Forrest Terraces Homes, Australian Capital Territory, ACT Real Estate, Architecture Images, Australia

Forrest Terraces Homes in Australian Capital Territory

4 Aug 2022

Architecture: Collins Pennington Architects

Location: Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Photos: Felix Mooneeram

Forrest Terraces Homes, Australia

For Collins Pennington Architects’ client’s, the Forrest Terraces project which led to him and his wife becoming mini developers was by chance rather than design. Being forced from their family home through the Mr Fluffy asbestos scheme, the couple embraced the moment as a positive life changing event and bought a foundering house on a leafy Forrest street.

Upon commission it was noted that the zoning allowed for up to three dwellings on the site, and the project quickly morphed to how best use this unexpected windfall. As downsizers, he and his wife would live in the largest, end row house and rent out the remaining two as passive income.

Elongated for the full depth of the block the site is arranged to allow each townhouse access to the street frontage equally, but the architectural expression would reflect the economic strategy – a pair of terraces and a house. The client’s deep interest in architecture and particularly Brazilian Modernism, led to the unifying material choice of off form concrete.

The site has a northerly aspect to the street which informed the internal layouts. Arranging the main living spaces to immediately interface with the public domain as opposed to the rear garden is a brave decision when producing a commercial product. The deference to optimal environmental orientation and a trust in the friendliness of inner-city living was reflected in the large front setback and a deep articulation zone to the street.

The terraces are marked with vertical fin walls framing the main living spaces while the house is structurally embellished with a double cantilever edge that turns the corner of the site and wraps to the rear garden. Internally this frames a sunken lounge, both are an obvious nod to the Niemeyer school. The rhythm change exaggerates the slightly more generous proportions of the house and allows a distinction for the occupants.

To compliment the long-term vision for the development, sustainability was a core principle of the design philosophy. All concrete was procured as low carbon while the timber both internally and externally was recycled being sourced from a local demolition site to reduce the embodied energy. The wayfinding element of the copper cladding is installed in such a way to allow simple disassembly at the end of its life thus embracing the idea of reusing materials and recyclable content.

Internally each terrace has the main bedroom on the ground floor and a personal lift linking the basement to all floors which allows the residents to age in place.

Despite the inexperience in developing, the clients have ended up setting the standard for infill development. Pursuing spatial richness over quantity, excellence in construction over economy, these terraces fit effortlessly in the existing fabric. The project has secured their retirement and allowed them to live in their dream home.

Forrest Terraces Homes in Australian Capital Territory, Australia – Building Information

Design: Collins Pennington Architects – https://collinspennington.com.au/

Completion date: 2019
Building levels: 3

Photography: Felix Mooneeram

Forrest Terraces Homes in Australian Capital Territory images / information received 040822 from Collins Pennington Architects

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