Northbourne Flats Design Competition
Canberra ACT
A
national design competition was held to redesign the ACT
Government’s Northbourne Flats, with a view to delivering more than 700
additional dwellings to the precinct and turn it into a fitting gateway
for the nation’s capital. The competition sought an architectural firm to redesign the public housing, which was
built in 1958 as government housing to accommodate the influx of public
servants. The completed redevelopment will include a mixture of public housing, affordable housing and housing for the Civic workforce. In the words of Joy Burch MLA, Minister for the Community Services Directorate:
"The Northbourne Avenue public
housing precinct in Braddon and Turner is a gateway to the capital and
this competition gives us the opportunity to ensure the buildings
reflect this significant status. Entrants in the competition will be
asked to work within parameters that will yield about 1000 properties in
total for the precinct, more than triple the current number of units of
245, by utilising the existing height restrictions.
"
"The redesign of these flats will take
into consideration the heritage values of the buildings, as well as
ensuring the new design incorporates environmental sustainability. The
ACT Government has already held consultations to discuss the heritage
and architectural significance of the buildings and these will continue."
“I think it is fitting that as we
approach the Centenary of Canberra we take the opportunity to improve
one of the key areas of the city, and take this once-in-a-generation
opportunity to strategically allow for higher density housing along
Canberra’s main transport corridor. Increasing the quantity of housing
along our principal road corridors is critical to achieving a
sustainable transport system for our city.”
A competition judging panel was established and the results were announced in November 2011. Congratulations to the winner, John Wardle Architects for an outstanding design submission and to all other commended entrants.