empowering design
74-76 salisbury road, stanmore, sydney chui yee chin 480531975 bdes2027
In March 2018,
statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have revealed that the number of people who are homeless in Australia has soared by almost 15%.
A significant portion of the increase was contributed by the demographic of older women. Most of them have fled family violence and found themselves in a difficult economic status, and were eventually unable to support themselves.
Therefore, this project aims to provide a safe space for the women to reside in after the hardships they have endured. Along with the understanding that majority of these women had a regular life before, spaces are also designed to break the institutionalised nature of boarding houses to give the women a sense of autonomy and belonging. Lastly, the project also strives to be fully accessible to ensure that women from all walks of life can call it their home.
site analysis 74-76 salisbury road, stanmore
site context -
sun path diagram -
site experience -
loudest softest
concept diagrams diagrams capture the design strategies used and its responsiveness to the site
breaking the institutionalise nature of boarding houses a variety of units are created to create pockets of intimate spaces
to create a site-appropriate dwelling staggered balconies to break volume of the dwelling block
to create a site-appropriate dwelling breaking the facade with vegetation to soften the edge of the dwelling from the streets
to establish a sense of autonomy and belonging different spaces for different scales of gatherings
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design proposal site plan
scaled 1:2500 on AI
Located along a public street, there is careful landscaping of tall trees to dot the facade facing Salisbury Road. This softens the facade when one looks at the studio housing from the street. Planters were also attached along the balustrades to enhance its intended effect of softening the facade from Salisbury Road. With regards to materials, concrete is the primary choice of building material due to its economic nature and to ensure that it sits well next to the factory beside it. The choice of timber for the doors and certain aspects of the studio housing softens the coldness of concrete and introduces warmth and a sense of domesticity.
elevation from salisbury lane scaled 1:100 on AI
elevation from salisbury road scaled 1:100 on AI
To reduce the volume of the studio housing block on the side nearest to the single storey federation houses, a unit is removed from the third floor and replaced with a roof top garden. Creepers and pengolas replace the solid concrete walls to provide a more porous space. With a sensible amendment, it ensures that not only do the women have a communal space to relax at if they choose to, but it also ensures that the surrounding neighbours’ space will not be infringed on.
section AA’
scaled 1:50 on AI
2.
1.
outdoor spaces face north unobstructed
different spaces for different levels of interactions
private moments
with a friend
at an event
3.
staggered balconies to break up volume
4.
variety of units to break institutionalised nature of boarding houses and provide pockets of spaces
6.
planter boxes and vegetation to provide privacy and buffer for the first floor courtyards 7.
rooftop garden to reduce volume and provide a porous space as compared to solid walls
8.
private 5.
semi-private
transition from public to semi-private to private spaces
vegetation to soften facade
public
first storey plan scaled 1:100 on AI
unit type A
area breakdown scaled 1:50 on A1 living 17.9m2 kitchen 12m2
In accordance to the guidelines stated in the New Generation Boarding House code, each studio has to be at least 12m2, and no more than 25m2, not including the kichenette and bathroom.
toilet 7.6m2
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unit type B
area breakdown scaled 1:50 on A1 living 19.6m2 kitchen 15.9m2 toilet 7.6m2
On the first floor, there are two types of units. Type A is smaller in size and more regular with a slight protrusion at the entrance to give a sense of entry and to provide pockets of spaces when multiple Type A units are stacked with each other as seen in the first storey plan.
Type B is unique to the first floor. It is long in length to fit into the constraints of the site while providing enough area for the different facilities in the dwelling.
second storey plan scaled 1:100 on AI
On the second floor, a new type of unit is introduced. Type C units have a larger living area due to the longer balconies designed. This was in response to the requests by women living in boarding houses who have stated that a larger balcony space will be appreciated.
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unit type C
area breakdown scaled 1:50 on A1 living 22.5m2 kitchen 10m2 toilet 7.6m2
third storey plan scaled 1:100 on AI
unit type D
area breakdown scaled 1:50 on A1 living 19m2 kitchen 12.3m2 toilet 7.6m2
unit type E
area breakdown scaled 1:50 on A1 living 25m2 kitchen 8m2 toilet 7.6m2
The units on the third floor follow the same principles as the previous units introduced. The difference lie within the internal configurations and shape of the balconies to meet with the constraints of the site.
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vignette of studio housing
fin. thank you.