Keep It Green—1950s Perth Weatherboard Extension

In real estate parlance, the word ‘leafy’ evokes inner-city suburbs with established trees and character houses. Yet leafiness is so much more than an aesthetic quality.

Urban trees improve air quality, capture carbon, provide shelter for wildlife and offer welcome shade in built-up areas. Sadly though, as these suburbs become desirable and promise better returns for investors, it can be a challenge to retain the lush tree canopy that makes them so appealing in the first place.

Bayswater Has Been Gentrified in Recent Years

Bayswater, just east of Perth’s central business district, is one such example. With its proximity to the city and mix of relatively affordable homes on large blocks, it has been gentrified in recent years, with the wine bars and cafes followed swiftly by project home builders and property developers who will often squeeze two or three new homes on a cleared block. While this approach is profitable, it comes at the expense of trees, wildlife and the suburb’s long-term liveability as Perth becomes hotter and drier.

So for architect Simone Robeson, working with a couple who wanted to extend their 1950s weatherboard cottage without losing the surrounding garden was a welcome opportunity to go against the grain.

“Tree loss is a real problem in Bayswater,” Robeson says. “It takes a brave client to choose to build on a smaller footprint than what is permitted, eschewing the whole ‘design for resale’ mentality that proliferates in Perth. This also meant we were able to keep work on the cottage to a minimum, which is what we strive for wherever possible.”

Her solution was to renovate the existing home by demolishing a lean-to and adding a simple rectangle to the rear. This modestly-sized extension is tucked under the original eaves, and comprises a new dining room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a cupboard-sized laundry, as well as an ensuite to the master bedroom in the original house.

The home’s setbacks are large, with the extension hugging the cottage tightly rather than stretching out to the boundaries on either side. Thanks to the simplicity of the design, the owners could remain in the house while a father-and-son team completed the building works over six months. The result is a home that is simple and functional, while allowing for a generous garden and tranquil views.

“The entire living area is north-facing so it gets a lot of winter sun, and we placed the windows strategically to frame views of the block’s old gum trees, after checking that their root systems wouldn’t cause any problems,” says Simone.

Existing jarrah floorboards give way to a burnished concrete floor, marking the change from old to new, with the slab left exposed for optimal warmth in winter and strategically placed louvres allowing south-west breezes to cool the house in summer. A solar hot water system provides year-round hot water at a low cost, and even in the summer months the rooms stay comfortable thanks to ceiling fans and cross ventilation.

At the peak of summer, two or three days of 40˚ heat can mean the house gets a little warm in the late afternoons, but the owners choose to live with this rather than rely on air-conditioning. The new addition is three steps lower than the existing cottage, providing a level transition to the back garden that makes stepping outside feel effortless. Here, a mix of black-stained timber, grey utility bricks and rustic recycled bricks create an inviting and functional outdoor space, with a shady pergola for summer, built-in seating and various spots for the couple’s cat and two dogs.

An Open-Air Living Space With Frequent Visits From Wildlife

With its open-air living space and frequent visits from wildlife, such as the black cockatoos that feed on the silver princess (Eucalyptus caesia), the garden provides as much shelter and enjoyment for its many residents as the house.

It’s also home to a hobby shed, chickens and abundant edible plants including oranges, lemons, limes, apples, pears and fig trees along with blueberries, passion fruit, pomegranates and olives. Six concrete vegetable beds will soon be moved to the front garden to accommodate a new concrete plunge pool and outdoor kitchen.

“The clients designed and built the garden spaces themselves,” says Simone. “They have one of the most impressive veggie gardens I’ve ever seen, a fire pit, space for outdoor dining, and brick planters holding a variety of natives that are slowly creeping around the building and making themselves at home.”

“It’s nice when the brief calls for a larger backyard than house, rather than it being an afterthought or simply what’s left over on the block,” she goes on. “Too often, the building footprint consumes most of the site, leaving little room for Mother Nature. Whether it’s a beautiful outlook or a truly functional outdoor living area, considered and designed outdoor spaces enhance interiors, every time.”