A minimalist house in Australia

A house designed by Australian architect Gavin Hestelow and built by construction firm Danze Constructions in a natural location close to a small lake in Gwelup, a northern residential suburb of Perth, stands out for its formal, minimalist aesthetic. Despite the relatively small size of the plot, the residence exploits the horizontal elements of the roof and the clean, essential architecture to heighten the sense of space.
“The design for this house, completed between late 2016 and early 2017, focused on the textures of the finishing materials. We introduced bold structural elements that would serve as visual and tactile cues to highlight the materials in all their purity,” explained the architect, principal of the practice Gavin Hestelow Architecture. “This concept applies to the entire structure. The same warm wood strip screen used in the entrance foyer serves as a distinctive design element while ensuring the privacy of the stairs leading up to the bedrooms.”
The large open-plan kitchen consists of a dining area and breakfast counter and is conceived as a large, fluid open space for cooking and eating. The palette of white, black and grey tones of the wall coverings and furnishings creates a contemporary, formal elegance. The furnishing elements were custom designed with a strong focus on functionality during food preparation and consumption, with a preference for under-counter drawers to reduce the number of wall units.
The interior design project as a whole uses a range of dark colours and materials, particularly in the sleeping area, and reflects the style and taste of the owner while helping to underscore the strong personality of the house. The master bedroom with ensuite bathroom also features relaxing, dark-coloured materials with a variety of textures that highlight the finishing details. The dark effect is mitigated by the large windows, which allow natural light to flood into the interiors.
The colour palette is also counterbalanced by the lighting design project, which uses LED lights to ensure that the atmosphere is relaxing and never gloomy.
The floors throughout almost the entire house are tiled with Materia D, the concrete-effect porcelain series from Italgraniti. In particular, the Forma finish chosen for the Gwelup house provides a realistic interpretation of the relief texture of concrete, creating ambiences that fit in perfectly with the latest trends in interior design.