Open And Shut

A collaboration between a design studio and a furnishing company gives rise to an iconic house in Western Australia.

- Isabelle Tow

How does one build a memorable house on a site facing a picturesque lake? That was the question Perth-based design studio State of Kin was posed, and Shutter House was their creative reply.

Situated on a steep slope that overlooks Lake Monger, Shutter House takes its name after its mechanical battened timber façade that allows the feature to be opened and closed. Cast in concrete and clad in locally sourced stringybark battened timber, the three-storey structure materialises the vision to capture views of the lake opposite, whilst maintaining privacy and control of natural light.

For the interiors, the team wanted to create an enduring design statement that championed raw and expressive materials. Noting the average homeowner’s aversion to bold colours, State of Kin co-founder Alessandra Rich saw the project as an opportunity to demonstrate that colour could be “sophisticated and mature.” The design studio had the fortune of partnering Mobilia, a company specialising in high-end designer products, to ensure that the home was furnished and finished to the high standard the designers strived to achieve.