| | Zone is sound evidence that compact living can be achieved without compromising environmental sensitivity: its situation in the urban renewal area of Wolli Creek - bordering on the mangroves of the Cooks River - is perfect proof of this.
The purpose of Zone is to effect urban salvage and open space definition, a goal which is healthily encompassed in its three core elements: a podium, a two-storey street wall, and a block edge slab form. The podium is a raised platform and courtyard; the red-brown street wall links the building to the ground and engages the attention of passers-by; and the floating white slab and aquatoned balconies connect the building to the sky and riparian landscape. Silver aluminium screens and sunhood grating are a nod to the building’s industrial roots and environs.
Although located in a former industrial area, which is currently undergoing urban rejuvenation, Zone has sweeping views up the Cooks River to Sydney City, and of the lush neighbouring mangroves.
For their success with Zone, Stanisic Associates Architects received the Special Jury Award at the 2006 RAIA Architecture Awards. In the forefront of the judges’ minds was the impending future of an increasingly over-populated Sydney, and the architectural optimism stemming from projects like Zone. Special praise was given for the progressive attitude towards medium-density urban housing, and Stanisic’s “ongoing achievement of high quality environmentally responsive and affordable architecture”. The jury also favoured the eco-minimalist approach and the strong sense of community created by way of public spaces, landscape, internal spatial generosity and circulation systems.
Zone comprises 61 apartments: 34 one-bedroom and 27 two-bedroom units, many with media alcoves for digital connection. Dwellings are either a single-level slice accessed from the street and courtyard, single level end apartments, or two- and three-storey cross-over units. The project is an exemplar of climactically responsive architecture, also known as ‘Ecominimalism’: permeable, shaded, abstract, cubist and using a select array of robust materials. The design was focused on reducing greenhouse emissions, conserving water and using low embodied materials and construction processes.
The pattern of the building, with common courtyards, acts as a homely extension of the redevelopment, bringing it towards the waters edge. The 10-storey building is organised around cross-over apartments and gallery access – a post-Corbusian variant that responds to orientation and air flow. Most apartments have a northern aspect in order to best utilise the incoming solar energy, light, and cross-ventilation. The entry lobby, lift lobbies and access galleries and terraces are naturally lit and ventilated, and most lift lobbies feature doublestorey ceilings. Most striking is the intentional absence of air-conditioning and double-loaded corridors.
Roof and ground water is collected in a retention tank in the basement, filtered, then used for irrigation of the common gardens, while the central hot water heating runs on natural gas. Roof terrace decks were constructed from renewable spotted gum plantation timber, and plantation radiata pine was used for courtyard privacy screens. Keeping in mind the nearby ambient rail sounds, the glazed areas to the north and south are minimised with horizontal infill panels, and the living areas and bedrooms are all glazed in acoustic treated frames.
The design incorporates a variety of concrete forms – the production of which requires minimal energy expenditure compared to that of traditional brick firing – matching each material with the ideal location and use. The two-storey street wall and brise soleil to the north elevation consist of in-situ concrete; the main wall on the south elevation of pre-cast concrete cladding, and the short side walls of concrete block. The access galleries are screened with a distinctive adonised aluminium grille fixed to steel frames, and to carry through the motif, the same form is used for sunhoods and privacy screens.+ Top. Fronting onto Lusty Street, the plans highlight the design emphasis on open shared space, with shared courtyards and green space at the rear of the site. Second. The cross structured grid-like layering of the apartments gives the project a certain cubist feel.
Third. Glazed aspects are minimised so as to limit ambient noise, yet each apartment takes full advantage of the grand panoramic views. Bottom. The two and three level cross over units make special use of cross-ventilation, reducing the need for artificial air conditioning, and lowering energy consumption in general. Photographer: Brett Boardman |
