If you love to entertain, you'll appreciate Claremont Residence by Keen Architecture. Designed for a young couple, one a law student and the other owner of a small technology company, the couple are "entertainers, homebodies and enjoy pretending to keep fit so the Claremont location affords the amenity that suits [their] often hectic lifestyles."
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-47da54f1.jpg)
While they love to entertain, it's also common for the couple to travel, so they wanted a house that could lock down - a lock-and-leave - while they're away. A house for entertaining that can also be safe and secure? It almost sounds like a contradiction. But Keen Architects have managed to crete a house that effortlessly does both.
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-d7bb80dd.jpg)
Other than that, the brief was relatively simple, "make it low maintenance, make it stand out and please try not to spend all my money in the process. As a business owner time is a precious resource so low maintenance was a key priority during the design process."
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-978de9ea.jpg)
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-418a7cf3.jpg)
The father of the client's girlfriend (a real estate agent) discovered the property, a recently subdivided site in trendy inner-city Claremont. "[He] made me climb the roof of the existing home which revealed a breathtaking treetop view, uninterrupted through to the hills."
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-a51c3aa9.jpg)
At just 6.7 metres wide, the Claremont site is narrow by Perth standards, but Kris from Keen Architecture had expereince working with even narrower sites in Melbourne - challenge accepted.
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-a620157d.jpg)
Centred around a central courtyard, the living area and kitchen can both spill into the outdoor space via bifold doors. The courtyard serves a couple of uses - it brings North light and warmth into the narrow home, encourages ventilation and virtually doubles the living space when open. The two-storey void also creates a secure outdoor space.
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-3ab24db6.jpg)
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-1a2e8b37.jpg)
"A feature timber screened balcony off the master suite punches though the steel portal frame again creating interest but also a lockable facade. The timber box has built in bi-folds which open to views of Claremont but can also be a private parents retreat."
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-fc20d1fa.jpg)
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-881abded.jpg)
Every entertainer's dream - a private roof deck - is even engineered to support a spa in the future. It takes advantage of the view of the city to the East and if you stand in the right spot you can catch a glimpse of Perth's beautiful Swan River.
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-10fec532.jpg)
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-85e09612.jpg)
"The house is inviting, and has plenty of space to entertain and escape be it a large gathering on the rooftop terrace, a quiet book on the front balcony, informal beers around the kitchen bench or long lunches in the internal courtyard shaded in summer by mature pear. Having only lived there a short amount of time, the house already feels like home."
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-9a352ceb.jpg)
The house even includes a car stacker to fit a double car garage on the narrow site. The "magic piece of machinery" was an expensive but valuable addition to the home, ensuring it's resale value will be maximised.
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-90e706bf.jpg)
![Claremont Residence Claremont Residence](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/claremont-residence-keen-architecture/claremont-residence-keen-architecture-556e91eb.jpg)