Solomon Street Residence.

Fremantle, Western Australia

2018

On our first meeting, the clients took us straight to the top. Standing on the roof of their old single-story home, they pointed to the horizon and said, “We want that view.” The solution was simple in concept, but complex in execution. Lift off the old roof and drop a new prefabricated home in its place.

  • An image of Greenspacing.
  • An image of Greenspacing.
  • An image of Greenspacing.

Project Team

Client: Private

Location: South Fremantle, Western Australia

Size: 120m2 addition + renovation

Architect: Tim Pardoe

Builder + Photography: Nexus Homes Group

Sketch drawing of a modern outdoor terrace with a lounge area, seating, a table, two large satellite dishes on either side, and a platform with steps.
Modern two-story house with black upper level siding, large windows, and a small outdoor patio with table and chairs, surrounded by a stone wall with flowers, in the evening with a cloudy sky.
  • Close-up of a wooden exterior wall with a shadow, and a partial view of trees and blue sky in the background.
  • Close-up of a dark metal building wall with vertical panels against a cloudy sky.
  • Close-up of a modern building with wooden and metal exterior, large glass windows, under a partly cloudy sky.

Raising the Roof

The brief called for the existing brick footprint to remain while adding a lightweight second level. The upper floor was designed as a prefabricated module, craned onto site over a few days. This approach reduced construction time, waste and disruption while giving the family a new modern outlook over South Fremantle and the ocean beyond.

Living room with gray sofa, throw pillows, and wooden deck viewed through sliding glass doors at dusk.
  • Modern open-concept kitchen and dining area with white cabinetry, wooden accents, and a dining table with white chairs. Large window providing natural light, hardwood floors, and minimal decor.
  • Interior view of a modern staircase with wooden steps and vertical wooden railings, next to a rectangular window, white walls, and wooden flooring.
  • Living room with gray sofas, decorative pillows, hardwood floors, large sliding glass doors leading to balcony, view of trees and sky outside.
  • Wooden staircase with handrail next to a window, in a modern interior
  • A modern bedroom with wooden flooring, white cabinets, a bed with patterned bedding, sliding glass door, and adjacent bright living room with large windows and curtains.
  • Close-up view of a wooden staircase with vertical wooden balusters

Keep It Simple

Working to a tight budget, every move followed the same principle. Keep it simple. Honest materials, clear lines and thoughtful shading do the heavy lifting. Facing west to the sea, the home uses deep verandahs and screened openings for sun control, creating a space that is open yet protected from the Fremantle heat and glare.

A modern balcony with wooden flooring and walls, two comfortable chairs with cushions, potted plants, and a glass railing overlooking a dark evening sky.

“We love the space and the view.”

— Clients

  • Three workers on a rooftops, one on the ground, and a dog near a house with tools and a ladder, in black and white
  • A street view of a construction site with scaffolding, trees, and a partly built structure, in black and white.
  • Crane lifting a house under construction on a hill, with trees and power lines in the background.
  • Construction site with a building under construction, crane lifting materials, scaffolding around the structure, and workers present.
  • An image of Greenspacing.
  • An image of Greenspacing.
  • An image of Greenspacing.
  • Black and white photo of a residential backyard with a stone wall, trees, and a house with a porch.
  • Construction site with a partially built roof and a brick wall, with materials and tools nearby under a clear sky.
  • A house under construction on a hillside with scaffolding on one side, elevated on stilts, next to a rocky slope, with power lines and trees in the background.
  • A modern house under construction on a raised lot, with scaffolding on the right side, and construction materials and trash bins at the street level.
  • Modern house with large glass windows on a hillside, stone retaining wall, and partly cloudy sky in the background.
  • Interior of a kitchen under renovation with two metal support poles, white cabinetry, and two narrow windows with a view outside.
  • Interior view of a room under construction with large sliding glass doors leading to a balcony, showing neighboring houses and utility poles outside.
  • Interior room under construction with stairs on the left and building materials on the right.
  • Two children sitting on a couch in a living room, looking outside through large sliding glass doors at a suburban street and sky.

The New Top

The brief called for the existing brick footprint to remain while adding a lightweight second level. The upper floor was designed as a prefabricated module, craned onto site in a single day. This approach reduced construction time, waste and disruption while giving the family a new modern outlook over South Fremantle and the ocean beyond.

Modern two-story house with white brick lower level and black upper level, large windows, and wooden door, surrounded by stone wall, with flowering plants outside.

From Seventies to Sustainable

What began as a tired brick bungalow is now a bright, efficient and contemporary coastal home. The compact form reduces energy use while cross-ventilation and shading make air-conditioning almost unnecessary. Timber detailing softens the black metal cladding, grounding the modern form in warmth and texture.

The View from Here

Looking at the before-and-after photos tells one story. Living through it tells another. Projects like this take patience, trust and persistence. For the clients, that commitment now pays off every evening as the sun drops into the Indian Ocean. Exactly as they imagined from the start.

Black and white photo of a suburban house with a sloped roof, a driveway with a car parked under a carport, stone retaining walls, and a pathway leading away from the house.
Modern two-story house with a black upper level, white brick lower level, and a parking area underneath the upper floor. Car parked in the garage, garden with lemon tree, stone wall, and sunset sky.