May 2008

Winning designs showcase changing face of public housing

A Gordon Street high rise in Footscray is to become a beacon of sustainable liveability, using a design that won a competition.

The Tower Turnaround competition called on architects to propose plans to renovate the 1960s tower block.

Unveiling the winner, Housing Minister Richard Wynne also congratulated the winners of the Living Places competition for designs to redevelop public housing in Jesson Crescent, Dandenong.

‘These competitions show public housing can involve good design as part of the process of providing quality affordable housing.’

The Tower Turnaround competition was won by a team headed by BKK Architects and Peter Elliott Pty. Ltd. Architecture and Urban Design.

‘Competition judges were impressed by the proposal to vary the appearance of the building through the construction of bay windows.

‘It will also significantly improve the environmental performance through better wall insulation and the installation of new thermally-efficient double-glazed window units,’ Mr Wynne said.

‘Rainwater will be harvested and reused in communal laundries and roof-mounted wind turbines will generate power for the building.’

Tenders for Tower Turnaround will be called in early 2009.

Mr Wynne also announced Bent Architecture had secured first place in the Living Places competition, which will create innovative new medium density public housing in Jesson Crescent, Dandenong.

‘The winning design trebles the number of available units with 15 single and two-storey buildings that are innovative and flexible, allowing bedrooms to be removed or added, depending on demand.

‘All the new units will be well above the required five-star energy rating and energy consumption and running costs will be dramatically reduced through a clever passive solar design, ‘reverse brick-veneer’ construction and choice of materials, sun shading, water collection and reuse and solar energy generation.’

Tenders for Living Places will be called in late 2008.