Casa Riviera, Maylands, Perth real estate design

Casa Riviera in Perth

18 August 2026

Design: X-space architects

Location: Swan River, Maylands, Perth, Western Australia

Photos © Blake Hobson

Perched above the Swan River in Maylands, Casa Riviera is a contemporary family residence that challenges conventional assumptions about what can be achieved on a compact urban site. Designed by X-Space Architects and built by Fellowship Homes, the 340m² home occupies a modest 267m² lot, transforming a constrained parcel of land into a light-filled retreat that captures expansive river views, city glimpses and a lifestyle more commonly associated with luxury penthouses and boutique hotels.

The project was born from a desire to create a home that felt aspirational without being excessive. The clients sought a residence that would maximise its elevated position while delivering the comfort, durability and practicality required for everyday family life. The result is a home that feels remarkably generous despite the site’s limitations, proving that thoughtful design can often achieve more than additional floor area alone.

Central to the design is an upside-down arrangement that positions the primary living spaces on the upper level. Here, the kitchen, dining and living areas open onto a generous entertaining balcony, creating a seamless connection between the interior and the surrounding landscape. Elevated above neighbouring properties, these spaces enjoy abundant natural light, cooling breezes and uninterrupted views across the Swan River and Perth skyline.

A recurring language of curves is woven throughout the project, establishing continuity from the exterior architecture through to the interior spaces and bespoke detailing. These softer forms balance the home’s strong geometric structure, creating a sense of elegance, warmth and refinement. Carefully considered proportions, integrated storage solutions and a restrained material palette allow the architecture itself to take centre stage.

While the home’s appearance is contemporary, its construction remains firmly grounded in a traditional Western Australian mindset. The client’s brief specifically called for masonry construction and proven building systems that would provide longevity, robustness and a sense of permanence. Constructed using acrylic rendered brickwork and suspended concrete slab construction, Casa Riviera embraces the building methodologies that have shaped generations of Western Australian homes while demonstrating their ongoing relevance in contemporary architecture.

Remarkably, the project was delivered within a modest ten-month construction period. Rather than relying on highly engineered systems or extravagant finishes, the home achieves its sense of luxury through disciplined planning, thoughtful detailing and a focus on creating spaces that simply feel right. The outcome is both sophisticated and approachable—an environment that balances the atmosphere of a private retreat with the functionality of a family home.

Casa Riviera ultimately demonstrates that exceptional architecture is not defined by the size of a site or the scale of a budget. Through careful design, traditional craftsmanship and a clear vision, a compact urban lot has been transformed into a home that feels expansive, enduring and deeply connected to its place.

What makes this project unique?
Casa Riviera demonstrates how a relatively modest 267m² home can feel significantly larger through thoughtful planning and spatial efficiency. The project challenges the perception that exceptional family homes require large sites or excessive floor areas.

How would you describe the design language?
A recurring language of curves is woven throughout the project, creating a sense of continuity from the landscape and exterior architecture through to the interior spaces. These softer forms balance the home’s strong geometric structure and contribute to a more refined and welcoming environment.

How long did the project take to build?
Casa Riviera was built by Fellowship Homes and completed in approximately 10 months, demonstrating the efficiencies that can be achieved through close collaboration between designer and builder.

What do you like most about the home?
Casa Riviera delivers a lifestyle typically associated with luxury penthouses, boutique hotels and significantly larger budgets. The home feels both sophisticated and relaxed, combining expansive views, abundant natural light and carefully curated spaces that encourage everyday enjoyment.

What I appreciate most is that this outcome wasn’t achieved through extravagant spending or unnecessarily complex construction techniques. Instead, it was the result of thoughtful design, disciplined planning and a strong focus on proportion, materiality and detailing. The project was constructed using traditional Western Australian building methods and relied on readily available trades and practical construction solutions.

There is a sense that everything sits comfortably in its place. The spaces flow naturally, the proportions feel balanced and the home responds intuitively to the way it is lived in. The architecture doesn’t rely on a single feature or statement piece; rather, it is the collective result of many considered decisions working together.

For me, Casa Riviera demonstrates that great architecture is not defined by budget alone. With the right design approach, it is possible to create a home that feels aspirational, refined and enduring without requiring the resources typically reserved for the rich and famous.