Solace House
Japandi Inspired Home ● Residential Design
Designed by Matt Burleigh ● Construction Underway
Solace House is a compact, wellness-driven extension designed by Cynosure Architecture for a young family in Greenmount, Perth Hills. Located in a BAL-FZ zone, the 30 sqm addition responds to extreme bushfire conditions while introducing calm, clarity, and connection to nature. The layout creates new bathroom and yoga spaces that open to a central courtyard, with the design drawing on Japandi principles—balancing clean forms, tactile surfaces, and a soft, natural palette.
Designed for a BAL-FZ site in Greenmount, Solace House reflects a deeper commitment to wellness, performance, and environmental resilience. The new spaces were tailored for the family’s young daughter, whose asthma informed a clean-air design strategy—prioritising natural ventilation, breathable materials, and a strong visual connection to the outdoors. A darker, industrial-inspired palette contrasts with soft timber detailing, grounding the interiors in both calm and texture. Sustainability measures including solar power and rainwater harvesting extend the project’s performance beyond compliance—demonstrating how a small bushfire-compliant extension can still offer richness, clarity, and restorative intent.
THE EXISTING RESIDENCE
THE PROPOSED DESIGN
Though modest in footprint, Solace House offers a clear model for resilient, wellness-focused architecture in bushfire-prone regions. Designed for a BAL-FZ site in Perth’s eastern hills and built by the owners themselves, the project embraces simplicity without compromise. From fire-resistant cladding to the inward-facing courtyard, every decision was made to support comfort, clean air, and long-term durability. It’s a personal, grounded example of how thoughtful, bushfire-compliant design can also be calm, beautiful, and deeply human.
A bushfire home design in Western Australia by Cynosure Architecture.