The Platform Apartments
The Platform Apartments
Client:
City West Housing
Location:
North Eveleigh, New South Wales
Status:
Built, 2015
Contact Person:
Oliver Mayger
The Platform Apartments in Sydney’s North Eveleigh represent the best in social and affordable housing — an innovative, high-amenity development that’s environmentally efficient and specifically designed for purpose.
Constructed within a tight budget and program, the project also achieved great synergies within its heritage and arts context.
It’s an example of the kind of thoughtfully-designed, well-located affordable housing that’s vital to the livability of our cities.
Steps leading to the development
Appointed as the project architect, our team worked closely with client City West Housing.
We developed an Environmental Impact Statement to support a State Significant Development for affordable housing on the site.
We also prepared the Development Application following an extensive consultation process with the local community and relevant authorities. We were also appointed the project architect.
Making the best use of space
As an affordable housing project, City West Housing’s original project brief required our team to maximise the number of apartments, with a focus on compact single bedroom and studio units (>50%).
Our proposal also had to fully comply with accessibility and bicycle space requirements and provide 50% of the required amount of car parking spaces.
Other priorities include open spaces for casual meeting and interaction and substantial, integrated landscape. In addition, our team needed to select materials and fittings that were durable and low maintenance.
A six-storey envelope
Our program of work needed to be contained within a compliant, six-storey envelope. But the client was open to exceeding that in places, as long as the approach was consistent with a heritage and design considerations
The building houses 88 apartments over its six levels, accessed from generous lobbies at the eastern and western ends of the building and linked by open but covered galleries on its southern elevation.
To emphasise the main lobby, we created an extra level at the building’s eastern end, an addition that also allows access to a communal roof terrace.
The apartment mix of 10 x studios (11%), 37 x one-bedroom apartments (42%), 36 x two-bedroom apartments (41%) and 5 x three-bedroom apartments (6%) responds directly to the client brief.
An open gallery at the heart of the design
The evolution of an open gallery was an essential part of the design process. It has been shown to enhance casual interaction between residents, as well as support a high number of naturally-ventilated, compact dwellings.
This element has also influenced the building’s architectural expression and response to rail noise to the south.
The communal open spaces at ground and roof level have proven to be one of the most popular features of the Platform Apartments.
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Client:
City West Housing
Location:
North Eveleigh, New South Wales
Status:
Built, 2015
Contact Person:
Oliver Mayger
Awards
Australian Institute of Architects NSW Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, Commendation, 2016
Australian Institute of Architects City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, Finalist, 2016
UDIA NSW Affordable Development Award, 2015
Think Brick Awards, Finalist, 2015
