Scoop Homes & Art Publications

VIRTUES FROM NECESSITY – MT.LAWLEY, AUSTRALIA

An unusually difficult site with heritage restrictions meant this Mt Lawley renovation faced a whole host of difficulties. The resulting design, however, works hard to take each of these problems and turn them to its advantage.

Architect Peter Lee had always been drawn to this leafy pocket of Mt Lawley, and when “the worst house on the best street” came up for sale, he and wife Shareen Traub were quick to place an offer. The due diligence that followed unearthed some interesting obstacles, which ended up inspiring a design that simultaneously blends with the streetscape and makes a modern statement.

“I designed the house and solved the big problems, whereas the credit for all the details goes to Mike, from all the built-in cabinetry, to all of the steps being the same height inside and out.” Greg Falek, of West-Ville Constructions, oversaw the build. “It took 29 months, but most of the hold ups were my fault,” Peter laughs, “Greg and I are now great friends – he was great throughout the whole process.”

During their initial building inspections, the couple found the original 1928 facade had to be maintained. It sat 4m above street level and was set far back on the almost 1000sqm block. The site had a slope of 8m from street level to the back, and further examination uncovered a public sewer at the rear of the original home…