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.
Project Team
Client: Private
Location: South Fremantle, Western Australia
Size: 120m2 addition + renovation
Architect: Tim Pardoe
Builder + Photography: Nexus Homes Group
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.
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.
“We love the space and the view.”
— Clients
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.
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.
