From the street, you’d never guess this home in Esperance, Western Australia, unfolds over multiple levels and encloses a central courtyard—and that’s just the way owner Lachie Mitchell likes it.

He also uses the home as headquarters for his construction business, Artique Built. That’s why privacy was one of his highest priorities when he began the design process. “When you run a business from home, managing boundaries with clients is always important,” he says. “If I put my car in garage, it lets people know I’m not available,” he says.

But because he planned to welcome clients to the property for meetings, he knew the house needed to act as a portfolio piece, showing off his creativity and expertise with materials suited to the harsh environment like concrete and steel.

Esperance, a remote town on the south coast of Western Australia, is known for its industrial port, agriculture, and postcard-perfect beaches and Barbie-pink lakes. But the winds off the ocean can whip. “It comes from either the southwest or southeast, depending on the season,” Lachie explains. “You can spend a couple of hours at the beach here but you usually get blown away by lunchtime.”

Lachie grew up in the area, so he knew what he was doing when he bought a large sloping block a few streets back from the beach. He subdivided the land, and about five years ago, teamed up with Perth firm Dalecki Design to build a house on the north side of the block. That experience informed how he built his own home.

“Lachie was keen for us to work with the natural fall of the land so the house was protected from the weather, but he also wanted something that wasn’t too elaborate in the streetscape—something pared back and grounded,” says Dalecki Design director Janik Dalecki. “From the street it’s perceived as a single-story home, but it actually has a second level hidden at the back.”

The narrow entryway at street level connects to bedrooms and Lachie’s office overlooking the garden, and from here, a half flight of stairs steps down into an airy kitchen and living room. In the center of the home, a curved wall clad in charred timber hides a staircase that leads to the main bedroom on the second story. It’s like a secret door to a private treetop sanctuary.

Lachie’s outdoor lifestyle played a big role in the design concept. Because he spends a lot of time at the beach surfing, kite surfing, and hiking, he wanted the house to feel connected to the setting. So, Dalecki and his team came up with a C-shaped floor plan that wraps around a central courtyard, punctuated with an off-form concrete pavilion.

“The house protects the courtyard from those prevailing eastern winds, but is exposed to the north to bring in as much winter sun as possible,” Dalecki says. “There’s a real sense of connectedness with the exterior elements, so as you navigate through the internal spaces, you always feel in touch with the landscape.”

The alfresco pavilion with its gentle curve and cascading rooftop garden is one of Lachie’s favorite moments, he says. “It was great being creative with the pavilion because I come from a background of civil construction where everything’s got to be overseen by an engineer and perfectly straight.” Now, he often finds himself keeping the sliding door open that connects the kitchen to the courtyard. “I eat outside most nights,” he says.

Leafy landscaping softens the raw edges of the exterior’s concrete, recycled brick, steel, and charred timber—low-maintenance, hard-working materials that are common in this industrial and agrarian town. “Lachie wanted the house to look as if it belonged, like it had been there for a long time,” Dalecki explains. “We chose materials that were going to stand the test of time, and age and patina and look beautiful in the process.”

Inside, more off-form concrete, charred timber, and dark tile make for a moody vibe, but with plenty of natural light flowing through windows and skylights, “it doesn’t feel dark and gloomy,” Dalecki says. “There’s a sense of space and openness. It’s a beautiful home, but it’s not a precious home. You can sit on the fireplace plinth and put your feet up or relax outdoors, sitting on the walls. It just feels peaceful.”

Given that privacy was Lachie’s number one priority, it’s no surprise that the living room at the rear is where he spends most of his time, relaxing with family, friends, and his dog, Bindi. “It’s just a great spot to sit and wind down from the day,” he points out. “And no one can see that you’re in there.”

Project Credits:

Designer: Dalecki Design / @dalecki_design

Builder: Artique Built

Structural Engineer: Lalli Consulting Engineers

Surveyor: Constructive Building Consultants

Energy: Northern Aspect Energy Consultants