JOYNTON DESIGN EXCELLENCE COMPETITION

The site for this project is located in the heart of the urban renewal area of Zetland directly opposite Gunyama Park, on the northern side of Zetland Avenue. The long narrow site boundary stretches over the short southern ends of three rectangular urban blocks, and incorporates the completion of two streets that run through the site to intersect with Zetland Avenue, and create or complete a number of small pocket parks. Three thin building forms are created by the intersecting streets that address Zetland Avenue to the south and form a strong urban edge to Gunyama Park opposite. The street wall to the Avenue is defined by a legible eight story datum of masonry podium facades. These solid building volumes are punctuated with a series of lighter terracotta clad towers that drop down between brick elements to form entries and views through to fleshy green courtyards at the centre of the blocks. The apartment layout, lift core placement, and building circulation strategy delicately balance the dual aims of maximising sunlight from the north, maintaining privacy from existing apartments within the blocks, and taking full advantage of the substantial views to the south across the whole of Gunyama Park. Robust materiality and simple detailing pickup on themes of historic industrial buildings that once occupied the precinct, and the inherent minerals in the local geology and ecology including the white sands of the Botany swamps, and the rich pinks, and terracottas of the indigenous flower species.