FACE THE SUN
Apartments are centred around a private Courtyard or terrace. These private outdoor spaces are partially covered for protection, and consistently ‘open’ to sky and solar gain. The views and sense of enclosure of the private open space varies depending on the individual apartment’s position on the site. Privacy is important and overlooking is minimised. This relationship will remain consistent on any site.

SAME BUT DIFFERENT
When viewed from the street, the building forms & colours present as a series of single site width elements, while using a simple masonry material palette. Stepping back & forward, and the use of breeze block masonry further breaks up the form as a way of scaling the site to its surroundings.

PAUSE AND CHAT
Circulation and interconnectedness will occur in the small scale inner streets with shared Entrance courtyards, which are open to the sky. In the larger 3 site scheme, larger shared open green spaces branch off these internal streets at all levels, with planting and places to sit and chat and picnic. All paths lead to the roof.

A BIG BACKYARD ON THE ROOF
The proposal takes the backyard shed & garden, & places it on the large North facing rooftop. It supports various communal activities, such as vegetable gardening, Green house cultivation and a Workshed .A big verandah provides spaces to cook & eat, lounge & play, both indoors & out. Coffee or Table tennis. These spaces can close down when the weather gets cold. Through positive daily interaction a sense of community can grow. This shared space would also have rooms for recycling systems, composting and other services.

THINK BRICK
We have chosen an almost singular material of masonry-be it brickwork, blockwork or masonry panels -to create a sense of material unity, linking the various apartment forms with a continuous fabric/ material. Within this material is much room for variation depending on bond type, mortar style, masonry colour and texture. It is also the ‘material’ of middle suburbia reworked. Further development could see a panelling system developed for the more protected inner northern courtyard walls.

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Window systems are seen as pre-fabricated box elements. Functionality and beauty are their drivers, allowing for internal window shelf elements and the possible external housing of sliding shutters and screens. These important items would be further developed and standardised, for functionality and an approach to answering the ‘kit of parts’ need.

RESPONSIBLE
Precast brick panel system where possible
Sealed & fully insulated to 6 star rating
Hydronic floor heating
PV Solar & batteries supplying full requirements for site
Rainwater collection for garden reuse
On site composting & Active vegetable production encouraged