Yellow Box Western Australia

The Hamersley Road Residence is the conversion of an early 1900’s Australian workers cottage to a practical, modern family residence that has major street appeal. The external timber-work, moulded plaster, handmade tiles and flannel flower glass of the existing house give the home a distinct arts and crafts aesthetic. The house had been untouched for many years. As the new owners and as an Architect and Interior Design team of Studio53, they wished to provide a functional home for their family with flexibility for now and into the future.

The upper level addition is delineated from the existing house by taking the form of a pure yellow ‘box’ gently placed on top of the ground floor behind the gable of the existing home. The Box is then further wrapped in a perforated screen to shade and protect it from the sun. The intricately patterned and visually permeable screen envelops the box on all sides. The pattern is inspired from the floral motif of the original carpet and fireplace tiles. This screen provides visual richness, shade and protection to openings whilst offering opportunities for passive surveillance of the street.

Despite being untouched for over 90 years, the existing home was rescued and rejuvenated. The honest values of the house have been maintained, continued and extended into the new addition, to breathe life into the existing cottage and to create a “happy” and contemporary family home.