact.

The Practice.

Craig Steere Architects was established in 1994 and is located in Shenton Park, in Perth’s prestigious Western suburbs. Craig Steere Architects projects are frequently nominated for the Australian Institute of Architects design awards. Works are regularly published in magazines, journals and hardcopy books, nationally and worldwide. Craig Steere Architects is an A+ member of the Australian Institute of Architects and is registered with the Architects Board of Western Australia, striving to provide a high standard of professional service at all times.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.