Hidden laneway haven: Olive House is up for grabs

It’s not infrequent that we hear comments filled with disbelief – either from friends, or on social media – when we post a particularly luscious architectural beauty.

“This is in Perth? Western Australia?”

Well, you obviously haven’t been paying much attention to our Perth is OK! drum-beating over the past almost-decade… We’ll refrain from taking offence. After all, some architectural delights are a little more more hard to find.

One such hidden treasure? Olive House, designed by architect David Weir and tucked away down Leederville’s Melaleuca Lane – and (we’re happy to report) freshly on the market.

Tasked with creating a light-filled, unique home on a petite block close to Mount Hawthorn, North Perth and Leederville, Weir’s design combines stark industrial materiality with an inherent understanding of liveable space.

So while the exterior is graphic and bold in the vastness of its black, block-like façade… It conceals a family-friendly haven.

While we’d normally start at the front door, we can’t resist starting at the rooftop terrace: a splendidly leafy crown atop the home.

We may feel compelled to start here because it’s one example of how infill blocks – tight though they may be – can still adeptly utilise outdoor living space. Flowing from the secondary living area on the top floor of the home, the “sky deck” begs for morning coffees, sunset drinks and evenings chatting under the stars.

Similarly, the ground floor’s open plan living and kitchen connects seamlessly to the backyard – expanding both spaces to feel twice their size.

(Landscaping is designed by Jem Hanbury Studios, briefed to create a lush, low-maintenance garden that feels like it’s been there for years.)

Crisp white walls, polished concrete, black powder coated steel and plywood combine to create a sleek, industrial interior – the black expanse of the minimalistic kitchen offset by the connection to the organic lushness of the garden outside through those expansive glass doors.

Three of the four bedrooms can be found on the floor above, with the primary suite boasting a large bank of inbuilt storage and its own spacious ensuite.

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Fallen in love? Check out the listing for 15 Melaleuca Lane here.