House K
Architectural brickwork featuring handmade Krause Emperor Ghost slimline brick and custom curved walls for House K in Cottesloe.
House K is a coastal home in Cottesloe designed by Palassis Architects, where bold architectural curves meet a refined palette of natural materials.
The brickwork plays an important role in softening the building’s strong geometry. Krause Emperor Ghost handmade slimline bricks were selected for their light coastal tone, subtle texture, and natural variation — a material that suits the surrounding environment while still delivering a strong architectural presence.
To complement the bricks, we used a rolled joint finish and a custom off-white mortar blend made from white building sand and coastal crème cement. This helped maintain a soft, consistent appearance while allowing the natural character of the handmade bricks to come through.
The result is brickwork that reads clean and minimal from a distance, but reveals texture, craftsmanship and subtle colour variation when viewed up close.
Builder: Talo Construction
Architect: Palassis Architects
Location: Cottesloe, Perth
Brickwork: Red Rock Brickworks
The Brickwork Challenge
One of the biggest challenges on this project was the number of custom radii built into the design.
Across the home, there are 40 curved walls, combining both structural brickwork and face brickwork. Each curve had to be carefully set out to ensure the brick courses flowed cleanly from straight sections into the radii.
Because the Krause Emperor Ghost bricks are handmade, every brick is slightly different in shape and texture. That variation is part of their beauty, but it also means each brick needs to be read and placed carefully during construction.
Slimline bricks also require almost double the number of units per square metre compared to standard bricks, increasing both handling and accuracy requirements.
With curved walls, handmade materials, and slimline formats all working together, precision in setting out and joint spacing was critical to keep the curves smooth and consistent across the entire build.
On Site at House K
Hear from Ryan as he walks through one of the curved brick walls on site and explains the challenges of working with handmade slimline bricks.
Projects like House K require careful planning, precise setting out, and a strong understanding of how materials behave when working with custom radiuses.
Our Approach
Material Selection
A custom off-white mortar blend was developed to complement the natural tones of the Emperor Ghost bricks without overpowering them.
Rolled Joint Finish
Rolled joints were chosen to soften the brickwork and reduce harsh shadow lines, helping the walls sit comfortably within the coastal environment.
On-Site Brick Blending
Bricks were hand-blended during installation to distribute natural colour variation evenly across each elevation.
Curved Wall Execution
Careful joint spacing and alignment were required to maintain smooth transitions between straight walls and curved radiuses.
Coastal Conditions
Work sequencing was carefully managed to maintain consistent mortar colour across the project.
Design Intent
Early architectural renders from Palassis Architects show the strong curved forms that define the home. The brickwork was designed to soften these shapes and provide a natural material counterpoint to the surrounding concrete elements.
Brickwork in Progress
During construction, careful planning and sequencing were required to ensure the curved brickwork remained consistent throughout the build.
The handmade slimline bricks were blended on site and laid with precise joint spacing to maintain smooth flowing radiuses.
The Finished Result
From a distance, the brickwork reads as clean and restrained, allowing the architecture to take centre stage.
Up close, the character of the handmade bricks becomes more visible — subtle tonal shifts, natural texture, and soft shadow lines created by the rolled joints.
It’s a finish that doesn’t try to dominate the architecture, but quietly reinforces it — the kind of detail builders, architects, and designers notice immediately.
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