Pattern Housing for Suburban Renewal

Trust the Progress

July - November 2024
DESST 3516: Design Studio VI
David Kroll, Annette Joseph

Adelaide’s median house price has surpassed Melbourne. Owning a home in South Australia is becoming hereditary. For those at risk, housing trusts give the opportunity to call somewhere home. A neighbourhood on the corner of Tapley’s Hill Road and West Lakes Boulevard in Seaton is formerly the site of post-WWII housing trust homes. These homes have become outdated, don’t suit the needs of new residents, and are too expensive to maintain, while the neighbourhood itself does not meet the expectations of a growing urban landscape. Replacing these homes with medium-density dwellings with ample access and amenities can provide opportunity for residents at risk, and become a model for a higher standard of housing for those who need it most, returning the SA Housing Trust to a homemaker rather than a home finder.

The semi-detached trust homes are replaced by apartment- and townhouse-type dwellings. Apartments absorb a majority of the density on the site while framing public and private areas. Townhouse clusters allow for improved circulation through the site and create private courtyards.

3 townhouse typologies combine to create 5 variations of clustered forms, literally addressing the “missing middle”. The clusters occupy a smaller surface area compared to standard townhouses, and inner courtyards encourage cohabitation.

Urban design of the site addressed issues of accessable open space and movement to amenities, aiming to realign with Adelaide's 30-Year Plan and the Planning and Design Code. Interventions included increasing density, dedicated greenspaces and improving pedestrian circulation.