building. The house is in a residential area with conventional developments, most of which date from the 1960s.

The new, 4-person family home is divided into an elevated ground floor with entrance area, utility room and spa, and a second floor with an open, flowing floor plan containing the living, dining and kitchen areas. Full-height glazing provides a free view of the valley and terrace looking over the garden area. Upstairs are the sleeping areas, dressing rooms and bathrooms. The central design element is a sculptural staircase that connects all three levels.

Kings Park to the Darling Ranges.

Our clients had lived at the address for a number of years and enjoyed the amenity of the area however alterations and additions to the existing house by previous owners had resulted in a compromised spatial layout and a building that had considerable construction defects. The initial briefing by the client was to demolish the existing house and rebuild a comfortable family home using steel framing.

Our response has been to create a house where each room takes advantage of the views and has a strong connection between the internal and external spaces. In contrast to traditional suburban development the house wraps around a courtyard that forms the main outdoor space. A gallery space links the two building forms. Built over three levels the basement contains the service spaces, with living and sleeping on the entry and upper levels. The client's love of cooking and entertaining has been given careful consideration, as has been the need for a degree of flexibility in the way the home will be used during different times of the year and for the couples extended family and friends.

traditional Iban Longhouse, with family communal areas outside the bedrooms to foster family integration.

With the inward-looking orientation of the house, its façade and presence from the main road is kept subtle and non-descript, giving only little hints of what lies beyond. A 'paper-thin' concrete box, delicately lined with rich timber, greets visitors upon entry. It aptly frames the entrance, with its sheer form and structural gymnastics, appearing almost floating off a void.

The scheme is characterized by its prominent louvered 'drum' that houses the main bedrooms and private domain of the house. Spatial strategy and articulation of this drum aim to minimize use of walls, allow generous spill of filtered daylight and fluid circulation between bedrooms, linked by semi-outdoor verandahs.

on the walls and roof, the designer aims to breake the place amplitude in a bold and irreverent way, that reminds the origami's folding.

Bamboo furniture, lacquer and hardwood, traditional references to China flow over the high-tech bamboo floor and contrast with the extravagant wallpaper printed with stylized golden dragons.

Important occident pieces fulfil the ambient, such as the crystal chandelier from the traditional French brand Saint Luis, the 1950's wall lamp from Serge Mouille, a circular shaped shelf and a huge rough linen sofá placed in front of a big fireplace made of exotic granite.

north and west over Fresnaye as well as at the rear of the site. The site falls very steeply and due to the high elevation of the road and the restrictions on the building form, the house is raised above the property on high columns.

The house includes three storeys accommodating three en-suite guest suites on the ground floor, with a plant area and a staff flatlet at the rear. The first floor is the main living level, with a large living room and dining room opening to a covered and uncovered pool terrace. The kitchen is positioned to enjoy views through the glass roof towards Lion's Head. The entrance hall is accessed by gentle steps from Head Road preceded by a glass-roofed external lobby space. The second floor accommodates the master bedroom, dressing room and a light-filled en-suite with views over the pool below.