123 House by Neil Cownie Architect
123 House by Neil Cownie Architect was once a petrol station. The design subtly pays homage to its origins, drawing on history and retaining the importance of the building within its Perth community.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Traianos Pakioufakis
‘I used the selection of the colours of the glass to make the connection with the former petrol station with the green glass representing the colour of petrol while the amber, red and yellow colours represent the colours of engine oil,’ says Neil Cownie. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
The custom designed dining table complete with circular legs, representing stacked car tyres.Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
Neil Cownie Architect custom designed the dining table – fabricated by Remington Matters. Bay & McKenzie dining chairs from Jardan. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
Touches of green in the kitchen are a playful reference to the colour of petrol. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
‘The colours of the textured/coloured glass find their way into the kitchen where the beautiful half round splashback tiles take on the green of petrol,’ says Neil Cownie. Bar stools from Jardan. Appliances from Miele. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
Drawing inspiration from the site’s petrol station history, Neil Cownie Architect has reimagined 123 House, in Perth, into a playful and unique home, which is sympathetic to its roots.
The owners had operated the petrol station for more than 30 years before they decided to decommission and subdivide the land, retaining the corner block for a home for themselves.
‘Once I had got to know my clients, I realised just how important they had been to the local community through their excellent and caring service while running the former petrol station. Everyone in the community seemed to know and love them. This made me think that their new house should represent them, their service and the fact that a petrol station had stood on this site,’ shares Neil Cownie. From there he considered ways of embedding their stories into the fabric of the building.
The design drew inspiration from the history of the location and the architectural style of the neighbourhood. The exterior features sandy white bricks and curved elements, offering a fresh perspective against the period homes in the area. ‘In the case of 123 House, I was wanting the new house to sit comfortably within the suburb, as though it had been born out of the architecture of the suburb,’ says Neil.
Form and function are important elements in all of Neil’s interior projects – down to the finer details. ‘Regardless of the scale from whole house to the design of an item of custom furniture, I aim to deliver beyond the basic functionality where my clients feel connected to the finished environment. I am passionate about my work being specific to place and reflecting the lives of my clients,’ shares Neil.
Playful design elements can be found throughout the home, from the colour injected into the kitchen and bathroom, to the laser cut street number on the exterior. ‘The feature of the house that benefits both the owners and the wider community is the shadow resulting from the projecting laser cut 123 street number that tracks the sun with an ever-moving morning shadow of the number 123. This simple device adds an element of joy to the busy street corner.'
Neil continues, ‘I’m happy with so many aspects of the house, which deliver the owners with a wonderful environment in which to live from the consideration of reducing noise through textured acoustic panelling to the beautiful winter sunlight entering the living areas thanks to the highlight windows.’
Most importantly for Neil, was to design a new house which sit comfortably in the suburb, as though it had always been there. ‘I had the most rewarding experiences both through construction and on completion of the house where neighbours thanked me for providing a new house on this pivotal street corner that in their eyes showed respect for their neighbourhood.’
Neil Cownie Architect Huron designed the playful bedside tables. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
Painting by Merrick Belyea. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
“I had the most rewarding experiences both through construction and on completion of the house, where neighbours thanked me for providing a new house on this pivotal street corner that in their eyes showed respect for their neighbourhood.”
A shadow of the home’s street number adds an element of joy to the busy street corner. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
The street number provides shadow play on the home’s facade. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
Design details at 123 House. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
The pool area provides a quiet and secluded haven. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis
The pool is unexpectedly in the home’s front yard. Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis