Acquiring a sloping block in Esperance, Western Australia, the owners of ‘The Myrtle,’ engaged &Dalecki to create an approachable family sanctuary with lasting appeal. Drawing synergies between the south-west’s vernacular and the clients’ farming backgrounds, the design team embraced agrarian references and honest, hard-wearing materials, ensuring the home would endure, age favourably and further settle into place over time.

The block’s position within Esperance’s bustling town centre inspired &Dalecki to consider the large family dwelling as a private retreat grounded amongst the landscape. Given the home’s scale, the second storey is thoughtfully set back from the frontage, discreetly concealing the home’s full volume from the predominantly single-level streetscape. Inspired by Esperance’s industrial port, surrounding farms and coastal shacks, a palette of recycled brickwork, charred timber cladding, exposed steel rafters and raw, off-form concrete imparts a contemporary, Australiana aesthetic – a tender homage to the clients and locale.

Through the narrow entry, ‘The Myrtle’ opens as a light-filled sequence of spaces set around a central, north-facing courtyard. The entry level comprises two bedrooms, a bathroom, powder room and study with framed views across the courtyard’s striking weeping willow tree. Descending a half flight of stairs, a generous kitchen and dining space open laterally to a tiered courtyard and sheltered alfresco. While the house nurtures and protects the homeowners from the elements, broad sliding doors allow this volume to be opened to the landscape, celebrating the clients’ love of good food, nature and outdoor entertaining.

At the rear, a cosy living room offers a snug escape for the family to unwind, accentuated by the mellow warmth of its timber-lined ceiling and bespoke fireplace. At the home’s centre, a curved timber-lined wall conceals a hidden door to the main bedroom sanctuary above, where angled windows capture elevated views across the alfresco’s roof garden to the neighbouring treetops and sunrise. Throughout, tailored views, voids and skylights overlay the interior with washes of ever-changing light, playfully animated by the continuation of tactile, architectural materials, set against crafted elements and accents of stone, hand-glazed mosaic tiles, fluted glass and dark cabinetry.

Through its thoughtful planning and nostalgic materials, ‘The Myrtle’ creates a sanctuary of retreat and security for the homeowners – a ‘safe place’ that reflects their humble spirit and fosters a genuine sense of belonging. The home’s enduring presence lends a grounded perpetuity – a quiet refuge that seems to have always been there, and one that will stand for generations to come.