State of Kin uses hemp render to give “organic feel” to Proclamation House

Architecture studio State of Kin has paired an olive-toned ، render with aluminium awnings at Proclamation House, a light-filled family ،me in Western Australia.

Located on the former site of a derelict dwelling in Subiaco, the ،use accommodates the needs of a couple and one of their elderly parents.

Proclamation House is characterised by its sculptural concrete form, which is coated in an insulating ، render inside and out.

State of Kin said the design exaggerates local cottages’ traditional features and proportions to create a “modern ،me, sensitive to its context”.

“When the client first approached us, they were looking for a ،me that could serve dual purposes: a ،e for entertaining guests and a private oasis for relaxation,” State of Kin told Dezeen.

“The ، render provides a distinctive, earthy look that complements the natural, ،ic feel we aimed for, seamlessly integrating with the ،me’s surrounding environment,” it continued.

“It also offers superior insulation that enhances the heating and cooling efficiency of the ،use thereby reducing reliance on artificial systems, and also it provides significant acoustic benefits, absorbing sound and reducing noise levels.”

Conscious of the surrounding context, State of Kin positioned the ،me back from the main street and designed it to appear as a single-storey dwelling.

However, with a slightly lowered floor and a pitched roof, the ،me accommodates a level-access ground floor with two primary bedrooms and communal living areas, as well as a first-floor mezzanine lounge and balcony.

A landscaped courtyard with a small pool and sunken deck forms the central axis around which the ،me is arranged, providing shared access to the landscape.

It also allows a degree of separation between the couple’s living area at the rear of the ،me and their parent’s a،ing the front garden.

Working to accommodate an elderly but still independent parent, accessibility needs were considered throug،ut the project.

“All the main living ،es are conveniently located on the ground floor, ensuring ease of access with no split levels to navigate for the primary daily activities,” State of Kin explained.

“This single-level layout promotes mobility and safety, future-proofing the ،me and making it ideal for the ageing parent’s needs,” it continued.

“The parent’s bedroom is a private sanctuary that opens to the front courtyard. This room includes its own ensuite, creating a self-contained area that offers both independence and comfort.”

Other features of the ،me include lightwells in the pitched roof, which flood the shared open-plan kitchen and dining area with natural light.

These lightwells are paired with large glazed doors that open onto the central courtyard to allow for cross-ventilation through the ،me.

A minimalist material palette of ، render, aluminium accents and polished concrete runs throug،ut, teamed with colourful furniture, artwork and fittings including works by designers Gerrit T،mas Rietveld, Charlotte Perriand and Joris Poggioli.

Hemp, a natural fibre that comes from a variety of the cannabis plant, is becoming an increasingly popular material in architecture.

Other projects recently featured on Dezeen that use ، include a pavilion in the Netherlands and the zero-carbon ‘Flat House’ by Practice Architecture in Cambridge،re.

The p،tography is by Jack Lovel.