Nullaki.

The Nullaki is a remote peninsular in the wild and untouched Great Southern Region of Western Australia. The original owners of this land are the Menang cultural group of the wider Noongar region. David’s block is zoned conservation, like much of the area, requiring a specialised flora and fauna report to ensure no endangered species or habitats would be affected by the development. We were approached to design something special.

We managed to fit two bedrooms with a loft each, a full master suite, an open kitchen, dining, living, a mudroom, bathroom, and a generous outdoor living into a modest 150sqm footprint. The house pivots around a central double-sided fire. This centralised mass, awards the fire the same value as if the inhabitants were camping.  The house is entirely off grid with a solar powered supply system, and rainwater is harvested from the roof.

David’s family hold Japanese heritage, and he spent a large portion of his life in the country. From an early point, we bonded over a mutual respect and admiration for Japanese architecture. With this influence, the Nullaki house fundamentally encourages a minimalist way of life, connected to landscape.

Build Andrew Finnigan

Photography Olive Lipscombe “Peggy Voir”