Located within 300m of West Ryde station and backing onto the Strathfield to Hornsby railway corridor, The Parade, was developed by the Billbergia Group to provide a mix of social housing and private homes on land owned by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC). Of the three stepped building forms, designed to provide a transition from taller buildings at West Ryde Station to more suburban residential forms to the north, is a six-storey building (Block A) containing 30 apartments for social housing; and two blocks of nine and eleven storeys respectively (Blocks B and C), containing a total of 120 private apartments.
The facades are composed to incorporate both rectilinear and curvilinear forms. When viewed from the street, the apartment blocks are defined by an articulated six storey base of locally manufactured bricks. This urban design strategy provides a visual anchor to the street. To the railway corridor, the project is composed dramatically and is more landmark in urban character. Here the facades are split vertically to incorporate both rectilinear brick elements and taller curved corners where the floor slabs are over clad and projected to reference the adjacent railway tracks.
Street entries and common lobbies are clearly defined. While Block A has a separate street entry to its communal lobby, the taller Blocks B and C, share a pathway which then splits to the building’s communal lobby. From these well-detailed lobbies each apartment is then accessed off a naturally ventilated corridor. All apartments are well planned and have principal windows and balconies positioned to take advantage of the local view. There are communal landscaped areas between each block and a communal rooftop garden is located at Block B, the middle apartment.
A common basement for vehicle parking is provided and the driveway is located at the southern end of the site away from an existing round-about.
Being contextual and incorporating passive environmental design measures, this project has immense social benefit. Providing a range of apartment sizes and types, the project is committed to provide 20% of the total number of apartments for social housing.
The interiors have been designed to produce a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces, which maximises living and dining options for residents.
"This project highlights the NSW Government's continued commitment to deliver well designed, fit-for purpose homes integrated within the community to create greater diversity and help strengthen support for social housing residents."
Client
Billbergia
