A new housing development in Melbourne’s Docklands designed by Plus Architects is said to have raised the bar for sustainable, affordable housing with an 8.5 NatHERS energy efficiency rating.
The $39 million ‘Mariner’ development was launched, the project delivered by national housing association Housing Choices Australia in partnership with Department of Human Services and builders MAB Corporation, with $22.9 million in Nation Building funding.
The 113-unit apartment complex on New Quay was designed by Plus Architects’ Ian Briggs and Rainer Strunz and assessed as an average of8.5 star NatHERS rating for its predicted energy efficiency performance by building services and environmental engineers WSP Lincolne Scott and Built Ecology, a specialist environmental design consultancy of the WSP group.
It has also achieved an Award of Merit under the Docklands ESD Guide parameters, which require all developments to achieve a minimum 5 star NatHERS.
Sustainable features of the project include its use of solar boosted hot water system, double glazing, low flow water fixtures, site orientation and environmentally friendly materials.
With nautical themed décor, The Mariner houses a balanced mix of tenants who are in fulltime employment, studying and on moderate to low incomes. It includes seven customized disability units. Twenty eight apartments were sold to the private sector to fund development of 85 affordable housing units.
In 2009, Housing Choices Australia developed The Merchant at Docklands, home to 92 key low-income city workers and is often regarded as the most innovative affordable housing project in Australia.
Housing Choices Australia CEO Michael Lennon said: “This development not only meets the social needs of tenants who struggle to find a home in the private rental market but will help to rein in their living costs.”
