2013 National Architecture Awards: Sustainable

Jury citation

This housing project, sitting comfortably within an emerging urban and predominantly commercial context, cleverly exploits the organizational move of the full-height, open atrium to drive maximum gain from and for its program.

By separating the two halves of the block, cross-ventilation is enabled; semi-public and in-between spaces are shaded and protected. Straightforward but efficient apartment layouts with simple devices such as screen doors allow natural ventilation and solar protection. An internal community is further promoted by all apartments opening onto the shared atrium, and shared barbecue and laundry areas on each floor. With the inclusion of a vertical garden in the atrium, a site microclimate is created that further supports time spent between lifts and front doors of apartments. Antisocial activity is minor – an important demonstration of what is possible in a public housing development with clever interrogation of the brief and budget by skilful architects.