McGregor Residence

McGregor Residence

Floreat, Perth, Western Australia

TL;DR

The McGregor Residence demonstrates the transformative potential of renovation. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the project completely reimagines an existing home from within its original envelope, creating what is effectively a new house inside the structure of an old one.

Almost all internal walls were removed, existing openings were repositioned and the entire floorplan was redesigned around natural light, landscape and contemporary family living. The new L-shaped plan centres the kitchen, dining and living spaces around a northern alfresco and pool, creating strong connections between indoor and outdoor life while maximising solar access and environmental performance. Combined with a dramatic raking ceiling, new Jarrah flooring and carefully integrated landscape terraces, the project demonstrates how thoughtful adaptation can unlock value, sustainability and liveability without requiring complete demolition.

Reinventing an Existing Home

While technically a renovation, the project operates more like a complete redesign.

Almost every internal wall was removed and the floorplan reconsidered from first principles. Existing windows and doors were largely infilled and repositioned to suit the new design, allowing the house to be reorganised around natural light, family life and connection to landscape.

Within the limits of the existing building envelope, an entirely new home emerged.

The Power of the L-Plan

The new configuration is organised around an L-shaped plan centred on a northern alfresco and swimming pool.

Dedicated children’s and parents’ wings provide privacy and separation, while the kitchen, dining and living spaces form the social heart of the home. This arrangement not only improves functionality but ensures the primary living spaces enjoy a strong connection to the north, creating bright and highly usable areas throughout the year.

Above the living zone, a dramatic raking ceiling introduces volume, light and a strong architectural identity to the heart of the house.

Indoor and Outdoor Living

A key focus of the project was the relationship between the home and its outdoor spaces.

A substantial open-ring-beam pergola extends from the living areas, creating a flexible alfresco environment that remains connected to the house while preserving valuable northern sunlight. Operable louvres allow sunlight, shade and ventilation to be adjusted throughout the year, creating a dynamic outdoor space that evolves with the seasons.

Rather than functioning as an attachment, the pergola becomes an integral part of the architecture itself.

Working With the Landscape

The site’s steep topography provided an opportunity to create a series of connected outdoor environments.

Terraced levels step down through the site, beginning with the alfresco and entertaining spaces, continuing to a contemporary pool terrace and finally to the lawn and garden beyond. Pool fencing, retaining walls, barbecue elements and plinths were integrated into the architecture, allowing functional requirements to contribute to the overall composition rather than appearing as independent objects within the landscape.

The Value of Reuse

Beyond the spatial transformation, all wet areas were reconstructed to modern standards and new materials were introduced throughout, including Jarrah flooring that connects the entire home through a consistent architectural language.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of the project is what was retained. By maintaining the existing structure and reimagining it from within, the residence preserves significant embodied energy and material value while delivering the amenity and performance expected of a contemporary family home.

The McGregor Residence demonstrates that some of the most sustainable architecture is not new construction, but the thoughtful reinvention of what already exists.