Thursday 8th August 2024
BY JOURNALIST
STEPHEN CRAFTI
Affordable Housing...
The subject of affordable house is now discussed on a daily basis in newspapers and magazines and on television. As interest rates head north, the frequency of this coverage increases – with few offering solutions. However, Dickson Rothschild has been at the forefront of affordable housing, both in a design role as well as providing expertise for others. And rather than simply paying lip service, here are a few examples of the practice’s involvement, with some projects that were initiated years before this issue was raised. Working with not-for-profit organisations such as St George Community Housing (SGCH) and Anglicare, Dickson Rothschild has made its mark in areas such as the eastern suburb of Bondi and Merrylands in Sydney’s inner-west.
Harvey Avenue Location: Moorebank
Located 27 kilometres south-west of Sydney, Moorebank is a rapidly growing area that benefits from being close to public transport. As a consequence, developers seeing this growth are purchasing two, three and sometimes four standard house blocks and transforming them into low-rise apartments. Working with councils wanting to provide a greater amount of affordable housing and developers keen to benefit from increased floor space rations (FSR) that provide greater yield (up to 40 per cent more floor space), Dickson Rothschild has demonstrated that quality can be synonymous with affordable housing.
At Moorebank, the FSR for the 89 apartments will be 1:7, with the predominantly two-bedroom apartments being approximately 75 square metres in area with 12-squaremetre balconies. A percentage of these apartments will be allocated to affordable housing (31 of the 89 apartments), with controlled rents being considerably lower than the market caters for and with long leases. However, for residents living here, the differentiation between privately owned apartments and those renting will indiscernible. Integral to Dickson Rothschild’s design is the generous landscaping and low front fence that strongly connects the five-level brick and masonry development to the streetscape. Those occupying the ground floor apartments can walk straight up to their front doors, akin to being in a detached home with a garden. The architects also included a communal rooftop garden, complete with barbeque facilities and play equipment.
Capitol Building Location: Bondi Junction
Completed seven years ago, and one of the first high-rise developments catering for affordable housing, the Capitol Building benefits from its location, a stone’s throw from the popular Bondi Junction shopping centre, and its views of the harbour. The railway station nearby also provides residents with a 12-minute commute to Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD. For Dickson Rothschild, who designed the Capitol Building, part of its success, apart from its location, is attributed to the socially minded Waverley Council.
Formerly a fairly derelict street in a salubrious neighbourhood, it has become a focal point, with shops and cafes at ground level, offices on the first level, and 80 apartments above – with 10 of these apartments allocated to affordable housing. Not surprisingly, when the marketing campaign was released, the majority of one, two and three-bedroom apartments sold in the first day! Varying in size from 50 square metres for a one-bedroom apartment to 95 square metres for three bedrooms, each one benefits from a large 12 square-metre balcony. The architects were not only able to provide more affordable housing but also give the developers 12 per cent more floor area. And when current costs are at approximately $30,000 per square metre, this increase is considerable.
Boarding House Location: Merrylands
Completed seven years ago, and one of the first high-rise developments catering for affordable housing, the Capitol Building benefits from its location, a stone’s throw from the popular Bondi Junction shopping centre, and its views of the harbour. The railway station nearby also provides residents with a 12-minute commute to Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD. For Dickson Rothschild, who designed the Capitol Building, part of its success, apart from its location, is attributed to the socially minded Waverley Council.
Formerly a fairly derelict street in a salubrious neighbourhood, it has become a focal point, with shops and cafes at ground level, offices on the first level, and 80 apartments above – with 10 of these apartments allocated to affordable housing. Not surprisingly, when the marketing campaign was released, the majority of one, two and three-bedroom apartments sold in the first day! Varying in size from 50 square metres for a one-bedroom apartment to 95 square metres for three bedrooms, each one benefits from a large 12 square-metre balcony. The architects were not only able to provide more affordable housing but also give the developers 12 per cent more floor area. And when current costs are at approximately $30,000 per square metre, this increase is considerable.
As with a detached home, the residents can enjoy a private back garden with generous light permeating each dwelling. And although there was initial concern from neighbours, there’s no overlooking and the absence of balconies limit the possibility for noise disturbance.
Bondi Junction Apartments Location: Anglesea Street, Bondi Junction
Bondi Junction – as is Bondi – is known for its many red brick Art Deco-style apartments that were built from the 1920s through to the late 1940s. Chunky in appearance, with many featuring curved brick balconies, these apartments are increasingly gaining in popularity. However, when it came to building affordable apartments in this coveted nook, there was concern from nearby residents – many who had equated affordable housing with ‘cheap and nasty’. However, this five-level development, designed by Dickson Rothschild, is anything but.
The Council and Land Environment Court decided on the outcome and which gave approval for the development, is testimony to the design of the 15 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Of these 15, four are allocated to affordable housing. As with some of the original Art Deco apartments, the Anglesea Street development comes with generous curved brick balconies and a discrete point of entry for the basement car parking. Dickson Rothschild was also able to increase the floor space ratio by 55 per cent – a considerable increase that benefits both residents and, importantly, the amount of affordable housing that could be provided.
For Dickson Rothschild, the success in delivering affordable, as opposed to social housing, is its ability to work closely with councils, arbitrators and residents, ensuring the planning process is carefully monitored and controlled from the outset through to implementation. And for those requiring affordable housing, such as nurses and firefighters who need to live close to the city, the results have been exemplary.
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