Page 46 - AB Awards 2015

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This project redevelops a
remnant inner city site of only
126 square metres - sandwiched
between an apartment building
to its north and a narrow service
lane to its south - into a mixed
use building incorporating four
one bedroom units.
Hill Thalis have employed a
deceptively simple plan which
unexpectedly locates services
(the lift and other ancillary
spaces) to the more open
southern lane alignment instead
of the open plan areas. This
strategy facilitates abundant
light and air to all rooms,
including bathrooms and
kitchens
A second unorthodox strategy
separates the open lift lobby,
located off the main balcony
at the building’s face, from the
fire stair which is located at
the extreme rear. Homecoming
is celebrated by each unit’s
individual lift lobbies and each
floor’s distinctive colouring
within the otherwise neutral
but textured white frame of the
building.
In an urban analysis, the
building relates to another at
its northern alignment, while
the service tower marks the
termination of two lanes. A
shop and the building’s main
lobby compellingly address
Waterloo Street, demonstrating
extraordinary perseverance in
confining to the lane frontage
the necessary but prosaic fire
and service areas that can often
dominate such projects.
Hill Thalis quoted Manuel de
Sola-Morales by stating that,
“Size is not scale and some
time small projects can say big
things”. This project makes a
clear statement about urban
living and neighbourliness
beyond code compliance. It is
exemplary in demonstrating the
relevance of remnant sites within
an urban context.
PROJECT TEAM
Practice Team:
Philip Thalis
Design Architect
Laura Harding
Project Team
Consultant Team:
Trinium Group
Developer
Paul Bekker
Engineering Design
Buro
Structural Consultant
ARIM Consulting
Mechanical
Consultant
Viscona
Services Consultant
Paul Aramini
Project Team
John Oultram
Heritage and Design
Heritage Consultant
Construction Team:
Trinium Group
Builder
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING
AARON BOLOT AWARD
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1
2
3
4 M
Established 2009
Single and multiple housing were
formerly included in the separate
Wilkinson Award introduced in the
1960s; however, initially only one building
– either a single residence or multiple
housing complexes – received the award
per year, hence the introduction of the
Aaron Bolot Award.
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