Roscommon House Perth building project, Western Australia modern real estate, WA modern home photos

Roscommon House in Perth

post updated 24 June 2025

Design: Neil Cownie Architect

Location: Floreat, Perth, Western Australia

Photos © Rob Frith, Michael Nicholson and Jack Lovel

12 Feb 2021

Roscommon House in Western Australia

The clients for Roscommon House have a love for modernism and concrete. This comes from their appreciation of the history of the Perth 1960’s ‘Garden Suburbs’ of Floreat and City Beach.

It was this love of modernism that led them to purchase land in Floreat. They wanted a family home that respected and drew on the modernist history of the area. My clients had a passion for a house constructed from grey timber board finished concrete.

The wonderful thing about working with concrete is the liquid nature of the poured concrete prior to it setting as a sort of ‘liquid stone’. This allows the moulds that hold the concrete to define the finished texture.

Through investigation, we sourced a suitable timber board and sandblasted the surface of the timber to expose the grain. This timber then formed the mould into which the liquid concrete was poured. The end result is a wonderful textured timber grain finish to the concrete.

The low slung street-front roof over the living room and dining room has a ‘scooped’ profiled concrete upturn referencing the old City Beach Surf Lifesaving building. Inspiration for this roof form was also taken from both the City Beach and Floreat Beach Kiosks.

My clients wanted a house that would be relevant over a long period of time. They wanted to remain in this house during different stages of family life. It was an important consideration to make sure that there was versatility in the way the house could be used.

They wanted to have an understated house from the street. They didn’t want a mansion look so it’s a single storey house from the front. The only first floor part is the master bedroom. The space has privacy because of the landscaping in the roof garden. The owners can step out into this garden from their master bedroom.

World Architecture Festival ‘INSIDE’ Awards ‘Residential’ category finalist (one of 12 worldwide) – Winners announced following a live presentation to Jurors – Amsterdam November 2018.

R.A.I.A. WA ‘Shortlisted’ in the Lighting Award category 2018 for Roscommon House (one of five buildings).
Australian Timber Design Awards 2018 National Winner in the ‘Residential Interior fit-out’ category for Roscommon House.
Australia by Design – Channel 10 TV Program ‘Best in State’ Award 2018 + ‘Runner up’ Award Nationally for Roscommon House.