31A Lawler Street

Some homes are designed around rooms. Others are designed around a feeling. Created by designer April Pine, Laneway House is an exploration of light, materiality and atmosphere. It's architecture that embraces its surroundings, carefully framing views, capturing seasonal change and creating a constant connection between inside and out. Conceived as a private inner-city sanctuary, the home reveals itself gradually, offering moments of calm, reflection and retreat within one of North Perth's most connected neighbourhoods. SPOTLIGHT / Designed by April Pine and completed in 2022 / Built by Hugo Homes / Designed around light, seasonality and connection to landscape / Timber batten screening creating privacy and an ever-changing play of light and shadow / Natural material palette featuring real timber, concrete, Australian terrazzo and Spanish and Japanese ceramic tiles / Recycled brick exterior with lime-washed internal brickwork / American White Oak joinery throughout, including full height storage / Kitchen with sculptural curved kitchen island, extensive integrated storage, Bertazzoni induction cooktop and oven, integrated Fisher & Paykel refrigerator and integrated Asko dishwasher / Private central courtyard seamlessly connected to the living spaces / Upper-level terrace immersed in natural light / Main bedroom retreat with operable louvres and leafy canopy views / Hotel-inspired ensuite with freestanding bath and separate shower / Bronze and copper hardware throughout / Study thoughtfully integrated into the upper-level hallway / Burnished concrete floors to the ground level and White Oak timber flooring upstairs / Commercial-grade bronze powder-coated windows / Bespoke joinery and bespoke metalwork / Breezeway louvres enhancing natural ventilation / Panasonic split-system air-conditioning / Garage with integrated laundry / Moments from Kyilla Primary School, Kyilla Park, Kyilla Community Farmers Market and the Angove Street precinct There is a quiet confidence to the architecture. Timber battens wrap portions of the home, filtering sunlight, framing views and creating an ever-changing play of light and shadow throughout the day. This awareness of seasonality and natural light is central to the design, allowing the home to evolve with the movement of the sun and the changing character of the surrounding landscape. Guided by a commitment to natural materiality, Laneway House embraces real timber, real concrete, Spanish and Japanese ceramic tiles and Australian terrazzo. These materials have been selected not for trend, but for permanence, allowing each element to age gracefully and express its inherent character over time. Recycled brick, American White Oak joinery and bespoke detailing bring warmth and texture throughout, while the restrained palette creates interiors that feel honest, tactile and enduring. The result is a home that feels both deeply considered and effortlessly timeless. At the heart of the home, an expansive open-plan living and dining space unfolds beneath a dramatic double-height void. Natural light is drawn deep into the interior through carefully positioned glazing, animating the home with shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day. Large expanses of glass dissolve the boundary between inside and out, while the central courtyard and carefully framed views of surrounding greenery create a living environment that feels remarkably calm, intimate and connected to nature. The kitchen is defined by its clarity of design. A beautifully curved island introduces softness to the surrounding architectural forms, while extensive American White Oak cabinetry provides generous storage and a seamless sense of organisation. Australian terrazzo surfaces add texture and depth, complemented by warm copper hardware and a suite of integrated appliances including a Bertazzoni induction cooktop and oven, Fisher & Paykel refrigerator and Asko dishwasher. Connected to the living spaces and courtyard beyond, the kitchen feels both highly functional and quietly sophisticated. Landscape plays an integral role in the experience of Laneway House. The private courtyard extends directly from the living spaces, creating a seamless connection between architecture and garden. Mature planting softens the built form and introduces greenery at every turn, while beyond the property boundaries, carefully framed views borrow from the surrounding landscape. The magnificent Jacaranda tree beyond the laneway becomes part of the home's daily rhythm, its changing colours, movement and filtered light creating a constantly evolving backdrop. Upstairs, a secluded timber-lined terrace offers a peaceful retreat immersed in sky, breeze and the surrounding tree canopy, reinforcing the home's constant dialogue with nature. Accommodation is thoughtfully arranged across two levels, with three generous bedrooms offering flexibility and adaptability for changing lifestyle needs. A ground-floor bedroom enjoys excellent separation. Upstairs, the main bedroom occupies a private position, while a secondary bedroom is positioned adjacent. Thoughtfully integrated into the hallway, a light-filled study makes intelligent use of what might otherwise be transitional space, providing a quiet place to work or reflect, framed by views to the outdoors. The main bedroom is particularly special. Positioned to capture views into the surrounding canopy, it feels private, calming and deeply connected to the landscape beyond. Timber screening provides a sense of privacy while filtering light throughout the day, and operable louvres invite natural breezes into the space. The adjoining ensuite is beautifully resolved, featuring a freestanding bath, separate shower, and a refined palette of Australian terrazzo, Japanese and Spanish ceramic tiles, American White Oak joinery, and warm bronze and copper detailing, creating a retreat-like atmosphere reminiscent of a boutique hotel. A skylit bathroom on the ground floor