St Elizabeth Precinct
Location
Kaurna Country
Status
Designed 2021
Client
Evans & Ayers
Visuals
Das Studio
Scope
Feasibility, Concept Design, Design Development
St Elizabeth Precinct was conceived as a mixed-use development, rehousing existing community spaces, and providing amenity for 109 new dwellings. The concept was anchored in a thoughtful understanding of local context and future possibilities, aiming to unlock financial value and social impact for the many stakeholders involved.
Das Studio curated and managed the expansive project team to deliver St Elizabeth Precinct from Inception and Feasibility, through to Developed Design and Pre-lodgement.
Place
Working with Evans & Ayers, Das Studio investigated a significant asset portfolio of 40 sites to explore their suitability for mixed used and build-to-rent development. A gem of a suburban site was identified; a nexus of public transport corridors, and adjoining a vibrant neighbourhood park. This was leveraged to present a desirable and affordable residential development, providing additional value that is not easily replicated.
Proposition
The precinct was to breathe new life into a tired piece of existing infrastructure. The civic podium re-establishes expanded and accessible community space. Above, the two towers of apartments and townhouses support the financial viability of the scheme. St Elizabeth Precinct reflects a typology of multi-residential developments that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.
The design is sympathetic to the significant grove of trees, whose collective canopies contribute a soft, dappled light across the neighbourhood.
Make Better
Valuing equitable public spaces, and gesturing to the neighbouring park, St Elizabeth Precinct promotes a connected and healthy lifestyle. The agricultural history of the area was honoured through the introduction of a market garden and rooftop terrace – shared spaces designed for shared experiences.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction demonstrates a commitment to low embodied carbon, allowing efficient and modular floor planning. Passive design principles that considered building orientation, breezeways and utilisation of natural light, create low-energy consumption dwellings both in construction and operation, aspiring to WELL Gold certification.
The bold and playful façade design plays off the postmodernist building stock of the area, with screening to mediate thresholds, and verandas that touch on typical Australian housing vernacular.