Some projects take a while to see the ‘light’. This was certainly the case with the ‘Lantern House’ in Nedlands. The owners, a couple whose children have now left home, originally approached architect Suzanne Hunt to build a new house on a block close by. While that design was dubbed the ‘Lantern House’ for its pop-up roof, it was not applied to that site – one that was facing several easements, close to the Stirling Highway and, importantly, near a large development that would have impacted the outcome.
The preferred option, just a few streets away, offered more land (1,000 square metres) and a house that was well past its use by date (asbestos ridden). With the loss of the former design, the owners were still keen to retain the idea of the lantern, one that would draw natural light into the core. This design, made from stone walls, concrete, timber and floor-to-ceiling glass, has a strong mid-20th century feel, slightly Japanese in its aesthetic. Like this aesthetic, there’s a sense of quiet and being understated from the street. Hence, the low-slung house (with its pop-up lantern- style roofs) picks up some of the features of the former design presented in 2017 but moves forward on these – responding to empty nesters rather than having children still living at home.
Expressed stone walls make an impact upon arrival leading one through the main passage to the living areas beyond. The front rooms, used as either guest bedrooms or one being a separate sitting area, also feature these dramatic stone walls. They even appear at the basement level, which is used for entertaining friends, practising golf (a screen and golfing green included), as well as a place to display wine (and if you are lucky, tasting it).
While the basement is like a ‘man cave’, the main living area is a celebration of light which enters the lantern and creates a continual play of light on the stone walls framing the built-in fireplace. If it’s not the light, it’s the finely curated aspects, whether from the living area to the sunken courtyard, or from the main bedroom suite aligned to the infinity-edged swimming pool.
Unlike many mid-century homes that were often referred to as ‘goldfish bowls’ for their lack of privacy, the Lantern House has been thoughtfully crafted with external louvred blinds that allow both privacy from the street and ensure the transmission of the southwesterly breezes in the afternoon. And given Perth’s climate, there are also high celestial windows that allow the hot air to be purged over the warmer months. Although this house was designed for a couple, it was also conceived for having their own space or when the grandies or extended family visit – with a second sitting area/two additional bedrooms nestled into this low-slung house.
Although it has been a relatively timely exercise for the owners, originally from Melbourne, it’s been a ‘journey’ that has been both rich and rewarding – with great outcomes requiring a certain level of patience and, importantly, commitment to lasting design.
