THE SET-FORWARD STREET This scheme examines the way we use the typical suburban house/street interface. Large setback distances with expansive ornamental gardens are picturesque and spacious, but don’t help to activate the daytime street-life of dormitory suburbs. We have taken a typical suburban street of detached houses and placed new elements within the setback and street verge to activate this under utilised suburban space. We propose loosening the restrictive planning regulations that put distance between people. We want to change setbacks to Set-Forwards, make the front yard as animated and treasured as the backyard, squeeze and slow down the cars, speed up the bikes, let pedestrians rule, fill the streets with people doing communal things with communal resources. Increased activity and increased density. The elements proposed include a flexible, front yard granny flat, with loose adaptive planning and multiple uses. The verge community buildings and gardens activate and support street life and prioritise pedestrians and bikes over cars. Increases in density often mean losing green space. We value green space and the relief it provides the city and don’t want to lose it. To ensure the green space we are using in the scheme is given back we propose a number of vertical planting solutions. Our new green roof tile is the key to this aspect. Terracotta use is fundamental to the aims of this proposal. The ubiquitous ‘baked earth’ tile has glowed orange in crisp contrast to the blue suburban sky throughout the long Australian suburban experience. No other material choice could resonate with the memory to allow new street elements and buildings to embed into their context. That they are a natural local material with minimal processing, low embodied energy, longevity and benign redundancy, makes them the perfect material.
! EXISTING SUBURBAN CONDITION FRONT YARDS GENERALLY USED ONLY FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES
DESIGN RESPONSE USE GRANNY FLATS TO ACTIVATE FRONT YARDS
DESIGN RESPONSE OCCUPY FRONT YARDS WITH GRANNY FLATS
DESIGN RESPONSE MAINTAIN EXISTING GREEN SPACE WHILST INCREASING DENSITY. USE GREEN ROOF AND VERTICAL GARDENS
EXISTING SUBURBAN CONDITION CARS GENERALLY GIVEN HIGHER PREFERENCE OVER BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS
DESIGN RESPONSE REVERSE EXISTING SUBURBAN CONDITION AND DESIGN FOR A PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST FOCUSSED STREETSCAPE EXISTING SUBURBAN CONDITION CARS AND ROAD GIVEN PREFERENCE OVER BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS
DESIGN RESPONSE ACTIVATE AND UTILISE VERGE AS PRODUCTIVE ORCHARD
DESIGN RESPONSE MANAGE AND SLOW CAR TRAFFIC WITH CHICANES AND COPENHAGEN STYLE BIKE LANES
THE GRANNY FLAT THROUGH A FAMILY’S LIFE
A GRANNY FLAT OR LIVE IN AGED CARER’S FLAT A NANNY FLAT FOR A FAMILY WITH A LIVE IN NANNY
DESIGN RESPONSE RE-ORIENTATE FOCUS TO FRONT YARDS
EXISTING SUBURBAN CONDITION HOUSES GENERALLY ORIENTATE TO THEIR BACK YARDS
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DESIGN RESPONSE UTILISE FRONT GARDENS IN A PRODUCTIVE RATHER THAN DECORATIVE WAY
A TEENAGE RETREAT
DESIGN RESPONSE GRANNY FLATS IN FRONT YARDS ENCOURAGE PASSIVE SURVEILLANCE OF THE STREET
Indigenous and local plant species to be utilised to encourage specific micro-biodiversity zones across individual suburbs
GREENROOF TILE To make up for the green space used by the granny flat, existing adjoining roofs would be transformed with our GreenRoof tile. It is widely accepted that planted roofs offer excellent thermal protection. Typically a tiled roof excludes the option of having a green roof. The GreenRoof tile is a new tile product developed and prototyped for this scheme. It can be retrofitted to any tiled roof or planted out as an entire roof garden. We are excited by the merging together of two well-loved suburban objects – the terracotta pot plant and the terracotta roof tile to add a new direction for the roof tile industry. GREENROOF TILE
GREENROOF TILE
GREENROOF TILE
Random configuration
Linear configuration
High density configuration
Openings in the tile wall allow rainwater to collect in the GreenRoof tile. A large opening at the top of the tile, and a small opening at the base ensure a slower release of rainwater over time
Planting provides habitat for indigenous fauna and encourages passive suburb wide regeneration of native flora
Tile design utilises CSR’s Wunderlich ‘Nouveau’ terracotta tile as a base. The plant container is constructed from the same clay Recesses for reticulation pipe connected to rainwater tanks are pressed into the tile during manufacture to allow for optional connection to rainwater reticulation system The GreenRoof tile can be incorporated into existing terracotta roof tiles currently in production. This approach allows for the retrofit, DIY or otherwise, of much of the suburban roofscape
GREENROOF TILE SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE DETAIL
GREENROOF TILE Small images below show prototyping process undertaken in-house. Images to the right show the finished physical prototype of the GREENROOF tile. Final prototype constructed and fired by Gargoyles and Dragons with CSR.
GREENROOF TILE PERSPECTIVE VIEW
STREET VIEW
A HOME OFFICE OR SMALL SHOP
VERGE COMMUNITY BUILDING This verge-straddling communal facility supports the conversion of the nature strip into an urban strip farm and orchard for shared local food production. As a chicane it slows car movement and supports an integrated Copenhagen bike lane with communal bike storage. It offers tool sheds, workbenches, potting tables, BBQ and seating, roof water collection and tank storage for sprinklers. Everything needed to support community street activity. Interlocking ridge tiles make lattice walls of vertical greenery and a grid of hanging racks and storage internally. Solar tile roofs power street and utility lighting.
Secure and covered bicycle storage Ridge tile screen wall acts as shelving and storage internally and as fruit/vegetable support externally
Wires for climbing vegetables or espaliered fruit trees run through holes in ridge tiles to provide framework for plants
GARGOYLES AND DRAGONS - R50 RIDGE TILE IN NATURAL TERRACOTTA
Gargoyles & Dragons R50 ridge tile screen supported by steel CHS columns. Column enables mortarless construction of screen and easy recycling of tile if demolished
Planter for climbing vegetables or espaliered fruit trees to base of verge building incorporated into concrete footing. Plants watered via rainwater collected from roof and stored in water tanks housed within verge building base
Concrete footing/base to verge building
VERGE BUILDING SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE DETAIL
GARGOYLES & DRAGONS TERRACOTTA RIDGE TILE Images showing ridge tile stacking experiments undertaken at Gargoyles & Dragons production facility in Reservoir, Victoria
GARGOYLES AND DRAGONS - R50 RIDGE TILE IN NATURAL TERRACOTTA
CSR - MONIER SOLARTILE
CSR - MONIER ‘MADISON’ CONCRETE TILE IN SOHO NIGHT
Storage shed Native verge planting Native verge planting Bike path Driveway crossover
Water tanks below seat/bench shown dashed
Street orchard trees Bicycle parking
Workbench
BBQ
Existing street tree
Existing street tree Seat
VERGE BUILDING PLAN 1:100
VERGE BUILDING ELEVATIONS 1:100
CORNER STORE
GRANNY FLAT
VERGE COMMUNITY GARDEN
VERGE COMMUNITY BUILDING
STREET ORCHARD
STREET ORCHARD
STREET ORCHARD
STREET ORCHARD VERGE COMMUNITY BUILDING
VERGE COMMUNITY GARDEN
HOME OFFICE
SITE PLAN 1:200
SITE ELEVATION 1:200
GRANNY FLAT
CSR - MONIER ‘GEORGIAN’ CONCRETE TILE IN SOHO NIGHT
GRANNY FLAT In response to the shrinking family size and changing household demographics we have proposed the return of the granny flat as a necessary part of the Australian home. This element is to be located within the frontage setback zone. It’s a ‘granny flat’, but not hidden away apologetically down the back. Plugged into the street and with loose fit planning, it is setforward and is actively open to adaption as socially connected housing, shopfront, home office, teenage retreat or local milk bar and coffee shop. By allowing a full lifecycle of usage potential we want to provide opportunity for people to stay embedded in their communities through lifephase changes. The typical, tiled gable roof form used on carports and garages throughout the suburbs has informed the design. Angling the roof form down to the rear comes from a desire to engage with the street but be sympathetic to the house behind. Simple, flat charcoal tiles allow incorporation of solar tiles and provide a great backdrop for the terracotta ridge tile screens. The open tile outer wall screens allow an adaptive balance of privacy and street oversight. GRANNY FLAT PLAN 1:100 | GRANNY FLAT / CARER’S FLAT / NANNY FLAT
GRANNY FLAT PLAN 1:100 | TEENAGE RETREAT
GRANNY FLAT PLAN 1:100 | CORNER STORE
CSR - WUNDERLICH ‘NOUVEAU’ TERRACOTTA TILE IN EARTH
GRANNY FLAT PLAN 1:100 | HOME OFFICE
CSR - MONIER SOLARTILE
Roof tiles use a combination of CSR’s Monier ‘Madison’ and ‘Georgian’ in Soho Night. CSR’s Monier Solartile is incorporated into the roof design to provide power for the granny flat
CSR - MONIER ‘MADISON’ CONCRETE TILE IN SOHO NIGHT
CSR - MONIER ‘GEORGIAN’ CONCRETE TILE IN SOHO NIGHT
CSR - WUNDERLICH TERRACOTTA RIDGE TILE IN EARTH
CSR - WUNDERLICH TERRACOTTA RIDGE TILE
CSR’s Wunderlich terracotta ridge tile in 90 degree format utilised as screen element. Mortar based construction methodology
Images showing ridge tile stacking experiments undertaken at CSR’s production facility in Vermont, Victoria
Privacy, security and sun protection provided to windows located behind ridge tile screen
GRANNY FLAT ELEVATIONS 1:100
GRANNY FLAT RIDGE TILE SCREEN SECTIONAL DETAIL
CSR - WUNDERLICH ‘NOUVEAU’ TERRACOTTA TILE IN EARTH
Higher sections of stacked tile walls provide a framework for plants to climb through the openings
Camber to road directs rainwater to kerb constructed with falls to kerb-side drains. Rain and stormwater wash pollution down the street and into the raingarden
Community vegetable patch
Rain and stormwater spreads into raingarden from discharge points where plants trap litter and course sediment
Community vegetable patch Street orchard trees
Chickens Street orchard tree Communal compost bins Bike path
Linear slot drains allow maintenance access to discharge points whilst minimising disturbance to bicycle traffic
Rain garden
CSR - CRUSHED WASTE PRODUCT Image showing CSR’s crushed waste product. To be utilised as mulch in verge community gardens and as screenings and mulch in rain garden
Cleansed stormwater is collected in large stormwater pipes which flow to discharge points
VERGE COMMUNITY GARDEN SECTIONAL DETAIL
Rain and stormwater seeps down through layers of raingarden trapping the finer sediment and pollutants
Stacked tile street furniture
Native verge planting
Existing street tree
CSR’s Wunderlich ‘Nouveau’ roof tile in stacked configuration. Mortar based construction methodology Rain garden structure 75mm CSR crushed waste product mulch Min 400mm Sand/soil mix 100mm Sand 200mm CSR crushed waste product screenings
VERGE COMMUNITY GARDEN PLAN 1:100
VERGE COMMUNITY GARDEN & STREET ORCHARD An elaborated gutter-straddling chicane, this element provides space for raised bed communal gardening with broad raised tile edges on which to sit and chat. Its porous stacked tile construction variously acts as retaining wall, screening for communal mulch bins, rain garden, natural storm water filter, and traffic mediator. The tiles vary their stacking pattern with open corner details for visual transparency and to allow vertical climbing plants to grow up and around. The goal is for community orchards and veggie gardens to extend along suburban nature strips to offer localised sourcing, sustainability gains and some sense of improved food security and resilience. Street committees could run garden teams and elicit strong community-building outcomes from the shared effort.
CSR - WUNDERLICH ‘NOUVEAU’ TERRACOTTA TILE IN EARTH