POLYDENSITY

New models of funding development, such as Designer-lead crowd sourced models, provide opportunities to move beyond the commercial banality of medium-density development. With new thinking providing new ways to provide a market place, there may be a realisation that density has been to date treated as the source and the solution to the problem.

‘The Missing Middle’ may be found through density pluralism. Thinking of density as we do enthalpy, we may quantify the density of a context via its potential energy to change density - to shrink or contract with the social and environmental forces.

Looking at Density as an extensive property, as the addition of its sub-systems, may allow a fluid Polydensity that is more readily able to adapt. The strategies for empty space, or short life span construction are equally as valuable as the structural roots of growth that we provide with built form.

This strategy explores corner blocks as hubs for innovators and early adoptors to explore new and familiar ways of building, for new and familiar ways of living. Adopting traditional construction techniques and materials, and engaging local labour can generate forward thinking outcomes as readily as those that actively seek to be innovative at the global level.

The experience with the architecture begins at the ground plane, with the familiar suburban front garden relationship to the street.

POLYDENSITY

NEIGHBOURHOOD HIGH STREET

LOCAL SHARED STREET

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Context Plan 1:1000 Context Diagram

2-4 Storey Development

Individual/family developers

Infill Housing

Adaptive re-use

Duplexes

Community Developments

2-4 Bedroom typically

Innovators to the Corners

The middle will provide a diversity in design opportunity through the broadness of its constraints, and relative freedom to develop. Leading a shift in our relationship with density through development will attract a certain type of persons - innovators and early adoptors.

While new and familiar small scale infill and reuse strategies remain at the core of good housing affordability and growth strategies, this may not lead to a broad scale increase in dwelling or occupational density. The limitations faced by individuals can be overcome by the many. Design lead, crowd-funded developments can explore the diversity in the middle with greater reach.

Corner sites provide ideal freedom to go high (mid-high) with a layering of multiple strategies.

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4-6 Storey Development

Commercial/Crowd Sourced

Porous ground plane

Quieter streets provide resource

Shared open space

Smaller detached towers

1-2 Bedroom typically

4-6 Storey Development

Commercial/Crowd Sourced

Porous ground plane

Busier streets provide workplaces

Shared open space

Smaller detached towers

1-2 Bedroom typically

POLYDENSITY

Ground Floor Plan 1:200 Typical Apartment Level Floor Plan 1:200

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1. Resident Storage2. Public Courtyard3. Tenancy/Workshop/Studio4. Street Garden

1. Shared Verandah Space2. Void3. 1 Bedroom Apartment4. 1.5-2 Bedroom Apartment

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POLYDENSITY

Section Through Public Courtyard 1:200

2. DETACH

Considering each apartment as a free object to maximise the surface area of internal spaces with connection to the outside. Floor plans can be made thinner or longer as required to gain greatest benefit from the site conditions.

Strategy Diagrams

1. TYPICAL

The typical floor plate connects apartments via a central core. A perimeter of deck spaces distance the interior from light, breezes, and views.

3. CONNECT

The building is composed of smaller towers connected by shared verandah spaces. A void creates a courtyard at the core of the building, bringing light, air, and shared experience deep in to the building.

Public Access through to the courtyard.Active street frontages retain the suburban garden setting.