GROTTO

GROTTO For beauty in Architecture — residential, interiors, landscapes and planning We pay attention.

GROTTO is devoted to crafting spaces that balance beauty, structure, and function, adding a timeless and poetic touch to our surroundings. Our approach is rooted in traditional values and punctuated by contemporary thought — we are as inspired by the simplicity of a line as we are by the complexity of nature. Our approach highlights practical simplicity, shaping environmentally-responsive spaces.

Inspired by established design principles, our projects advocate timeless arrangements for adaptability, longevity, and ecological responsibility. We skillfully create inviting and captivating spaces that seamlessly integrate with their built and natural landscapes. We adopt an open-minded and curious attitude, finding inspiration in both the ordinary and the extraordinary. Embracing lessons from the past and anticipating the future is vital in shaping buildings that have a positive impact on our lives, culture, and landscapes. Above all, our guiding principle is that exceptional architecture stems from skilled, passionate, and dedicated individuals collaborating in an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and perseverance. We value our relationships with clients, aiming to fully understand and fulfill their vision while ensuring a transparent, enjoyable design process. Our team's collective knowledge covers every stage of the building process, from conceptualization to construction, emphasising BIM management for optimal efficiency across various project scales. Whether working on a small residential renovation or a large commercial project, our focus remains on creating architecture that contributes positively to our shared environment and culture. We observe, listen, propose, iterate, stand back, and repeat until the problem is solved, the proportion is right and the outcome makes for a better world.

STICKS — Roux house progress with  and  The stage is the first feeling of the spaces. The sense of compression and relea...
10/04/2026

STICKS — Roux house progress with and

The stage is the first feeling of the spaces. The sense of compression and release (ceilings from 2.1m > 2.7m > 3.9m > 4.3m), scale, framing of the landscape and the overall general flow. Feels good.

Photos

ROUX — 3x roofs . 3x pavilions . 2x courtyards . 1x rockUnder construction with  Model by
27/03/2026

ROUX — 3x roofs . 3x pavilions . 2x courtyards . 1x rock

Under construction with

Model by

PLAY — early design work for a cabin in the south west.Architecture is a serious act but it most always begins with the ...
25/03/2026

PLAY — early design work for a cabin in the south west.

Architecture is a serious act but it most always begins with the instinct of play.

Model

SUNROOM — WIP on-site Great to see progress look this good
18/03/2026

SUNROOM — WIP on-site

Great to see progress look this good

SHAUN HAGENSONArchitectural TechnicianShaun brings nearly two decades of construction and design experience to GROTTO St...
14/03/2026

SHAUN HAGENSON
Architectural Technician

Shaun brings nearly two decades of construction and design experience to GROTTO Studio. He has worked across residential and commercial projects from concept through to completion, navigating drafting, building compliance, and on-site coordination with technical assurance. His deep knowledge of how buildings come together ensures our design intent is delivered with accuracy and confidence.

Currently studying Architecture at The University of Western Australia, Shaun builds on formal qualifications in Construction and Building Design & Technology, alongside specialist training in energy compliance and digital documentation.

Outside the studio, Shaun is most at home building and renovating — especially his own house — driven by a love of craft, materials, and respect for traditional building methods. He believes in respecting the old while embracing the new, adapting proven techniques to contemporary construction demands.

A reliable and detail-focused contributor, Shaun strengthens every project he touches and is a key asset to the GROTTO team.

Photo

08/03/2026

LONG CABIN — A cabin shaped by forest.

Form and construction are one: locally sourced cedar logs interlock as structure, anchored to existing granite, with precise openings cut to hold forest, water, and horizon.

LONG CABIN
08/03/2026

LONG CABIN

LONG CABIN — A cabin shaped by forest.The plan is a line that follows the site contours and sits across the granite crop...
06/03/2026

LONG CABIN — A cabin shaped by forest.

The plan is a line that follows the site contours and sits across the granite crop. Public spaces are kept central — kitchen, dining, living — with sleeping rooms pushed to the quieter end, facing the forest.

Circulation runs along an engawa-like edge: a continuous threshold that links rooms to decks and outdoor terraces, and keeps the house working as one clear sequence.

The bathing spaces drop into the ground below. Onsen, sauna, and cold plunge are treated as heavier, more enclosed rooms, set into stone and concrete, with framed views back out to the forest, stream, and ocean.



LONG CABIN  ロングキャビン — A home shaped by forest.Our proposal for the Not A Hotel international competition is formed and s...
05/03/2026

LONG CABIN ロングキャビン — A home shaped by forest.

Our proposal for the Not A Hotel international competition is formed and structured by landscape.

On Yakushima Island, slow-growing cedar rises from granite-rich soil, producing dense structural timber. The architecture grows from this condition: a raw log-cabin structure, cut with expansive openings that frame forest, mountain, and ocean.

Set within an existing clearing, the building stretches across the terrain, resting lightly on granite boulders to draw a single line between mountain and ocean.

Existing ponds and streams are repaired, restoring local biodiversity and forming a cultivated Japanese garden. A vast northern opening holds this scene like a Muromachi-era suiboku-ga landscape scroll — garden in the foreground, mountains stacked in depth beyond.

Rather than competing with the setting, the house becomes a bridge through it: forest to the north, ocean to the south. Timber, stone, water, and weather choreograph the atmosphere — heavy rain overhead, flowing stream below, and a natural pool drawn into the onsen, nestled beside the site’s existing granite boulder.

Not A Hotel International Competition
Yakushima Island, Japan.

INGO WURM —  Student of ArchitectureIngo is in his third year of architecture at The University of Western Australia  an...
04/03/2026

INGO WURM — Student of Architecture

Ingo is in his third year of architecture at The University of Western Australia and contributes to GROTTO Studio while developing his emerging design voice. Thoughtful and precise, he has a natural sensitivity to light, framing, and spatial proportion which underpins his growing confidence as an architect in training.

As the studio’s key model maker and architectural photographer, Ingo’s eye for composition and detail strengthens the way our ideas are tested and communicated. His curiosity runs deep: he sees architecture not only as form and structure, but as a social and cultural force that shapes how people live and interact.

With a background in physics, Ingo brings an analytical edge — positioned between human sensibility and the fundamental forces that govern the natural world. This balance allows him to approach design with both intuition and logic, grounding his ambitions with clarity.


Photo

LiDAR — Franklin Street Cottage as-is All of our renovation and addition projects are point cloud scanned for accuracy a...
03/03/2026

LiDAR — Franklin Street Cottage as-is

All of our renovation and addition projects are point cloud scanned for accuracy and historical record. Even some new builds too which capture the context for views and privacy.

The current state that we find these tired and often forgotten about homes are so important to our design process and to recording in detail even a little bit of our built heritage.

Works to begin soon on its refurbishment and later its addition.

Address

1/14 LEURA Street
Cottesloe, WA
6009

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