Sustainability key to award-winning design of medium density housing

An innovative multi-unit development featuring a WA-first construction system, outstanding sustainability credentials and adaptable apartments has set the bar for the future of medium density housing in Perth, after being revealed as the winner of LandCorp’s Step Up Housing Design Competition.

The winning design, by Fremantle-based David Barr Architects, will be built at LandCorp’s Shoreline development in North Coogee with a strong focus on liveability and sustainability.

The Step Up Housing Design project will be WA’s first apartment building to achieve an average 9-star NatHERS rating, meaning significant cost savings for residents.

Leading sustainability strategies have shaped the building’s design and ensured it meets key benchmarks including the One Planet Living matrix, Life Cycle Assessment, and NatHERS ratings system.

The climate-responsive design has also been strategically positioned on-site to maximise winter sunlight while screens and battens moderate solar heat gain, allowing energy generated onsite to be used onsite and reducing peak demand by 30 per cent.

The project will be a Zero Energy Building, which will produce more energy than it consumes annually.

A shared underground rainwater tank and above-code water efficiency measures will give an estimated 60 per cent reduction in average water use, and cut up to $180 from household water bills.

The Step Up Housing project also enables reduced carbon emissions by limiting the use of concrete and ensuring each apartment is structurally air-tight, resulting in lower energy consumption.

The modular design features a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, which feature flexible space able to adapt to changing living requirements over time.

LandCorp chief executive Frank Marra said the winning submission had been selected from a strong field, with more than 40 entries received from Western Australian architects, designers, builders and developers.

“The Step Up Housing Design Competition challenged entrants to think outside the box and test the boundaries of current building practices to come up with innovative, practical and liveable solutions,” Mr Marra said.

“Through this process, we aimed to generate new ideas and provide greater opportunity for industry to test new products and construction methods for medium-density housing.”

Competition entries underwent a rigorous judging process by a panel of industry experts, which assessed submissions against key criteria including climate-responsive and cost-effective design, use of innovative materials and products, measures to reduce ongoing running costs and new building technologies.

“The Step Up Housing Design Competition is another great example of LandCorp’s innovation through demonstration – by showcasing sustainable practices, new methods and cutting-edge technologies, we are finding new ways to tackle the challenges surrounding housing affordability in medium-density areas,” Mr Marra said.

“Through this competition, we are testing innovative solutions so that industry can implement these approaches with confidence.”

The Step Up Affordable Housing project will form part of LandCorp’s Shoreline estate, which will provide up to 2,500 new homes for 5,000 people.

Shoreline is the first precinct to be delivered as part of the Cockburn Coast Redevelopment Area, which will ultimately connect 12,000 residents to the coast by creating 6,000 homes along the 1.5-kilometer seaside corridor. The redevelopment is expected to take 20 years to complete.

For more information visit landcorp.com.au