6 Sep 2017

Perceptions around density are changing. The family profile is evolving. We have an aging population. Kids are living at home longer. The traditional housing model of South East Queensland is not going to cut it anymore, and a more diverse, targeted housing offer is needed.

With this in mind, the Density and Diversity Done Well competition sought ideas for new housing options for Queensland.

The competition asked for submissions to explore potential outcomes for the ‘missing middle’ – dwellings which fall somewhere in between the traditional three-bedroom suburban house and high-rise apartments.

While Queensland has traditionally steered away from this style of housing, it’s increasingly clear that a typical neighbourhood block or high-rise won’t suffice for the future. Particularly within the ‘inner-ring’ of our cities, where centres, public transport and amenity are within reach.

At Urbis, we were thrilled to pool our Design, Planning, Research, Policy and Economics expertise to contribute to the competition. Urbis submitted three entries, and we’re proud to see all our submissions receiving commendations or mentions (out of 100 entries competition-wide).

It’s important to not just propose more compact living for the sake of increased density. It's about developing better housing to meet people’s specific needs.

Retrofix (partnered with Arkhefield): Commendation

It’s important to not just propose more compact living for the sake of increased density. It’s about understanding the broad scope of how people live and work, and developing better housing to meet people’s specific needs.

Retrofix considers a typical suburban housing block in Brisbane’s Holland Park. It aims to addresses and respond to three major issues of housing, liveability and lifestyle:

  1. Housing diversity & affordability
  2. Private car dominance & reliance
  3. The future of employment & business.

Kirsten Fry (Design), Kris Krpan (Planning) and Paul Riga (Research and Economics) collaborated with Arkhefield on this idea.

See more about Retrofix here.

 

The Urban Pixels concept effectively delivers high-quality, cost-effective housing to the market that supports a multi-generations home in form that complements our unique way of life.

Urban Pixels: Commendation

The vision for Urban Pixels is simple: bring the Australian dream to life. As a place to grow and grow old, the mosaic of urban pixels is defined by the sensitive insertion of ‘subtropical mews’ at the rear of the lot and ‘shoplots’ along the streetscape. 

Through a public ‘give-back’ in the form of community common that evolves over time at rear of the lot, greater densities can be reached by landowners without compromising the amenity and lifestyle of the community.

The Urban Pixels concept effectively delivers high-quality, cost-effective housing to the market that supports a multi-generations home in form that complements our unique way of life.

Nicholas Stevenson, Sam Rohdmann and Alex Hurd from our Design team were the brains behind this idea.  

See the full Urban Pixels idea here.

Green Commons proposes modular housing and integrated green corridors as a platform for community cohesion and diversity.

The Green Commons: Mention

The Green Commons re-imagines Brisbane’s suburbia by providing integrated green corridors as a platform for community cohesion and to celebrate our outstanding subtropical climate and landscape. The design reconfigures detached dwellings and private backyards, to create modular mews housing that fronts a new network of interlaced community green spaces.

The built form is driven and shaped by principles of sustainable design and manufacturing to offer a cost efficient and affordable housing product. The modular houses also provide a degree of flexibility to accommodate growing and changing household types, and changing values in car use, workplace preferences, business and technology. The Greens Commons envisages a neighbourhood that thrives from its community and its sense of place, to deliver a healthy, safe and active setting for the people of Brisbane.

This idea came from a combination of experts: Katrina Torresan (Design), Andrew Kyriacou (Design), Sophie Lam (Planning), Chloe Forsyth (Planning), Simone Roberts (Social Planning) and Rene Tonna (Research and Economics).

Explore the Green Commons idea in more detail here.

Our complete guide on building the new communities of the future through strategic thinking and design, Shaping New Communities is available now.

Within it, we highlight a few key observations and some new thinking, as a sample of the creative ideas our multi-disciplinary team have about the design of housing, parks, streets and open spaces, which may inspire you and add value to your next new communities project.

If you’d like to receive a copy, please submit your details below.


Shaping New Communities


For more information on how we can help you on your next new communities project, please contact one of our team: 

Natalie Hoitz View Profile
Kris Krpan View Profile
Paul Riga View Profile
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Carlos Frias View Profile
Michael Webb View Profile