Internally Connected – Jimmy’s Place by MJA Studio, Studio Roam and IOTA

With its own inward focus, Jimmy’s Place makes opportune advantage of the traditional and often problematic battle-axe site, turning its constraints into an oasis. MJA Studio, Studio Roam and IOTA propose a focused and neatly contained home, considered in its integration of the landscape throughout.

Located in North Perth, Jimmy’s Place challenges the habitual residential condition of approach and engagement with the streetscape; instead, the home arranges itself on site to optimise access and carefully weave through natural elements. Nestled in behind other established homes, the battle-axe site is often overlooked for its challenges and absence of frontage; the opportunity to take advantage of the naturally occurring privacy spurred the team to experiment. As a private escape, the non-conventional approach instead creates its own series of exterior anchors, which the built elements circulate. MJA Studio, Studio Roam and IOTA all combine across the architecture and interior design to create meaningful engagement for its owners, as a unique place of recharge and personality.

The seasonal nature of the plantings creates a moving animation from every framed angle, allowing the home and the experience within alter throughout the year.

With the main access created off the laneway, the home itself is reversed in terms of where the face occurs, allowing a better connection to the adjacent public park. The structure is a conversation between the interior volumes and void elements, and how they can complement one another. By prioritising openings and visual access to the garden, pockets are created internally that allow the home to breathe, whilst a more generous internal courtyard space combines privacy and embeds sustainable gestures. The seasonal nature of the plantings creates a moving animation from every framed angle, allowing the home and the experience within alter throughout the year.

A varied material palette sees concrete, brick and masonry form the exterior of the home, where bright blue glazed tiles offer a focal point and create a surface for reflection and engagement with incoming light. A simple palette then continues internally, with polished concrete forming walls and flooring as a robust and low maintenance base for longevity. Layers of textiles and texture soften the edges and surface face whilst pockets of timber are added to bring in a sense of warmth and a connection to the natural. Making the building work was a key part of the brief – capturing energy, abating and controlling solar, and the integration of a landscaped roof surface help to regulate the internal temperature and lessen the carbon footprint in the process.

A varied material palette sees concrete, brick and masonry form the exterior of the home, where bright blue glazed tiles offer a focal point and create a surface for reflection and engagement with incoming light.

Spread over multiple levels, Jimmy’s Place is the result of a curious team working to create a uniquely personable and responsive home for the architect themselves. MJA Studio, Studio Roam and IOTA ensure the continued relevance of the structure – a series of gestures that are unique to both the site and how the client wanted to live, naturally.