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Houzz Tour: A House on a Roundabout Made for Ageing in Place
A tricky corner site, a view of the shops and the owners' desire to age in place – this house brief had its challenges
When a pair of empty nesters came to architect Philip Stejskal, principal at Philip Stejskal Architecture, to design their new home, they had a very particular brief. Simple materials, a compact footprint, the flexibility to let them age in place, and a sense of privacy without being completely cut off from the local community. Then there was the additional challenge of being located on a busy roundabout in the riverside suburb of Applecross in Perth. Fortunately, Stejskal was more than up to the challenge, creating a thoughtfully designed home the couple can enjoy for years to come.
Situated right across the road from the area’s local shopping centre, the site of this home scored top marks for convenience – particularly considering the owners have every intention of living here well into their mature years.
But the large roundabout out the front and the shopfront views meant finding a way to give them a sense of privacy and calm was more of a challenge. “The area is especially busy at weekends with people from other suburbs coming here to eat and drink coffee, and locals doing their shopping. During the week it’s busy with locals going about their daily routine,” says Stejskal.
Is this the year you build your dream home? Find a local architect on Houzz
But the large roundabout out the front and the shopfront views meant finding a way to give them a sense of privacy and calm was more of a challenge. “The area is especially busy at weekends with people from other suburbs coming here to eat and drink coffee, and locals doing their shopping. During the week it’s busy with locals going about their daily routine,” says Stejskal.
Is this the year you build your dream home? Find a local architect on Houzz
The original house
“The owners’ brief was to create a highly efficient, small-footprint downsizer that would allow for ageing in place and offer high levels of comfort,” says Stejskal. “There was also a desire to create something special and meaningful in the area.”
The house also needed to be thermally efficient, easy to live in and maintain, with no wasted space.
“The owners’ brief was to create a highly efficient, small-footprint downsizer that would allow for ageing in place and offer high levels of comfort,” says Stejskal. “There was also a desire to create something special and meaningful in the area.”
The house also needed to be thermally efficient, easy to live in and maintain, with no wasted space.
“It was key for us to balance connection with privacy,” says Stejskal. “We used several layers to buffer the inside spaces from the public realm, while creating opportunities for connection at the same time. Being a corner site, we had to deal with two public faces.”
The design gradually developed as a predominantly single-storey building with a mezzanine for additional bedrooms. This layout balanced the owners’ desire to downsize from their previously large family home and the architect’s wish to create a graduated streetscape. “This configuration enables a centre peak to address the intersection, with tapered edges that are respectful of low-lying neighbours,” says Stejskal.
The design gradually developed as a predominantly single-storey building with a mezzanine for additional bedrooms. This layout balanced the owners’ desire to downsize from their previously large family home and the architect’s wish to create a graduated streetscape. “This configuration enables a centre peak to address the intersection, with tapered edges that are respectful of low-lying neighbours,” says Stejskal.
The original house
“The owners live a minimal lifestyle and, I would say, consider their home a sanctuary – a quiet place. But one that is welcoming and capable of allowing small groups of friends to gather,” says Stejskal.
“The owners live a minimal lifestyle and, I would say, consider their home a sanctuary – a quiet place. But one that is welcoming and capable of allowing small groups of friends to gather,” says Stejskal.
The ground-floor plan after works
The architect had a budget of around $850,000 to work with. “The budget was evenly spread across the project, but due to its small size, thickly applied.
“The house is very dense in plan – a small footprint – and also in ‘equipment’, such as underfloor hydronic heating, double glazing, a heat-recovery ventilation system, internal thermal mass, passivhaus and solar passive-design principles,” he says.
The architect had a budget of around $850,000 to work with. “The budget was evenly spread across the project, but due to its small size, thickly applied.
“The house is very dense in plan – a small footprint – and also in ‘equipment’, such as underfloor hydronic heating, double glazing, a heat-recovery ventilation system, internal thermal mass, passivhaus and solar passive-design principles,” he says.
The first-floor plan after works
“The material selection was partly driven by a desire for thermal mass, partly by the client’s preferences, and thirdly by considerations such as carbon footprint and indoor air quality. We kept materials raw and used natural sealants and paints as far as budget allowed. We wanted the interior to be warm and calming,” says Stejskal.
“We used plywood extensively in this house as a continuous pelmet/bulkhead around the perimeter, and for cabinetry, and also wall lining.
“We chose spotted gum for the verandah as this timber is naturally resistant to termite damage and rot, and silvers off nicely over time,” he says.
“Zincalume was used for the roof and first-floor cladding, due to its maintenance-friendliness and vernacular aesthetic. The verandah and the ‘tin’ cladding are reminiscent of old farmhouse structures – part of our architectural heritage in this place,” says Stejskal.
“The material selection was partly driven by a desire for thermal mass, partly by the client’s preferences, and thirdly by considerations such as carbon footprint and indoor air quality. We kept materials raw and used natural sealants and paints as far as budget allowed. We wanted the interior to be warm and calming,” says Stejskal.
“We used plywood extensively in this house as a continuous pelmet/bulkhead around the perimeter, and for cabinetry, and also wall lining.
“We chose spotted gum for the verandah as this timber is naturally resistant to termite damage and rot, and silvers off nicely over time,” he says.
“Zincalume was used for the roof and first-floor cladding, due to its maintenance-friendliness and vernacular aesthetic. The verandah and the ‘tin’ cladding are reminiscent of old farmhouse structures – part of our architectural heritage in this place,” says Stejskal.
A key part of the brief was to create a home that would facilitate mature-age living. “We created a one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor, with a ring of circulation around the perimeter, with all functions flanking this pathway,” says Stejskal.
“All thresholds are flush and sanitary compartments are sized to enable easy mobility.
“The upstairs accommodates guest bedrooms and a bathroom,” he says.
“All thresholds are flush and sanitary compartments are sized to enable easy mobility.
“The upstairs accommodates guest bedrooms and a bathroom,” he says.
Sustainability and energy efficiency were key considerations. “Aside from solar shading, we used operable screens to allow winter sun in, thermal mass in the right places, exposed slabs on both levels, and active equipment such as heat-recovery ventilation, double glazing and in-floor heating.” Ceiling fans and curated openings give cooling a further boost.
Paint colours: Dulux Whisper White Wash&Wear used internally; Dulux Whisper White Weathershield used externally
The resulting design has a humble, minimalist feel. “Humble was very important to both of us as Applecross is a suburb where the original homes have been replaced largely by McMansions. This project represents a quiet protest and example that you can create beauty without being ostentatious,” says Stejskal.
The kitchen features a mix of plywood cabinetry and glass mosaic tiles in two shades of grey.
Kitchen joinery: limewashed birch plywood; benchtops: Dekton; splashback tiles: Artedomus Vixel glass mosaics in colours C.15 and C.50; flooring: burnished concrete
Hit-and-miss patterned brickwork behind the fireplace allows for cross ventilation through the centre of the house and delivers air-conditioned cooling to the living area – it’s considered touches such as these that define the home. “Similar perforations exist to bedrooms upstairs for the same reason,” says Stejskal.
Fireplace: Nectre N15 freestanding wood burner
Fireplace: Nectre N15 freestanding wood burner
The house opens onto two primary courtyards – a communal one at the front and a contemplative one at the rear – which were designed by landscape architect Annghi Tran Landscape Architecture Studio.
Sandstone boulders were used to create a sense of enclosure in the front courtyard.
Sandstone paving: Donnybrook Sandstone
Sandstone paving: Donnybrook Sandstone
The living area
The master bedroom
The master bedroom, ensuite, study and laundry all lead off the floor plan’s ‘perimeter circulation band’ – a design that intentionally makes the home easier to navigate when the owners reach their older years.
Cavity-sliding doors allow the rooms to be opened up or closed off for seclusion and quiet when required.
In the main bedroom, the walls were lined to create operable shutters to close off brick perforations when privacy is needed.
The master bedroom, ensuite, study and laundry all lead off the floor plan’s ‘perimeter circulation band’ – a design that intentionally makes the home easier to navigate when the owners reach their older years.
Cavity-sliding doors allow the rooms to be opened up or closed off for seclusion and quiet when required.
In the main bedroom, the walls were lined to create operable shutters to close off brick perforations when privacy is needed.
The study can be accessed from both the living room and master bedroom.
One of the guest bedrooms upstairs
Your turn
Are you as impressed with this thoughtfully designed home as we are? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another new build that balances charm and functionality? Don’t miss this story: A Cosy Modern Farmhouse Designed for Now and the Future
Your turn
Are you as impressed with this thoughtfully designed home as we are? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another new build that balances charm and functionality? Don’t miss this story: A Cosy Modern Farmhouse Designed for Now and the Future
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple whose two adult children have left home
Location: Applecross, WA
Size: Approximately 200 square metres including a double garage
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architect and interior designer: Philip Stejskal Architecture
Builder: Portrait Custom Homes
Landscape architect: Annghi Tran Landscape Architecture Studio