Inside a Hidden Italian-Inspired Family Home That Reveals a Gorgeous Central Courtyard (House Tour)

Tapping into Western Australian sensitivities, Enclosed House II is a hidden Italian-Inspired family home that evokes a purity and sense of harmony reminiscent of the desert. Seemingly impenetrable, the raw, textural retreat the home provides is achieved through an innovative approach to materiality, light and space.

Tucked away behind a river, the location of the hidden Italian-Inspired family home is one that is immediately desirable, set on a busy street with a strong suburban feel. The design responds directly to the bustling streetscape in the way that the architecture of the home draws on privacy – there is a visceral sense of security and solitude established from arrival.

Upon entering, one is met with a stark walkway with robust textural walls that frame the process of entering. This sets the scene for the earthiness one can expect from the rest of the home. At the end of the entrance is the main living space, which, in a moment of surprise, appears as a large empty void. The space extends to the kitchen and the courtyard and is transformable, eloquently merging the indoor and outdoor due to the intelligent Vitrocsa window systems.

The raw earthiness and connection to land that is felt throughout the hidden Italian-Inspired family home derives from a considered materiality and minimal furniture. There is a reduced spectrum of materials used, seeing a harmonised palette and muted tonality connect seamlessly. Timber and natural materials dominate the interior design, and there is a strong connection to the colours and textures of the Western Australian landscape, specifically the red sand of the outback. Another way this connection is achieved is through using weathered steel, which was watered to create a base rust.

MORQ reimagines the idea of minimalism in the way the hidden Italian-Inspired family home approaches furnishing and details. Rather than fulfilling typical perceptions of minimalism, which can often be somewhat sterile, the approach here has more to do with purity and harmony of the lines that define the space.

Enclosed House II envelopes inhabitants in a calm, soft way and connects them to the robust tonalities and textures of Australia. While retaining a strong sense of privacy, the hidden Italian-Inspired family home invites those who walk through its walls to instead open oneself to appreciate the idea of nature, convalescence and retreat.

00:00 - Introduction to the Hidden Italian-Inspired Family Home
01:12 - A Very Desirable and Hidden Location
01:48 - A Walkthrough of the Home
02:47 - Enabling The Space To Function As One
03:18 - The Customisation of The Vitrocsa Products
04:08 - A Reduced and Harmonised Material Palette
04:26 - Relating to Country Through Materials
05:40 - The Misconception of Minimalism
06:20 - Providing A Sense of Security and Privacy

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Photography by Glenn Russell.
Architecture by MORQ.
Build by Subiaco Homes.
Windows and Doors by Vitrocsa.
Videography by The Local Project.
Production by The Local Project.

Location: Claremont, Western Australia, Australia

The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

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