Concept Design - Multi-Unit Development
Yorkeys Knob, Cairns
The design brief called for a concept design of a proposed premium high-rise, multi-residential unit development.
JB designed an attractive building with pleasant living environments appropriate for our tropical climate. JB based its building design on Cairns Regional Council’s Award-Winning Tropical Urbanism Policy.
JB Design adopted a ‘biophilia approach’ that is:
‘ … to connect the natural surrounds and to be seen as being part of the local environment’.
JB skilfully incorporated articulation into the biophilic design with careful attention to detail in the façade, ensuring the building will meld effortlessly into the landscape and designed the vertical landscaping to further enhance the biophilic model when constructed.
As the proposed site contains minimal vegetation, JB worked with a virtually blank canvas.
The theory behind the design of the tower/unit floor layout is to allow for maximum natural cross-flow ventilation utilising natural ocean breezes. The ‘flow-through’ concept was considered prior to setting-out the concept design on the site plan.
Working with the natural environment, JB paid careful attention to critical design elements and this unique, urban, tropical concept design includes two proposed distinct areas of communal, open space for use by residents of the building with: a proposed open-air gymnasium on the podium and a large rooftop space with a pool, BBQ/gazebos and ‘wished-for’ sun lounges interspersed through landscaped gardens.
The concept design imagines large, private balconies as continuation of the living areas; together with the two distinct communal, open spaces, it is envisaged the natural focus will be on socialisation and interaction with friends and co-tenants.
The overall proposed experience with this particular conceptual approach is to connect the community by sight and identity. The concept design makes sense in the way spaces are divided, as there is no reason for function to override aesthetics.
Terry James
