Can you re-create art without the artist? An iconic Iwan Iwanoff brutalist-style home in Perth's western suburbs has been rebuilt using the original 1960s blueprints, and the results are striking. The centre is a classic example of the brutalist style of architecture that took such a hold in Perth during the 1960s and '70s that we became renowned for it across Australia and even internationally. This international context enriches the local narrative and positions Perth as part of a global design dialogue.
Conclusion Brutalist buildings in Perth represent more than concrete and steel-they are stories etched in architecture. Though frequently misunderstood, they reveal an era of ambition, creativity, and societal transformation. Marsala House is a residential home in Dianella, in suburban Perth, Western Australia, designed by architect Iwan Iwanoff.
As of 2019, it is the youngest heritage-listed residence in Western Australia. [2] The brutalist concrete block home is considered "one of Perth's most iconic residences", [3] and colloquially referred to as the "Dianella Disco House" due to its checkerboard. From the light-up disco dance floor to re-creating 1970s light switches, not one single detail was overlooked in the immaculate restoration of Marsala House, the Brutalist work of acclaimed.
Originally from Bulgaria, Iwanoff arrived in Perth in the '50s, and would become one of our most celebrated architectural figures. While regarded as a brutalist, his aesthetic sensibilities - utilising playful and decorative shapes - is less sparse than many of his brutalist and modernist contemporaries. It's no more evident than in 1976's Marsala House; the exterior boasts one of.
In this edition of REIWA's Architectural Exploration, we look at Iwanoff's iconic brutalist style and the lasting legacy of these homes. $32.95, available from the AGWA Shop OPEN HOUSE PERTH GUIDEDTOURS FREE, bookings required In celebration of Open House Perth the Perth Brutal guided tours over the weekend of Sat 16 and Sun 17 November will examine the Art Gallery of Western Australia building as an artwork and Brutalist icon of Perth architectural history. Listed by ZSA ZSA Property, the house was built circa 1971 by the Bulgarian-born visionary who left his mark on Perth's property and design scene with his signature Brutalist style.
