ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Olea Residence in Victoria, Australia by C&K ArchitectureDecember 9th, 2018 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: C&K Architecture Design Brief Situated at 44-54 Kambrook Road, Caulfield North the design brief for Olea Residence was to provide an architectural solution which complemented both the existing neighbourhood character and street presence of Caulfield North, whilst delivering an individual and luxurious architectural addition to the site. The client required the design response to have a boutique feel whilst appealing to a wide range of potential buyers with the inclusion of various sized townhouses and apartments. The success of Olea Residences depended on a stand out architectural resolution to attract investors and owners alike. Key elements were the incorporation of green spaces, the successful integration of indoor/outdoor living areas and the privacy of residences thus ensuring a personal feel despite dwelling in a residential development.
Our Approach Prior to the commencement careful examination of the brief, site and the surrounding area were undertaken. The existing neighbourhood character was observed along with the site aspect to deliver a response appropriate to the locality and one which celebrated green space and the sites northern orientation. Our approach was to maintain a harmonious relationship between the building and landscape design, aiming to maximise the thermal and light conditions of the site and produce functional organised dwelling spaces with natural flow. Careful consideration was given to the constraints of the sites size and shape, which was key when devising the placement of the building mass. This process resulted in the inclusion of 2 secured basement parking levels, 7 townhouses, 54 one, two and three-bedroom apartments around a pivotal central courtyard. Adopting this ratio helped preserve the integrity of the design without compromising on resident’s lifestyle, one of the challenges we worked to overcome. This will maximise the return on investment for the client by delivering a quality product as opposed to one of high density living. Design Elements The design is broken down into zoned interfaces to minimise the impact of residential development to the existing neighbourhood character. Townhouses are positioned on the street interface to blend Olea Residence into the streetscape. This maintains the village feel of the area by defining smaller sections of the buildings frontage and creating a sense of individual components which have their own street access and sense of address. The laneway interface is designed to increase accessibility and interact with the neighbouring development, becoming an extension of the already established laneway network. The central courtyard at the heart of the project creates a sense of privacy providing a peaceful green outlook. Basking in a beautiful northern aspect this space was designed in collaboration with landscape architect Thai Tongue, ensuring a sophisticated outcome. Having a greater than 9m separation between built form the design provides a space where community life can be enjoyed. The positioning of this generous green space with mature species planted in an elevated manner is paramount in our design approach. This responds to the indoor/outdoor concept of the design brief by allowing residences natural privacy and avoiding the inclusion of additional screening. Combined with courtyard spaces adjoining living areas, a seamless transition brings the outdoor spaces to the centre stage of the design. Established planting in the front courtyards of the townhouse interface will further settle Olea Residences into the local landscape. Brick frontages to the townhouses are in keeping with character of the area. To create a visual disconnection between the two, the brick applied to the laneway is a different colour and pattern from the townhouse portion. The upper levels of the building have increased setbacks and introduce a new material palette, using high quality cladding variations. These finishes provide the exterior of Olea Residences with a sense of depth and tonal balance. As you move through from the exterior of Olea Residence, classic soft tones feature throughout the spacious apartment and townhouse interiors. Quality details ranging from timber cabinetry through to natural limestone benchtops will give residences a luxurious finish. Apartment upgrades such as sophisticated rose copper Tapware are available to prospective buyers. Design elements have been selected to promote a sense of luxury. A classic opulent finish has been created through external and internal finishes specified and they are applied in a contemporary way. Contact C&K Architecture
Categories: Apartments, House, Residential |