Local architect David Weir believes a building should be ‘crafted and sculpted’, not churned out like the carbon-copy residential estates that continue to pop up throughout Perth. So for the Home edition of Out In Perth, we spoke to Weir about the importance of individuality.
‘I try and guide people as far away from trends as possible… I think the idea of trend and fashion in building and construction and design is obviously a massive marketing coup for someone, somewhere,’ Weir said.
The architect is wary of people who chase the fashions of the time; he said while a house may look trendy for a certain period, inevitably its time would pass and people would be left with an artefact of that era. Instead, Weir promotes design and function.
‘Good design outlasts any fashion and so you try create something unique that works for that person and works for their place and does the job for them. [Good design] ignores whatever someone is putting in a magazine somewhere because that works elsewhere.’
Weir found that prototype homes did a disservice to buyers; he was shocked at the lack of consideration given to homes in what appears to be a one-size-fits-all mould.
‘When you see houses going up that don’t have any windows to light the bedrooms; don’t allow breezes; don’t allow shading for when it’s hot; I mean it gets to 45 degrees in Perth and you don’t have shading on your windows, I still can’t believe that it’s not illegal to build houses that don’t service the climate like that.’
‘I think Architecture proper, although there are hundreds of good architects in Perth; I think architecture proper is still marginalised, especially in the residential area.
Weir knows the importance of purpose-built homes; he just completed his own apartment in North Perth’s industrial area. The surrounding area contributed greatly to the overall aesthetic in materials right through to its final appearance. Weir said there was a perception that architects design ‘big houses for rich people and that’s it’ which he is quick to dispel.
‘The most of us make our way doing clever renovations and changing around existing houses to make them work better or even more and more, building small houses that do a better job than what you could do otherwise with a project home builder.’
The lesson to learn from Weir is that while most homes generally have four walls and a roof, individual purpose and style should dictate the layout of a home. And just like the LGBT community, I guess a home can be the same and different.
Benn Dorrington
