The exceptional work of Perth-based Architecture firm spaceagency has really ‘taken off’ this year.

Having gained attention for his heritage restoration and renovation work around Perth, Michael Patroni changed the name of his practice nearly ten years ago.

Not only did this encourage a more team-focused small practice, but according to spaceagency architect Dimmity Walker, “marked a broadening of the range of the practice projects beyond historic buildings and hospitality projects”.

Most recently, spaceagency won the Peer Award at this year’s Think Brick Australia: About Face competition.

Their concept ‘Street Parti’ tackled the brief to ‘explore and challenge the notion of the ‘project home’… and deliver a solution that will turn current thinking on its ear’.

The team took on the challenge with a holistic approach by considering the broader implications of the whole neighbourhood, not just a single dwelling, something Walker argues, “is the reality of the project home market”.

“It is a celebration of the whole street, rather than the individual house,” she says.

When asked which project spaceagency is most proud of, Walker skirts a direct answer: “Each project has its own set of challenges and outcomes.”

But she does mention 32 Henry St, a multiple residential project, the recipient of multiple awards for conservation and residential design.

The project includes a new building consisting of ten apartments as well as commercial space within the historically significant ‘West End’ of Fremantle.

One of the challenges was to integrate the ruin of the front wall of a late nineteenth century cottage.

“The concept,” says Walker, “was to make confident and sensitive contemporary architecture within a significant heritage context that expresses continuity between the past, present and future.”

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