The house at 34 Fihelly Street, Fadden (also known as the Pepper House) was designed by Philip Cox in 1983. It is one of a small number of domestic scale buildings in Canberra designed by Cox, others being the Jerilderie Court Housing (1975) and the Embassy of Ireland (1975).

The house is sited backing the McArthur Hill Canberra Nature Park with views to the Brindabella Ranges. The form of the surrounding hills is echoed in the three curved roof pavilions of the house and garage.

Extensive glazing to the front and north of the house takes advantage of these views, while walls siding the adjoining properties (east and west) are largely without glazing to afford privacy. The glazing and massiveness of the walls provides a contrast with the extensive trelliswork on the balustrades.

The Pepper House displays aspects of the late twentieth century post-modern style, including references to vernacular architecture and materials with the use of trelliswork, bullnosed corrugated iron verandahs and double pitched roofs.

The house displays Cox’s characteristic concern with the relationship between the building and its landscape.

Source

• Australian Architects: Philip Cox, RAIA Education Division, Red Hill, 1984