INNER WEST STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

This concept design for a student accommodation project in Sydney’s inner west was undertaken in a compressed timeline in order assess feasibility, marketing strategy and define a proof of concept approach. The projects immediate context is that of a precinct undergoing rapid change, from a remnant light industrial area dominated by large lot, low density warehousing, to a vibrant residential neighbourhood. The expression of the building is designed to straddle these existing and future contexts by picking up on themes of the traditional brick warehouses at the buildings base and integrating modern articulated volumes that are modulated to mimic the scale of terrace houses, and the future residential neighbourhood. The site strategy borrows views from the surrounding tree canopy in a number of nearby pocket parks and green corridors. The layout of the accommodation and common circulation maximises activation tothe street frontages and creates additional frontage to an internal courtyard that sets up a logical continuation on the neighbouring site. The accommodation suites themselves are compact, efficient, and highly functional. The repeating module of each suite is designed to leverage a number of prefabrication technologies to speed construction and ensure high quality construction. The compact footprint of each individual room is complimented by extensive communal spaces that maximise the use of the covered outdoor circulation with opportunities for seating, and study adjacent to the generous voids that run through the centre of the plan and allow additional light and ventilation to permeate through the building.