Shutter House

Shutter House is an imaginative and unique home situated in Wembley, Western Australia. 

A concrete block structure is wrapped in a secondary timber batten skin, with the locally sourced timber creating warm and tactile materiality that creates a subtle juxtaposition in external finishes. A mechanical system allows the façade to open and close, creating a sense of enclosure and intimacy whilst still allowing unobstructed views of the adjacent lake. The home cleverly utilizes its sloping site, manipulating the existing topography to achieve connectivity between indoor and outdoor areas. Boundary retaining walls create a sense of secluded calm, with interspersed courtyard spaces creating considered vignettes throughout the home and seamlessly connecting internal and external spaces.

 The residence is spread over three levels. The ground floor consists of a six-car garage, wine cellar and entry into a spectacular three-storey void that connects all levels via a feature staircase. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, laundry and a gallery are situated on the first floor, along with intimate courtyard and balcony spaces adjoining each bedroom. An open plan living, dining and kitchen space on the second floor affords panoramic views of Lake Monger and connects to a terrace and pool area with a separate studio. 

The State of Kin interiors and architecture team worked simultaneously on Shutter House, with a clear focus on creating a light-filled sanctuary that is rich in colour and materiality. A focus on unique and hand-crafted finishes is evident throughout – the hand-seeded terrazzo at ground level and oak parquetry to upper levels accentuate the highly considered palette throughout the home. Exposed concrete ceilings and carefully sourced granite, quartzite and travertine provide robust yet rich surfaces, which are accentuated by flourishes of colour and curation of playfully sophisticated furniture pieces and contemporary abstract art. Shutter House is an expression of the designer’s appreciation of Japanese architecture through the use of light and detail and is imbued with references to mid-century design that pays homage to the architectural history of its context.

Photography: Jack Lovel and Fragments photo