North Point

Client Brief:

The objective for this project was to move away from the conventional comprehensive concept where the same type of “lifestyle” lot is offered in pattern with the only difference being a reduced scale of the traditional amenities and spaces.

The aim is to offer a more “urban” lifestyle to the owners. Low maintenance, small dwellings with a blurred line between private and common. All outdoor areas, albeit some of them will obviously be in fact private, should “feel” like a highly landscaped community area.

Response to Brief.

The project seeks to respect and adapt to the natural context as well as generate connection between apartment and common space in a precise manner. The proposal is developed in four forms, one for parking cars and providing storage, and three for housing people, that are integrated into the terrain and organized around central paths and outdoor spaces. It is considered the space between the forms (the transitional areas) are as important as the forms themselves. This arrangement of volumes and transitional spaces allowed us to house 6 residential units and 12 covered carparks while respecting 50% of the open space and vegetation of the plot. The residential forms are playful and economic and are arranged to provide a balance of privacy and connection. Viewshafts between the forms provide visual connectivity within the lot while also allowing views across and through from the neighbouring public reserve. Upper floor decks provide vistas to the water and the hills, while also encouraging sociability. Clerestory glazing to internal apartments ensure passive solar gains and good natural light are achieved in all living areas.

The materials chosen for the project are ones that age well and give character to the building. The interior floors and walls are of bare polished concrete, with timber, plaster and cinder block finishes to walls. On the exterior, the walls are finished with steel roofing, natural cinder block walls and timber screens. The outdoor areas are realized with native planting and stones, to have the greatest amount of permeable area and in order to help the natural sensation of the material palette.

Intentionally, a spatial experience, rather than a material luxury is sought for, returning to the essential and engaging a lifestyle in community.