Houzz Tour: Sustainable Home With a Yoga Studio
Step inside a flexible house designed to accommodate the needs of a family at different ages and stages
When it came to the design of this new build in the coastal suburb of Mosman Park in Perth, Western Australia, the owners were thinking not just of their needs today, but also how they would want to live in the future.
Architect Simone Robeson of Robeson Architects was tasked with creating a design for a young family of four. The brief included flexible spaces that could adapt to their changing needs, plus provisions for the children’s grandmother down the track. “A key part of the brief was the inclusion of a ‘granny flat,’ with its own en suite and kitchenette, and a private entry. This space would be used as a yoga studio until which stage the grandmother should move in,” Robeson says.
Architect Simone Robeson of Robeson Architects was tasked with creating a design for a young family of four. The brief included flexible spaces that could adapt to their changing needs, plus provisions for the children’s grandmother down the track. “A key part of the brief was the inclusion of a ‘granny flat,’ with its own en suite and kitchenette, and a private entry. This space would be used as a yoga studio until which stage the grandmother should move in,” Robeson says.
A wheelchair-accessible ramp leads to the home’s entrance
The result is an adaptable home with five bedrooms and 3½ bathrooms (including those in the in-law unit), with a relaxed and open feel that will accommodate the family’s lifestyle for years to come. The clients were so delighted with their new home that they left a great review for Robeson on Houzz.
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The result is an adaptable home with five bedrooms and 3½ bathrooms (including those in the in-law unit), with a relaxed and open feel that will accommodate the family’s lifestyle for years to come. The clients were so delighted with their new home that they left a great review for Robeson on Houzz.
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The client wanted a flexible and sustainable home that would suit their young family both now and in the future, including a private living space and provisions for the children’s grandmother when she moves in at some point in the future.
All areas of the home needed to be wheelchair accessible and comply with the gold standard of Australia’s Livable Housing Design Guidelines, which call for wider hallways, doorways and circulation spaces.
This also meant the design needed to address a slope in the site through ramps and graded paths to enable a person to transverse from the front boundary to the back boundary without going up or down a step.
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All areas of the home needed to be wheelchair accessible and comply with the gold standard of Australia’s Livable Housing Design Guidelines, which call for wider hallways, doorways and circulation spaces.
This also meant the design needed to address a slope in the site through ramps and graded paths to enable a person to transverse from the front boundary to the back boundary without going up or down a step.
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The client’s brief to the architect included the following:
- The whole ground floor had to be accessible with a wheelchair.
- Inclusion of an in-law unit with a flexible use (it is currently used as a yoga studio).
- Sustainable materials.
- Maximize garden space.
They wanted their home to be simple, functional and contemporary in feel. They sought to maximize outdoor spaces and keep the interior footprint to a minimum, with the architect using elements such as large doors and windows to create a sense of openness and connection.
Wide hallways, larger-than-average doors and level transitions throughout the house — plus a wider-than-average shower with no steps and a large circulation area around the toilet in the in-law unit — are key features that make the home accessible.
The client is passionate about sustainable design, so a significant portion of the building budget went toward implementing sustainable measures and design through all levels of the build — not just the visible materials but the carcasses and wall studs too. “It’s easy to forget construction materials that are hidden from view, but when an owner is serious about sustainability and is prepared to invest in them, it results in a greater sustainable outcome,” Robeson says.
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Robeson opted for an open-plan kitchen-living-dining area that maximizes the sense of space within the home’s footprint.
The living area was pushed to the southern boundary to allow it to open up onto the gardens.
The home features concrete floors downstairs and recycled spotted gum wood floorboards in the primary bedroom upstairs.
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The living area was pushed to the southern boundary to allow it to open up onto the gardens.
The home features concrete floors downstairs and recycled spotted gum wood floorboards in the primary bedroom upstairs.
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“With the lot running east to west, the main design challenge was to ensure that ample northern light could access the main living areas,” Robeson says. “We decided not to align the bulk of the house toward the street, leaving a large backyard, but rather create smaller outdoor zones with their own distinct uses that are interspersed between the building footprint.”
The living wing of the house runs east-west and is pushed to one end of the floor plan, opening onto a rectangular, northern courtyard. To the east of this is a covered deck, which receives the morning sun.
This deck overlooks the largest garden, with vegetables and fruit trees surrounding a grass play area for the children.
Perth is known for its hot, dry summers, so smart temperature control was a priority — particularly as the client dispensed with air conditioning.
The entry courtyard features a pond that draws cooling breezes into the interior in the afternoon. Louvers located adjacent to the pond at a low level allow the cool air to enter the home, while louvers positioned at the top of the ceiling in the living wing at the other end of the home expel the hot air.
This deck overlooks the largest garden, with vegetables and fruit trees surrounding a grass play area for the children.
Perth is known for its hot, dry summers, so smart temperature control was a priority — particularly as the client dispensed with air conditioning.
The entry courtyard features a pond that draws cooling breezes into the interior in the afternoon. Louvers located adjacent to the pond at a low level allow the cool air to enter the home, while louvers positioned at the top of the ceiling in the living wing at the other end of the home expel the hot air.
As the family spends much of their time indoors in the open-plan kitchen-living-dining area, this was an important focus for climate control. “The northern-facing eaves were sized to provide 60-degree shading. This means that the sun from October to March [Australia’s summer months] doesn’t hit the glazing below. These north-facing windows were also double-glazed to help moderate the internal temperature,” Robeson says.
“Low-level louvers were placed on the southern walls while high-level louvers were placed on the northern walls to promote the south-westerlies to cool down the home. Large ceiling fans promote cross-flow ventilation,” she says.
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“Low-level louvers were placed on the southern walls while high-level louvers were placed on the northern walls to promote the south-westerlies to cool down the home. Large ceiling fans promote cross-flow ventilation,” she says.
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The southern and western walls of the home were constructed with gray concrete utility bricks that contribute to the home’s thermal mass. Specifying masonry with no applied finish adds to the property’s robust, low-key aesthetic.
Eco-friendly woods feature prominently throughout the home, adding warmth and texture. The living area ceilings are lined with recycled plywood, while the exterior walls are covered in recycled spotted gum that will turn gray over time.
“The client really likes dark and moody cabinetry, so we chose charcoal for the kitchen, which works well here as it doesn’t detract from the feature plywood ceiling,” Robeson says.
Cozy built-in seating nooks inside and out mean there are a couple of spots to enjoy a morning coffee or curl up with a book.
“The clients have very demanding jobs so this home is a retreat for them to relax and unwind,” Robeson says. “The timber-clad reading nook wedged into the eastern deck wall is a favorite. This spot receives morning sun and afternoon shade — exactly what is required for reading or napping.
“It is these little details that give personality to a home,” she says.
“The clients have very demanding jobs so this home is a retreat for them to relax and unwind,” Robeson says. “The timber-clad reading nook wedged into the eastern deck wall is a favorite. This spot receives morning sun and afternoon shade — exactly what is required for reading or napping.
“It is these little details that give personality to a home,” she says.
“The facade was designed to have minimal openings facing west. It’s Perth — no one needs too much western-facing glass,” Robeson says.
To combat the hot afternoon sun, the window in the masonry wall was set into a deep reveal, forming a window seat, which is shaded by a liquidambar tree (also known as sweetgum). In the study, the window has wood louver shades.
Green tiles add a pop of color and fun to the main bathroom, which is used by the children. Adding a step to the bath makes it easy for the kids to get in and out, and for the parents to help with bath time.
Shop for tile on Houzz
Shop for tile on Houzz
Bright bed linen in a medley of different prints adds a playful energy to one of the children’s bedrooms.
The bedrooms were located in the north part of the house to provide restful spaces away from the more stimulating living and dining areas.
The upper level houses the homeowners’ bedroom (pictured), their en suite bathroom (below) and a study.
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The upper level houses the homeowners’ bedroom (pictured), their en suite bathroom (below) and a study.
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Engineer: WA Structural Consulting Engineers
Energy consultant: The Study
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Energy consultant: The Study
More on Houzz
Read more stories about homes around the world
Find pros near you
Shop for products
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family of four. The children’s grandmother will join them in future.
Location: Mosman Park, Western Australia
Size: About 2,895 square feet (269 square meters)
Architect: Simone Robeson, company director, and Lauren Benson, graduate architect, of Robeson Architects
Builder: Create Homes
As well as providing for changing ages, the home needed to be sustainable too. “The client was genuinely passionate about sustainable design, which allowed us as architects to make sure these features were implemented at all levels of design,” she says.
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