Oxford Street

In an evolving zone of low to medium density residential and commercial), the brief was for a mid-rise, mixed-use character building with a prominent street façade. To sensitively contribute to this precinct, the building needed to minimise the architectural impact on existing neighbours (including a heritage building adjacent) by moderating transitions in scale, setbacks and building heights; encourage pedestrian activity and provide street edge activation; and consider the development opportunity of neighbouring properties.

The response is a contemporary addition to the streetscape and community: adaptable, activated and living through a prominent integration with landscaping. A responsive form creates floor plate flexibility with east and west wings connected via an external circulation spine that acts as a central light well providing light, cross-ventilation and grain to the built form, whilst also encouraging resident interaction. Punctuations to the north and west are greened, with abundant landscaping further animating the building character and softening a robust, future-proofed material palette of warm grey brick, grit-blasted bluestone, ceramic rainscreen cladding, dark grey metal detailing and glass.