We're taught that deception is a bad thing. The domain of mysterious international spies. Or your cheating, good-for-nothing, dirtbag of an ex. But when it comes to our houses, deception can be a very, very good thing. I present to you Perched House, a project that uses deception for good, not evil. In this case, Wexhaus Architecture created an efficient layout and turned up the natural light to create a home that feels much larger than the reality.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-9246997c.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-0e9761ba.jpg)
"Our client wanted to renovate the existing rear extension which was structurally sound and add a bedroom - she had no idea we would reconfigure the entire house" jokes Wesley Spencer of Wexhaus Architecture.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-0bc085a0.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-e24e77c7.jpg)
The renovation of a typical, narrow, inner-city, semi-detached Edwardian house tends to follow a pretty standard formula - out of necessity. Stacking rooms one after the other on the narrow block creates a deep plan that can feel dark and cramped in the centre. Wexhaus Architecture recognised this problem and focused on neatening the planning and eliminating dead space to fit everything in a compact footprint.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-6828d579.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-42b70939.jpg)
The architects utilised the exisiting extension as much as possible, but dealing with existing structures is always a challenge. "As we peeled back the layers, we gradually discovered more and more needed rebuilding. Thankfully, the client was very patient", Wesley explains.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-9fce9ee7.jpg)
The architects solution was to 'perch' a COLORBOND® steel-clad upper storey bedroom and bathroom slightly higher than the other bedroom. This creates higher ceiling heights in the lower level and space for clerestory windows.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-fcb577cb.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-f278e30b.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-636a42af.jpg)
"We have a bedroom directly off the landing, then continue up a few more steps to reach the bathroom and rear perched bedroom. Sweeping the ceiling up with a curve just made sense after that."
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-0acf25cb.jpg)
Back downstairs, the curved flourish and clerestory windows makes the lower level kitchen and living area feel dramatic - lofty, even - whilst letting in as much natural light as possible. The raised ceiling over the dining area also matches the high ceiling in the original home.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-0598ddfc.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-585b9b5f.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-d09b53f7.jpg)
The kitchen is the focus of the new addition, creating a versatile entertaining and living space. "The kitchen was a very important component of the design as her partner is a chef - this had to take pride of place since entertaining and social gatherings around the island bench is a way of life for them", says Wesley.
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-5a55b2e3.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-e4381a28.jpg)
For a relatively compact space, Perched House works hard. "The space is in fact quite small, but no one would think so", says Wesley. See, deception isn't all bad...
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-d3c2a3e0.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-141a69a8.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-e6e1cfcd.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-32ebd7e7.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-46361218.jpg)
![Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light](https://media.lunchboxarchitect.com/fit-in/540x540/featured/perched-house-rara-architecture/perched-house-rara-architecture-a74ea0d8.jpg)