A Sense of Harmony – Enclosed House II by MORQ

Distinctively private and secure from the outset, Enclosed House II comes together as a refined sequence of spaces that celebrate openness. MORQ uses expert restraint in proposing a home that can be locked up and left and secures the interior as a place of refuge amid its animated surrounds.

Warm and textural, Enclosed House honours both place and purpose. Taking key inspiration from the red earth it sits upon and the richness of steel that comprises its structural and cladding face, the resulting form doubles as a private retreat and a home that can open up and accommodate an audience of guests. Allowing the house to feel appropriate in both smaller and larger settings, the ability to open and close the spaces was integral, and the integration of a customised glazing system ensures the functionality of the rooms. MORQ uses restraint in designing how each of the spaces come together and in the selection of materials that comprise the home.

Taking key inspiration from the red earth it sits upon and the richness of steel that comprises its structural and cladding face, the resulting form doubles as both a private retreat and an place of togetherness.

Needing to be able to be locked and left, the architecture feels almost fortress-like from approach. Once inside, there is a deliberate passage created through long and linear spaces that feels slightly compressed, emphasised by the dark materiality used. As the structure then opens to the enclosed internal courtyard, air and light flow into the interior. With thinly framed sliding windows that can be pulled away as needed, the home is able to be expanded significantly to enhance its scale and accommodate for a larger number of people to gather.

Located in central Perth, the home enjoys access to the river and everyday amenities. While the approach to materiality and form takes leave from the wider story of Western Australia – known as the mining state and rich in minerals – it also needed to sit appropriately within the existing urban fabric. The single-storey home is ideal for its two owners and takes full advantage of its site with long vistas that connect the interior to the surrounding landscape. The integration of difused light also pulls movement between zones and directs occupants outside.

MORQ bring their known restraint in how each of the spaces come together, and in the contained palette of elements.

Encased in textured masonry and weathered steel panels, Enclosed House II creates a deliberate theme of connection across the site. From the entry and through to each resulting space, MORQ ensures the home feels protective and retreat-like, disconnected from the outside world.