For this residential building adjacent to a park, Crone sought to create a design that connects residents to nature.

The park extends directly into the complex courtyard, building a strong visual and physical connection. The courtyard becomes the heart of the precinct, a peaceful green space to relax, converse, and play, while the park becomes the focal point of the design and neighbourhood, supported by activated street frontages.

The built form is unique to this area and will provide residents with a strong ‘Sense of Address’. The building consists of a number of components which help break down the building scale yet create continuity: The block is carved to increase outlook to the new park to the south; Cascading planted terraces create a dynamic and gentle building form; Precast concrete balconies with large amounts of curved play and texture help balance out the modern form of the building; Entrances are highlighted by smooth dents to the mass, where these weaving balconies create vertical breaks in the facade that contrasts the horizontal appearance of the balconies; Providing solid upstands make a stronger architectural expression whilst mitigating privacy and acoustic issues; An elegant material palette uses textures to create diversity and play.

We have identified areas where we can minimize our buildings’ environmental footprint as well as using design to shift long-term behavioural habits of the residents.

The different apartment typologies vary in size, privacy, orientation, and cross flow ventilation to address a wide variety of end users and promote a diverse social-demographic mix. Amenities at different levels enable a stronger social bond between residents. Generous communal areas including pool, resident’s lounge and gym, music room and roof top gardens.
Community gardens to accessible rooftop areas, and potential compost facilities.

Our ESD strategy includes:
Energy
Deep balconies reduce solar heat load
Low energy fixtures and appliances
Solar energy to power all common areas.
Solar hot water to heat up the pool.

Water
Rain water harvesting for toilets and onsite irrigation
Grey water recycling (potentially using a precint wide approach)

Transport
Car share and bicycle parking