TANDEM Design Studio is thrilled to be involved in the development of the Lionsville West Footscray Social Housing Project. The human-centric project represents an opportunity for TANDEM to deploy a unique construction system (RAPID) which can be constructed affordably, efficiently and with ease all with the objective of facilitating much-needed action on quality housing in the community.
Beyond this, it was essential to TANDEM that the design evokes a sense of home, creating a welcoming & cohesive mini neighbourhood, with a place in the broader community. The Lions Clubhouse is enveloped by the housing but maintains a distinct street-facing architecture.
Close view
The design and scale of the project fits comfortably into the surrounding suburban context, whilst using a repetitive modular system which maximises the number of prospective occupants who can benefit.
Site-specific factors and staging requirements form the system into four wings, which overlap each other to form a courtyard. Communal veggie gardens, a bbq area and nature play points make this courtyard the heart of the village and increase the connectivity and amenity of the site.
The scheme supports new ways of communal living successfully tested in the UK and Scandinavia and slowly gaining traction in the Australian domestic market. Co-housing units & communal amenities foster connections within the village community and increase positive outcomes for occupants.
The simple modular design is suitable for pre-fabricated or traditional construction. The scheme can be reconfigured in multiple ways to suit a variety of site conditions. TANDEM see value in designing robust, low-maintenance, quality housing which feels unique and adds to the fabric of the greater precinct and city as a whole. Watch this space for further developments on the exciting project.
Courtyard view
Street view
