Six design teams from Woods Bagot’s Melbourne studio are competing in an internal ideas and design competition to reimagine the “cookie cutter” homes of housing estates.
The competition asks, ‘What would the project builder's home be like if its design was a thoughtful response to the urban context and took into consideration the local climate, sustainability, flexibility, build-ability, social relationships and community impact?’
A panel of experts will judge the winning entry:
- Dan Brady, design manager of business development, Development Victoria
- Linda Cheng, editor, ArchitectureAU
- Dave Martin, founder, Small Giants Developers
The brief – Develop a concept for a volume builder’s home
Occupiers: A family of four and covered parking for one car
House size: No greater than 200sqm
Land size: No greater than 300sqm
Budget: $1,000sqm approx
Site and orientation: None specified
The brief can be pushed if entrants believe there is a good reason to do so (such as no car parking, due to a predicted reduced reliance on cars in the future). The design can also extend to the greater urban environment and planning, if the individual house design is still considered.
The competition has been spearheaded by associate Jess Dootjes.
"With house prices up, housing in demand and greater population driving new suburbs, I was interested in how architects could help change the tide and create a cost-effective home that is considered, sustainable and supports the community," says Dootjes.
Earlier this year the Victorian government launched a pilot program to encourage large-scale volume builders and land developers in growth corridors to "go green" with the development of zero net carbon homes.
Ms Dootjes says making zero net carbon homes available to more Victorians was an initiative to which architects could add greater value.
