Long before City Beach became one of Perth’s most sought-after coastal suburbs, it played host to a quiet architectural revolution that helped shape the future of residential design in Western Australia.
In 1956, when Perth made the successful bid to host the British Empire and Commonwealth games, it was faced with a challenge: how to house over 1,000 athletes?
The solution came in the form of a bold architectural experiment nestled in the coastal dunes of City Beach; an athletes’ village that would quietly echo the ideals of the Case Study Houses movement unfolding half a world away in California.
The Case Study Houses, a post-war American initiative led by Arts & Architecture magazine, sought to redefine residential living through modernist principles: open-plan layouts, integration with the landscape, and the use of new materials and technologies. Though the movement was rooted in the U.S., its influence rippled globally and found fertile ground in 65 acres of sandy City Beach bushland.
The Games Village was the first purpose-built athletes’ village in Commonwealth Games history. Designed through a series of competitions, the layout by K. Thomas and H. Walker embraced the natural contours of the land. Streets curved gently, avoiding the rigidity of grid planning, and a central spine of preserved bushland, now Beecroft Park, offered a green heart to the community.
The value of thoughtful architecture
But it was the homes themselves that most clearly echoed the Case Study ethos. Forty local architects submitted 166 designs, and ten were selected for construction. The winning design by Silver, Fairbrother and Associates showcased a modernist flair: low-slung forms, wide eaves, open-plan interiors, and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. Kitchens were placed at the heart of the home – an unusual move at the time – signalling a shift toward more casual, family-oriented living.
Though modest in budget (ranging from £4,250 to £5,000), these homes were thoughtfully designed and deeply connected to their environment. They represented a local response to the Case Study challenge: how to build affordable, beautiful homes suited to a modern lifestyle in Perth’s coastal climate.
After the Games, the village was opened to the public. Over 20,000 people visited, curious to see this new kind of living. Within months, all the homes were sold. For many, it was their first taste of modern architecture – an introduction to a way of living that prioritised openness, simplicity, and connection to nature.
A Games Village home, inspired by the ideals of the Case Study Houses.
Over time, many of the original homes were altered or replaced, but the legacy of the village endures. The road layout remains, as does the parkland spine. And the thinking behind the original homes is just as relevant today.
A response to history and place
When Humphrey Homes was approached to design a single-storey residence in City Beach, our in-house Architect, Helen Marchesani, drew inspiration from this rich architectural heritage. The brief called for a generous family home that embraced natural light and ventilation.
Humphrey Homes responded with a design that honours modernist traditions—clean horizontal lines, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and a material palette of timber, stone, and expansive glazing. From the street, the home is deliberately understated and introverted. But step inside, and you’re welcomed into a light-filled sanctuary that embraces its northern aspect and garden outlook.
In recognition of the way we live today, the home is anchored by a self-contained apartment (perfect for guests or multi-gen living) with the option of a separate entrance. A separate cabana at the rear of the block houses a home gym.
While the architectural language is timeless, this home is a response to a lifestyle that is distinctly contemporary.