Reed House in Subiaco, Western Australia by Beth George

Perth architect Beth George refurbished a 1908 house in Subiaco into a contemporary home for a young family. Recently shortlisted for the upcoming 2020 WA Architecture Awards, this alterations and additions project in the inner western suburb of Perth is a residence for the architect’s sister, her husband and their four daughters.

“It entails reactions to site, zoning of the house programme and all of the usual stuff, but it is also built from memory,” says George. “I have used the most marked spatial experiences I shared with my sister growing up to make her this house.”

With a tall neighbour to the west and the original dwelling to the north, the house has a robust west elevation and opens itself to the east. A courtyard cuts the mass away to the west to allow the late afternoon sun to fall on the pool so the family can enjoy evening swims together.

The fulcrum of the home is the dining area, which has been excavated by 600mm to create a tall space with a ceiling washed with light – an area that hinges the original building and the new extension together. “My sister is an archaeologist who now works as a full-time mum, and this gesture becomes something of a dig site within the old cottage,” explains George. Remnants of the original limestone footings are now exposed in a dado-finished plinth that wraps the dining area and hearth.

The overall construction is largely off-form concrete and textured brick. The hallway of the original house is extended through the house via an outdoor walkway. Cascading plants from a suspended planter overhead form the outer ‘wall’ of the garden corridor.

There was a strong desire to integrate the landscape into this project – with a love of gardening and memories of growing up among plants, George sought to create a garden for every room, and generate memorable experiences for children through modest and beautiful architecture.

This house’s energy is supplied wholly by solar collection and the bathrooms harvest greywater. The species used in the garden are largely endemic and drought tolerant.

The Reed House is about recollecting memories and creating new ones. The project extends the life of a building that has lived a hundred years into a new dwelling for a family of six, setting out to live a hundred more.