FUTURE HOMES, MELBOURNE - DESIGN STATEMENT
The primary objective is to create an apartment building which achieves exemplary levels of design quality, liveability and sustainability. This replicable building would provide a diversity of housing options in Melbourne’s established suburbs that become desirable homes and considerate neighbours.
Starting with the generic suburban amalgamated lots that make the site, we explored various typologies
and strategies to determine the optimal approach. The selected design idea was the courtyard type, where the building mass surrounds an open north facing communal court.
The courtyard type provides numerous advantages and opportunities for a low level apartment building. It is a contemporary expression of a traditional typology which is ideally suited to the prototypic site and readily adaptable to different mixes of apartment types and site variables.
In conjunction with high levels of sustainability, appropriate apartment size and mix, ample deep soil landscaping and conformance with Better Apartment Standards, the design strives to be a viable exemplar for suburban Melbourne. Much like Fitzroy’s Cairo Flats designed by Best Overend, the successful integration of dwelling and landscape is a primary objective.
The design consists of two wings of apartments which wrap around a north facing courtyard. The courtyard serves as the primary communal space and provides gathering areas around a garden, pond and deciduous trees. There are open walkways and stairs on the upper levels to encourage informal social interaction between residents.
The architectural expression is characterised by rectilinear forms of face brick with punched metal framed openings creating a rhythmic pattern across the facades. Further articulation of the elevations is achieved with steel framed balconies and integrated planters. A podium has been created to raise the ground floor which provides spatial separation for the garden apartments.
The amenity and apartment mix conform to the brief. All dwelling sizes and private open spaces exceed the minimum size standards. The bedroom mix for the 2 lot scheme is 25% one bed apartments, 25% two bed apartments and 50% three bed apartments. The bedroom mix for the 3 lot scheme is 18% one bed apartments, 27% two bed apartments and 55% three bed apartments. There are accessibility considerations that allow for a diverse range of occupants and future adaption over time.
The design responses are in accordance with Clause 55 compliance and conformance with maximum building height, boundary setbacks, garden area, permeability and carparking are achieved.
Landscaping is crucial as a means of encouraging sustainability, aesthetic quality and public domain/user amenity. Canopy trees along the street frontage and deciduous trees in the central communal courtyard will provide the desired landscape amenity. There is a surface permeability area of 30% and a total landscaped area of 38%.
The design is highly sustainable in numerous ways with a minimum average of 7.5 Stars NatHERS. This is achieved using external insulated walls and roof with a low U value; double glazing; energy efficient air conditioning; array of 300w photo voltaic panels providing total output of 50kw with electric power battery storage. Rainwater tanks will supply water for WC flushing, hose taps and garden irrigation.
The economic viability of the proposals is paramount to their success with cost efficient approaches to design and construction, scalability and replicability. There would be long term cost savings, due to enduring design and whole of life considerations.