Midcentury Modern ● Renovation and Retrofit
Reframe House
Designed by Matt Burleigh ● Concept Design
Originally built as a typical double brick and tiled suburban home, Reframe House began with a different question: what if the most valuable parts of the existing house could become the foundation for something far better.
Rather than demolish and start again, this high performance home renovation in Perth strips the dwelling back to its core structure and rebuilds it for the way people want to live now. By removing the roof entirely and reworking the building envelope through Passive House principles, the project aims to create a healthier, more efficient and more generous home while retaining the solidity and permanence of the original bones.
Materially, the project is guided by reuse where practical and selective replacement where it matters most. The retained masonry shell provides a durable foundation, while new external elements are introduced to improve thermal performance, weather protection, and the overall longevity of the home.
Rather than chasing trends or over-finishing the renovation, the palette is intentionally calm and enduring — clean forms, honest materials, and carefully chosen textures that bring warmth to the existing structure. The result is a sustainable home renovation in Perth that feels contemporary without losing substance, showing how an older suburban house can be reframed into something efficient, refined, and built to last.