A tailor-made home

We’re in Perth, the capital of Western Australia and one of the most prosperous parts of the country at the moment. Its population enjoys the highest standard of living of all five of Australia’s major cities, and it took fifth place in The Economist’s recent league table of the world’s 10 most liveable cities.
Given the Mediterranean climate (the city gets over 320 days of sunshine per year) and spectacular landscapes, it’s not hard to see why so many people want to set up home in Perth. That’s why the futuristic skyscrapers in the Central Business District are complemented by single-family homes in the city’s elegant suburbs, a stone’s throw from the sea. Just like the villa we’re going to look at here.
Built on two storeys, its architecture originates from a desire to maximise the perception of light and the landscape. Like paintings hung on the walls, the windows frame selected glimpses of nature, whose appearance changes with the time of day and the passing of the seasons. As well as coming in different shapes and sizes, the windows also stand at different heights, so the house doesn’t merely open its eyes to the landscape, it opens its arms to the natural light, which pours in by the gallon, modulating the perception of space and revitalising its effect.
Even the layout, especially of the living area on the ground floor, is airy, fluid and seamless, because the line of sight is as permeable as the space itself, due to the alignment of the windows and the minimal divisions. The result is that multiple sitting areas punctuate the dining zone, which is also duplicated by a more informal area with a breakfast counter, and a more convivial one centred around a large wooden table. The dividing line between what’s inside and what’s outside is blurred too, as the house elastically incorporates outdoor spaces when it feels the need for open-air lounge areas for the full outdoor experience.
The choice of colours and textures, lastly, was the real test of the project. White dominates the walls and fixtures, including the kitchen units, to reflect and amplify the light. The upholstery, meanwhile, takes on the blue of the Australian sky, while the carpets and cushions opt for neutrals. Dark-grained wood predominates in the designer pieces that punctuate the rooms, and it steals the show on the decking and ceiling of the patios. The colours and textures of the flooring are warm and natural too, and the architects opted for the practicality and durability of ceramic for the indoor and outdoor floors alike (the tiles in question are from the ‘Travel’ series by Ceramiche Supergres, in the colour South Gold). The material’s technical performance (it’s non-slip and resistant to wear, abrasion, temperature swings, staining and water absorption) and aesthetic qualities (attractively variegated graphics and colouration) give it all the versatility it needs to inject a powerful shot of character and refinement into the home environment – not just today but forever.