“IKEA is a boon but one that most people hope is simply a step towards better, more lasting things. The Frakta bag, the mainstay of the shared-housed hallway, makes a very suitable flag for a generation caught in economic and demographic doldrums.”
UNCONVENTIONAL HOUSING STUDIO AFFORDABLE TOWNHOUSES FOR YOUNG UNDEREMPLOYED AYDAN FRANKS z5152540
Brief Almost one in five young people have fewer hours of work than they want, with underemployment in the youth labour force at its highest level in 40 years. When unemployment is taken into account, the proportion of people aged 15 to 24 who are either without work or enough hours of work is now at 31.5 per cent.
1 in 5
young people in Australia work fewer hours than they want to.
Currently in Australia 1.1 million people are underemployed, many of whom earn less than $20,000 a year and lack the job security afforded by full-time positions. Concurrent with this structural change to employment in Australia, housing affordability is in steady decline as house prices reach record highs. The average house price in Sydney is over
With house price growth of up to 19% per year in Sydney and wage growth at record lows, the house ownership dreams of Millennials are limited.
$1 million.
This project aims to provide quality transitional housing to underemployed Millennials to help them maintain contact with the quality training and experience offered by the Sydney innercity job market, without the stress of living in either low quality or unaffordable dwellings.
Concept Instead of apartments, the project set out to utilise the site to provide a series of dwellings to match the height and perceived density of the surrounding suburb. Architecturally these were envisaged as north facing, with good solar penetration and cross ventilation. The concept of courtyard houses was explored and precedence was taken from the work of architects such as Alvar Aalto, Frank Lloyd Wright, James Stirling and Jorn Utzon. The project was taken as an opportunity to explore the work of Alvar Aalto more thoroughly as a guide for materiality, form finding and spacial arrangement. To cater for the demographic identified in the brief, a selection of single bedroom and two bedroom units were provided to allow for the inclusion of various living arrangements that the target age bracket may find themselves living in.
MATERIAL FEEL
PROCESS
The material selection for this project has been carefully considered, taking inspiration from the Usonian houses of Frank Lloyd Wright. Selection was also heavily influenced through the exploration of the work of Alvar Aalto and Jørn Utzon. The resulting mid-century influenced material pallete combines solid construction methods and quality materials to enhance the carefully considered architecture of the spaces.
FLAT SITE
ADDITION
SUBTRACTION
The selected Rockdale site in Sydney’s south has various constraints due to the shape of the site’s boundaries. Despite this, the selected site is relatively flat, presenting little obstruction to the masterplanning process. The urban design of the project has taken inspiration from the landscape work of Aalto and the site context. Circulation paths are carved into the earth, reminiscent of the channel that forms the site’s eastern boundary. Subtle level changes in section delineate between private and public spaces. The same level changes also provide respite and enclosure to some public areas. SPOTTED GUM
CONCRETE
FIBRE CEMENT
BRICK
DARK STEEL
BRONZE
Building form was heavily influenced by the exploration of the work of Aalto, utilising the courtyard to provide ample outdoor space and access to fresh air and sunlight. Another key consideration in the design was to allow for cross ventilation, a benefit lost by many comparable dwellings in apartment blocks.
COURTYARD ALLOWS FOR MAXIMUM SOLAR PENETRATION
SOLAR PENETRATION
CROSSVENTILATION
0
20
50
100 m
A 4
B 4
C 4
0
5
10 m
SECTION A
SCALE 1:200 @ A3
SECTION B
SCALE 1:200 @ A3
SECTION C
SCALE 1:200 @ A3
A 5
FLOOR PLAN
SECTION A
1:100 @ A3
1:100 @ A3
0
5
10 m
SARKING TO UNDERSIDE OF PLY ROOF
SARKING TO UNDERSIDE OF PLY ROOF
STANDING SEAM ROOF CLADDING
STANDING SEAM ROOF CLADDING
FOLDED STEEL FLASHING TO END OF STANDING SEAM ROOFING
FOLDED STEEL FLASHING TO END OF STANDING SEAM ROOFING
15MM STRUCTURAL PLY LINING TO UNDERSIDE OF STANDING SEAM ROOFING
15MM STRUCTURAL PLY LINING TO UNDERSIDE OF STANDING SEAM ROOFING
INSULATION DAMP PROOF COURSE
DAMP PROOF COURSE EXPOSED TIMBER BEAMS
CAVITY BRICK WALL PROTRUDED FEATURE BRICK COURSE BEYOND
FLUSH SET PB13 BETWEEN EXPOSED BEAMS
PROTRUDED FEATURE BRICK COURSE BEYOND WEEPHOLE
WEEPHOLE
ALIGN
ALIGN
PAINTED STEEL SUN SHADE TO WINDOW OPENING
STEEL CASING TO MATCH EXTERIOR SUN SHADE COLOUR
STEEL CASING TO MATCH EXTERIOR SUN SHADE COLOUR
CAVITY BRICK WALL
ALUMINIUM DOOR SILL PAINTED TO MATCH CASEMENT SEALANT PACKER
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING
WEEPHOLE FLOORING UNDERLAY
0 1:20 @ A3
1000mm