a house in the sky - victoria state government
TRANSCRIPT
Melbourne is projected to become Australia’s largest city by 20301, and to retain the high quality of life many of us currently enjoy, homes as we know them need to change. Along with the rapidly increasing populaton, issues such as the ageing population, lack of affordability, environmental impact and increasing sense of isolation can be addressed through good design. This proposal responds to our understanding what people value in a home and align it with what the city needs in a medium density setting.
Despite efforts of governments, developers, and architects, it appears many perceive apartment living as ‘second rate’, a home that doesn’t allow them to live the lifestyle they prefer. And in many instances, they’re right. A move to an apartment typically involves a lot of compromise; less space inside and out, less opportunity for change or adaptation, less amenity, less autonomy. ‘Affordable’ apartments are generally small in area with limited amenity or outdoor space, best suited to people with the means to regularly leave their home and dine or seek entertainment out, visit a secondary holiday or family home; or have access to a separate studio or office. They tend to be far less successful and compromise liveability for people who live in less privileged circumstances, including the elderly, those living with a disability, or people on a limited income. Conversely, generously sized apartments with high amenity tend to be prohibitively expensive; to buy or rent and require high owners corporation fees to maintain spaces such as roof top terraces or large common gardens that are often underutilised.
As a consequence, the urban growth boundary continues to shift out, land is cleared at the expense of the environment and space for future food production with damaging long term ramifications. While some outer suburban areas benefit from rich cultural diversity, a good sense of community and homes that people can afford and enjoy, good infrastructure, amenity, local employment opportunities and established verdancy are often lacking.3 These things do not have to be mutually exclusive.
The middle suburbs provide the perfect setting to test a new type of dwelling to address these issues. Generally located within 15 kilometers of the CBD, the middle suburbs already have established infrastructure such as transport networks, high quality green spaces, retail and schools. Most comprise of ageing housing stock and are ready for rejuvenation, with many original detached homes already demolished. However, new development have typically been undertaken in a piecemeal fashion by risk averse, small scale developers, resulting in a slow boil collection of unsustainable, dual lot developments dominated by driveways and garages slowly chipping away at the verdancy characteristic of the area.
This proposal seeks to understand the principles of what attracts people to detached houses, and integrate those ideas into a higher density, highly adaptable model that is affordable to build and complimentary to existing development. It seeks to understand different groups and offer them a range of affordable, adaptable housing types that meet their needs as they change over time. Beyond the scale of the dwelling, this proposal considers the role it plays at a larger urban scale to promote a more sustainable type of development that will improve the urban landscape.
A House in the Sky
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Site Plan 1:500
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1 : 200SK O5.10scale bar 1 to 2002
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Entry nooks at each apartment entry provide space for peoples ‘stuff’, while generously sized landing create space for neighbourly interactions
The buildings form and materiality draws on the local neighbourhood character, and the generous setbacks provide space for deep planting and canopy trees to improve ecology and biodiversity in the area
Apartments are generously sized with dual aspect to maximise liveability and suit a diverse group of people Living areas open onto generously sized yards or balconies with northern orientation
Site Strategy Generous setbacks on all sides determine the siting of the building, set at a minimum of 4 metres in side yards, 3 metres at the rear and 6 along the driveway and front. They help mitigate the scale and overshadowing of the building, and ensure there is sufficient space for generous planting and canopy trees with benefits of shade and improved biodiversity.
The apartment building is comprised of two wings just under 8 metres wide, providing a dual aspect for all dwellings and good access to daylight, natural ventilation and outlooks. Access to all apartments is from the central greenhouse circulation core, setback from the street in the landscaped entry. The form of the building breaks down the mass of the complex and maintains the rythym of the street.
B A L L A R A T R O A D
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A301
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S C A L E @ A1
D A T E
D R A W I N G D E T A I L SN O R T HDEBORAH ROWE ARCHITECT+
JTA ARCHITECTS FUTURE HOMES
HOUSE IN THE SKY
AOPTION SHEET NUMBER
1 : 100
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
Issue Date A100
1. Generous setbacks create space for deep planting and canopy trees providing good outlooks and mitigating overshadowing, overlooking and the scale of the build for neighbouring properties
3. Dual aspect to all apartments is achieved by hollowing the middle of the mass for a central circulation space, reducing floor area in halls and ensuring apartments have good access to daylight, outlook and cross ventilation
Option A carpark has separate street access, water and power infrastructure, good outlooks and access to daylight, making it suitable for future retail, commercial or dwelling space in the future
Apartments over
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Footpath
Store/workshop
Store/workshop
Option B carpark is futureproofed using the same strategy in the basement scheme by sloping the landscaped setback down from the street to basement floor level
2. Carparking is consolidated to free the site for gardens and pervious landscapes. Both options have access to daylight, futureproofing the space for different programs should private car ownership decline
4. Articulated ‘pop outs’ add visual interest, break up the wind and importantly ensures living rooms are oriented north regardless of orientation
A ‘kit of parts’ A pattern book ‘kit of parts’ forms the base of the proposal, designed to simplify construction and ensure the scheme can adapt to a range of different sites and circumstances.
Comprised of interchangeable apartment types, the building can lengthen or shorten to suit the depth of the site, respond to site orientation and context as well as demographic and/or market demands.
Each dwelling is built from a base component that includes a bedroom, adaptable bathroom, ‘flexi’ room and open plan living and kitchen area, all arranged around an central entry space. The base component and additional parts sit within a 4500mm wide grid, making it prefab, CLT and SIPS ready. Add ons include bedrooms, bathrooms and balconies, allowing the design to scale up or down to offer a variety of apartment types using replicable parts. It also ensures kitchens and bathrooms can be stacked, simplifying construction and helping to minimise costs. The pattern book also includes series of optional parts for dwellings, including an island bench for the kitchen and operable screens for terraces and balconies that use the same architectural language as the central circulation space.
The concept of a ‘kit of parts’ extends to includes a range of cladding options, designed to ensure each rolout of the project suits its context and budget. They include brick, fibre cement, metal and in this instance, of a vertically laid composite timber panel sympathetic to the area.
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Legend1 Entry2 Kitchen3 Living4 Balcony/terrace5 Flexi space
6 Bedroom7 Bathroom8 WC9 Laundry
Entry nook for ‘things’ such as walkers, prams, shoes, kids scooters
2 bedroom add on component comprised of extra room, large balcony and additional living space
Washing line
3 bedroom add on component comprised of 2 extra rooms, extra bathroom, large balcony and additional living space
Rooms are clustered around entry space
Washing line
Balcony/terrace open on two sides to maximise access to daylight
‘Pop out’ ensures apartments have access to northern light, regardless of orientation
Flexi room used to store spare bed for overnight visitors
Kitchen windows overlook shared spaces promoting a sense of neighbourliness and passive surveillance
Optional island bench
Separate WC
Typical 1.5 bedroom apartment
Typical 2.5 bedroom apartment
Typical 3.5 bedroom apartmentThe kit of parts includes optional ‘add ons’ such as island benches in kitchens, and operable screens on balconies using the same architectural language as the central circulation space
Liveable homes for a diverse communityThe following principles are behind the design strategy for this proposal, maximising liveability and creating inviting, attractive and engaging spaces to suit a diverse community.
1. A generosity and variety of spaces, inside and outProviding sufficient space is key to ensuring a home can function well; people need space to live and feel comfortable. Larger spaces are inherently more flexible, offering greater potential to configure space to suit the occupants changing needs, allow for privacy, provide children with room to play or study and enable a friend, family member or carer to stay the night. Done well, providing a generosity of space does not require multiple underutilised rooms, but rather a space that is flexible and easy to adapt to suit different situations.
2. Good internal planning Apartments are planned efficiently to maximise useable space and zone areas to give people personal space and privacy
3. Sufficient StorageWell designed and located storage helps reduce clutter and allow occupants to use space more efficiently.
4. Sufficient access to daylight The dual aspect design and windows in every room ensure good daylight and minimises reliance on mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting
5. Natural VentilationThe dual aspect design ensures every apartment is cross ventilated.
6. Acoustic and Visual PrivacyAparments are planned to ensure bedroom and living spaces do not open on to circulation spaces. Balcony balustrades are solid up to 800mm with mesh above, so occupants do not feel ‘on display’ and to encourage use, without adversely affecting access to daylight.
7. Good OutlooksThe view from a room can be one of most important factors in the experience of the space, the dual aspect design and extensive planting in setbacks ensures good views.
8. Thermal Comfort and Energy EfficiencyThe thermal comfort and energy efficiency of a dwelling is important to manage the occupants health, comfort and keep running costs down. Passive design principles are incorporated throughout.
Kitchen windows overlook central circulation space, providing opportunities for neighbourly interactions and passive surviellance while retaining privacy to living spaces
Recessed entires provide a play for ‘stuff’ including prams, wallkers and kids scooters, helping to declutter the home
Juliet balconies help activate the front facade and ensures the room has excellent daylight, making it suited to a variety of functions
Benches and rest points are built into the front setback creating opportunities to interact with the local community, particularly with the bus stop immediately out the front
Landings are generously sized to double up as common areas, reducing owners corporation costs and promoting a sense of informal neigbourliness
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Good outlooks into garden spaces
Deep balconies provide good outlook/space for plants, play and furniture
A generosity of space makes a more inclusive community, creating spaces for people with a disabiity, ageing in place or on a low income who may spend a lot of time at home
Adaptable pop outs to capture northern light, regardless of orientation
Kitchen, bathroom and toilet spaces (shaded pink) line the central circulation space to manage acoustic and visual privacy
Cross ventilation throughout
Flexible and Adaptable Homes
The design acknowledges contemporary households in Melbourne are very diverse; living arrangements, family structure and individual requirements can change significantly over time. It is important spaces can easily adapt over time without significant cost or structural work.
Apartments are generously sized and fitted with a ‘flexi space’ between the living and main bedroom which can be easily be absorbed into either room, or remain a standalone space. Centrally located and fitted with an operable window, the space could easily accommodate a small home office, playroom, walk in robe or a even a single bed for overnight visitors. Load bearing walls and columns inside apartments are minimised to create large spans and rooms that are easily reconfigured.
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A home office/study space A bigger bedroom A play room A dedicated dining space
Study area/small home office
Playroom or store
Generously sized accessible room
Walk in robe
Single bed for overnight visitors
Split; desk on one side, dresser on the other
Larger living area
Cot and change table for a new baby