Overview
Redfern East showcases different housing typologies to provide accommodation to a wide range of people; and leads the way for redevelopment of an existing social area.
Project Summary
Project Summary
The Redfern East Social Housing Project for Housing
New South Wales is part of the revitalisation of the inner city neighbourhood
of Redfern, Sydney and provides new housing
for young families, and elderly and disabled persons.
A masterplan comprising a mix of public and private
housing was prepared for two blocks of land between Elizabeth Street to the
west and Moorehead Street to the east. Redfern East represents the social housing
component and is located on the eastern block.
The 0.97ha site contained ten, 2-4
storey public housing flats which were considered by Housing NSW to be
substandard. In 2008 the blocks were demolished to make way for 106 dwellings
comprising 66 seniors living apartments and 40 townhouses, 18 of which are
adaptable; two residents’ community rooms and common recreation areas.
The design concept consists of
three and four storey apartment buildings which anchor the four corners of the
site while in between low rise terraces address the longer street frontages to
the east and west. The design addresses the scale of the surrounding
development which includes the 18 storey Poets Corner Towers, nine storey McKell Tower, three storey Grovenor Hotel and a row of single storey
historic terraces.
The one and two bedroom apartments
were designed to maximise solar exposure and natural ventilation. Vertical
circulation is via an open gallery providing opportunities for social
interaction. Eight townhouse types were developed offering two to four bedrooms
and adaptable floor plans. The terraces vary in height and setback in response
to the cross site fall to the west and the retention of existing mature trees
within front courtyards. Most parking is accommodated on street with some
accessible parks allocated to the apartments.
Implementing sustainable design,
including gas boosted solar hot water heating, grey water irrigation, rainwater
re-use and photovoltaic cells for common area lighting, led to the project
receiving a 5 Star Green Star rating, one of only two social housing projects
nationally to receive this rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.
The Green Star rating also took
into account the project-specific requirement for a minimum of 20 Aboriginal
construction workers to be employed which encouraged community involvement
during construction.
Redfern East, completed in December 2010
with a budget of $28 million, has provided Housing NSW with renewed public
housing stock and allowed local residents to stay within their community.
Source: LFA (Pacific)