The Coombe has long been one of Perth's iconic residential addresses. With a wedge shaped site of 881m2 and a fall of 14m, the site posed significant challenges for the architect and builder. The topography informed the initial multilevel concept enabling provision for the required accommodation. However, the steep falls also created significant setback, overlooking and construction problems, involving extended negotiations with neighbours and Council officers and close consultation with the structural engineer.
The house engages the site by blurring the boundaries to neighbouring properties, referencing the limestone escarpment internally, maximising the benefit of sweeping river views and ensuring the street rolling topography flows from the road reserve over the setback and abuts the built form.
Precast concrete, stone, glass, zinc and copper form the contemporary palette used to purvey the simplicity of the planning and express it in the elevation. Three precast planes control the geometric mould of the house. They define the planning and zoning of the functional elements as well as forming the predominant elevational feature and entry statement, internally and externally. A clean, refined, minimalist aesthetic was the result of intensive, time consuming and considered detailing.