“The house was designed for and in collaboration with my parents,” DWA Architects design architect Lindsay Rooney said.
“The main objectives were to create a home that is joyful and easy to live in, to embrace what nature has to offer, and to minimise what we consume through thoughtful design and use.
“The house is designed to a 9-star HERS index and controlling the passive design elements, such as sunlight and wind, were fundamental.”
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READ NOWAesthetically, the residence draws on its beachside location and creates a coastal feel through the use of materials such as weatherboard and limestone, as well as a blue and white colour palette.
With only a few rooms, the residence features cavernous living spaces and high ceilings, with a sense of space enhanced by infusions of natural light.
“A playful roof mimics the waves or a bird in flight and maximises solar access for panels,” Ms Rooney said.
“The long slender strips of windows on the south facade draw inspiration from the tree trunks in the bushland opposite while maximising sunlight penetration.”
Ms Rooney said she was proud her parents appreciated the house and that her design had resulted in an easy and functional family home.
“The achievement of a highly sustainable, accessible house that can be enjoyed into the future is brilliant,” she said.
Ms Rooney’s mother and client Lois McLagan said: “The feeling of the spaces is wonderful; they are so bright and warm”.
The WA Architecture Awards, hosted annually by the Australian Institute of Architects, honour excellence in design and construction and demonstrate the significant contribution architects make.