After spending many years in Japan, architects Siu Fong Thanh (partner and studio head at Ewert Leaf) and Rito Hoffman (associate professor at Curtin University) wanted to bring a touch of Japan to their newly built family home in Perth.
They purchased a subdivided plot of land in Nedlands with the aim of creating a highly sustainable home on a small footprint, built to the exacting standards of the German Passivhaus certification. This means it must be energy efficient, comfortable all year round and meet the core Passivhaus principles of good thermal insulation, air tightness and healthy indoor air quality.
Since this was Siew Fung’s first time designing a passive house, she contracted a certified passive house designer and builder in Germany who helped her align her architectural vision with the strict standards.
“We knew what kind of spaces we wanted—small, simple, warm and cozy. Plus, my partner didn’t have much involvement in the design… As long as he has a desk with lots of bookshelves, a room with a great view to write in, a functional fridge and a good oven to bake his sourdough bread, he’s very happy.”
The three-level residence is prefabricated from cross-laminated timber (CLT) – allowing the construction process to be dramatically shortened to four months – and features numerous references to Japanese architecture, from the Genkan entrance at the front of the house to the Engawa balcony on the facade.
“While living in Japan, we always enjoyed traditional Japanese architecture (temples and farmhouses) with the raised veranda that wraps around the outer walls, where one can sit on the veranda with one’s feet touching the ground below,” she says.
The facade includes a full-height smart screen that not only provides space for deciduous plants on the second-floor balcony, but also protects the home from the harsh summer sun. A 5.8kW solar panel system also helps reduce the family’s energy consumption.
Inside, the beauty of using plywood also meant there was no need to cover the walls with plasterboard. The natural knots and imperfections of the material make the family feel like they’re living in a log cabin, which turns into a concert hall whenever the couple’s two daughters — Yza, 14, and Cya, 12 — play the piano.
The living room opens onto a tatami mat, a traditional tea room that offers “play, relax, work and sleep,” along with lush views of the inner courtyard.
“I grew up in Kuching, in Malaysian Borneo, while my husband is from Switzerland,” adds Siu Fong. “Both places are rich with dense forests, and the courtyard reminds us of the green countryside where we come from.”
“The giant Timor Black bamboo will surround the back fence and interior patio, providing privacy and a sense of protection. When the wind blows, the sounds from these giant bamboo groves provide a sense of calm and comfort.”
While many Australian homes seek to maximise indoor space at the expense of outdoor space, the couple made a conscious decision to keep the space compact, taking up about 35 per cent of the 431 square metre building. Having lived in the home for over a year now, they are confident they made the right choice in prioritising the land in their backyard, where Rito has planted an abundance of edible plants and fruit trees.
Siu Fong describes the completed Kingsway residential complex as a combination of puzzle pieces from different countries – Germany, Japan and Australia – that have been put together into a beautifully cohesive whole.
