Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Winds From the Aeolian Islands Blow Into a Perth Home
An imposing white home welcomes the Western Australian sun, far from the owner's roots on the Sicilian island of Lipari
The architecture of the Aeolian Islands off Sicily’s north coast is famed for its simple, pristine whiteness, throwing into contrast the intense blue of the surrounding Tyrrhenian Sea. It is this juxtaposition of blue ocean and cubic white buildings that inspired a Perth homeowner to take the spirit of the island of Lipari, where his parents were born, and reinterpret it in Australia’s sunniest city.
Architect Anthony Rechichi was engaged to bring this vision to life. Rechichi says he looked to quasi-Meierist principles to translate classic Aeolian architecture into a contemporary home. Richard Meier, the American architect whose aesthetic inspired Rechichi, is known for the openness and clarity of his designs, his exploration of solid and void, and particularly his use of white and how it is transformed by light. “We decided that ‘layers of white’ would be our mantra – a layered definition of spaces, constantly changed by light,” says Rechichi.
Attadale was once a low-density suburb of modest brick and tile Federation and California bungalows. As Perth grew so did Attadale property values, and many large and more opulent homes emerged to tap into the area’s convenience to the city and great views. Perth’s Mediterranean climate is well suited to this airy, light-filled home overlooking the wide reaches of the Swan River.
The home has been a long time on the drawing board. Rechichi, who designed the family’s previous home and has known them for several years, says, “The approach to the project was slow and contemplative. I helped select the site for the clients five years before the final design was conceived.”
Alucobond Sparkling White cladding: Visionclad; white stone walls: Ankara Limestone
The home has been a long time on the drawing board. Rechichi, who designed the family’s previous home and has known them for several years, says, “The approach to the project was slow and contemplative. I helped select the site for the clients five years before the final design was conceived.”
Alucobond Sparkling White cladding: Visionclad; white stone walls: Ankara Limestone
The home is set well back from the river’s edge on an elevated site. It slopes down away from the street towards the river, around eight metres to the rear of the long, rectangular, southwest-facing block. This configuration enabled Rechichi to exploit the slope and create a double-storey height facing the river and the 180-degree river and city views.
These elevations show how Rechichi has fitted the building into the contours of the sloping site, and used this to create the dramatically high ceilings in the sections of the house that face the views.
From the street, the entrance to the house is through a covered walkway past a courtyard. The first impression is of a cool and lofty glass-framed space flooded with light. A few shallow steps lead down to a lounge and television area, and from here, the eye is drawn irresistibly towards the glint of water beyond. Through this lounge is an enormous indoor/outdoor entertaining area with an outdoor kitchen. This leads, eventually, to a luxurious pool, terrace and sundeck.
At the ground-floor level, the minimally furnished living room houses a giant screen set in a stone-tiled wall and surrounded with dark-stained American walnut cabinetry. It’s also a place to enjoy both close and distant views from a protected position, as it can be closed off with a bank of frameless bi-fold glass doors extending the width of the room, or left open to the breeze. The floors throughout this level are Ankara limestone tiles.
Limestone wall tiles: Bernini Stone
Limestone wall tiles: Bernini Stone
The glass doors that divide indoor and outdoor spaces can be seen on the left folded back. The clean, white, polished plaster walls provide a canvas for the light through glass panes and louvres that create constantly changing effects.
Polished plaster walls in ‘Ice’: Venetian Plaster
Polished plaster walls in ‘Ice’: Venetian Plaster
Rechichi designed a series of visually connected spaces, defined by their function, that progress towards the inviting views. The impression of spaciousness is amplified by the height of the ceiling, which sits at seven metres. Above the indoor/outdoor entertaining area, the louvred roof is retractable and climate-controlled, with sensors that follow the sun and keep out rain.
Casual modular sofas sit beside a 10-seat dining table, cocktail bar and outdoor kitchen, to service poolside entertaining. The airy, double-height room looks straight out to the pool and across to the river and city. It also provides visual connection to the top floor through a massive framed window and glass wall.
Casual modular sofas sit beside a 10-seat dining table, cocktail bar and outdoor kitchen, to service poolside entertaining. The airy, double-height room looks straight out to the pool and across to the river and city. It also provides visual connection to the top floor through a massive framed window and glass wall.
While the materials and colours characterise the home’s design, an outstanding feature is the elegant simplicity of the modern furniture throughout.
Magis ‘Chair One’ stackable chairs and the Bonaldo ‘Welded Table’ are sourced from the family’s own companies: District and Merlino.
Magis ‘Chair One’ stackable chairs and the Bonaldo ‘Welded Table’ are sourced from the family’s own companies: District and Merlino.
Generous facilities for entertaining were an essential item in the owners’ brief. With stainless-steel doors, anthracite grey stone benchtops, plenty of storage, minimal lighting, a cocktail bar and cooking facilities to handle a crowd, this sleek outdoor kitchen swings into action for the frequent and large gatherings held by the owners. Although most of the couple’s children have moved out and have children of their own, no weekend goes by without a gathering of the close-knit family. Company clients are also often entertained.
Bonaldo Clip barstools in ‘Anthracite Grey’: District
Bonaldo Clip barstools in ‘Anthracite Grey’: District
Frameless glass doors give protection from the sometimes intense south-westerly winds, without compromising the expansive views of the river and city. The pool and adjacent spa are well-utilised in Perth’s heat, and the sun can be soaked up on a deck on the edge of the terrace.
Except for the master bedroom suite, the bedrooms and guest room, all with ensuites, are located on the first floor, which also has a home theatre, steam room and utilities. Because of limited street parking, Rechichi says a priority was to put as much off-street parking as possible in the basement level. Around eight vehicles can be garaged here and this level also contains storage, a gymnasium and guest quarters with a small terrace, which will eventually accommodate a live-in carer if needed.
Rechichi says it is difficult to convey in photographs the scale and interconnections of the spaces, but this image shows the void over the double-height lower level and the bridge on the left that leads to the top-level living floor.
“Given the amazing views, the main living/dining/kitchen were located on the top floor,” says Rechichi. “Frameless glass bi-fold doors completely open up onto the outdoor terrace, providing a seamless distinction between indoor and outdoor.”
Bonaldo ‘Miss Filly’ dining chairs in Grigio Topo and Bonaldo ‘Big Table’ in polished oak: Merlino.
Bonaldo ‘Miss Filly’ dining chairs in Grigio Topo and Bonaldo ‘Big Table’ in polished oak: Merlino.
Rechichi designed a sleek kitchen that features the ‘layers of white’ theme of the home, teamed with the muted neutrals of natural stone and contrasted with dark-stained walnut timber. A striking 3 x 3.2 metre dual-sliding American walnut veneer door hides shelving and storage.
To facilitate the frequent family and client occasions the couple hosts, a large scullery is concealed behind the tinted-glass sliding panels on the left. “It’s where all the ‘heavy’ cooking is done,” says Rechichi. Behind that is a large pantry, storage area and fridges.
Carrara splashback: Bernini Stone; Gessi ‘Oxygene’ mixer: Abey
To facilitate the frequent family and client occasions the couple hosts, a large scullery is concealed behind the tinted-glass sliding panels on the left. “It’s where all the ‘heavy’ cooking is done,” says Rechichi. Behind that is a large pantry, storage area and fridges.
Carrara splashback: Bernini Stone; Gessi ‘Oxygene’ mixer: Abey
By avoiding the visual complication of a large, busy kitchen in this open level, the flow and serenity of the upstairs living space are maintained. Furniture is comfortable, elegant and uncluttered, its colour palette limited to the anthracite and indigo used throughout the house.
Saporino ‘Vivaldi’ leather sofas: Merlino
Saporino ‘Vivaldi’ leather sofas: Merlino
Full exploitation of the 180-degree views has been achieved with seamless glass folding doors. The L-shaped terrace is a perfect vantage point for viewing the river and the Perth city skyline that sits a mere 12 kilometres away.
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TELL US
How do you like this very modern home? Tell us in the Comments section.
Who lives here: A business couple and members of their family
Location: Attadale, Perth, WA
Size: 1180 sqm; 5 bedrooms, 2 guest suites
Project completed: 2014
Architect: Rechichi Architects
Suburban Perth is a world away from the the Sicilian island of Lipari, and the Swan River that winds through the city down to Fremantle barely resembles the profound blue of the waters fringing the Aeolian Islands’ volcanic coasts. But capturing the clarity of the light and translating the square, white forms of the architecture into a modern context was the owner’s way of honouring his heritage.