North Perth House by NIC BRUNSDON

North Perth House is an urban infill home on a narrow inner-city site in Perth. Faced with restricted access and a tight budget, Nic Brunsdon used a simple precast concrete system to make the structure and the finished architecture work as one.

Two panel types organise the house. On the ground floor they run parallel to the street, marking a gradual shift from garage and entrance to kitchen, living space and garden. On the upper floor the direction turns through 90 degrees, opening longer views towards the city and drawing northern light into the bedrooms.

Large arches frame the main spatial moments, while smaller openings keep movement clear through the plan. Where an opening is not needed, timber or translucent panels retain its outline and soften the material character.

Raw concrete carries the hardest-working parts of the house. Timber brings warmth to joinery, furniture and balustrades, while translucent sheeting filters the eastern and western sun. Completed in 2019, the two-level house covers 195 square metres.