Fremantle home built from raw limestone with Tasmanian oak kitchen cabinets

Simplicity can make a strong design statement in this new house it is the materials and the spaces they frame that speak the loudest.

Designed by Fremantle firm Officer Woods, the house is built from local limestone, with the stone exposed both inside and out.

Architect Trevor Woods says the clients were very interested in using natural materials with a low embodied energy footprint.

"We extended this to the kitchen, opting for natural Carrara marble benchtops, for example, over reconstituted stone. The tactile qualities were important as there are not that many places in a home where you are constantly touching a surface. For these areas we had a more lavish budget, so the surfaces are not only hard and durable but also memorable a sumptuous counterpoint to the raw materials of the house itself. The owners are happy to let all the materials weather naturally."

The marble is teamed with Tasmanian oak cabinets that feature hardwood edges and veneer doors. These were treated with an Osmo environmentally friendly finish, in keeping with the desire for sustainable alternatives. A timber shroud wraps the island, helping to hide any clutter on the benchtop. The island also features a flat bar top that serves as a breakfast area. Additional storage is provided within a large walk-in pantry directly behind the kitchen.

While the living space has a generous, double-height ceiling, a wide mezzanine bridge compresses the kitchen-dining area, creating a more intimate space.

"The bridge modulates the scale and volume and allows interaction between the living areas on both levels," says Woods. "It also extends outdoors where it forms a balcony and provides a shade canopy above the terrace."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes