As the architects of multiple residential inner suburban projects, we sometimes feel repetitive talking about site size, but this one was especially tight! Moving from a substantial suburban house to a run-down property in inner-Perth’s Highgate area, our clients’ brief was for a two-storey extension, swimming pool and covered external area, double garage and self-contained studio on a 536-metre lot. From somewhat mundane explorations of car turning circles, we developed an efficient plan in which a pocket garden is nestled between a two storey extension to the existing house and its paired garage-studio block.

Surgically removing an existing lean-to addition, the original cottage was retained, and its four rooms carefully restored. Passing through a generous central corridor space, a sliver of new cabinetry adjusts the space’s width and introduces the angular geometry and warm timber tones of the new works. Passing out of the original cottage, the ceiling height soars suddenly and momentarily to bring daylight into the centre of the house through an oversized skylight. The wall of featured spotted gum cabinets continues, wrapping into a stone clad kitchen that faces north into the garden, looking over a living are into a raised pool that sparkles in the sun. On the upper level a master bedroom suite is complemented by a sitting space that looks south towards mature jacaranda tree canopies and the nearby city skyline.

While the new construction is markedly different from the original early 20th century house, there are strong material clues that link them. An unusual ‘flemish garden wall’ brick coursing unites the red toned brick base layer of new and old construction, while standing seam steel cladding wraps the sculpted upper levels in a warm tone that is applied in turn to the external detailing of the existing heritage house.

Jutting out over the garden in a staggered progression of spaces, the house extension celebrates the intensity and density of inner-urban living