Community Housing
136 years of design excellence Wilson Architects is one of Australia’s leading architecture firms. Founded by Alex B. Wilson in 1884, we are one of Australia’s oldest continuous architectural practices. Our current managing director, Hamilton Wilson, is the fourth generation of the family to lead the company. He currently leads our practice alongside director, John Thong. At Wilson Architects, we create exceptional places for people. We believe the quality of our surroundings directly influences the quality of our lives. Good design is not about expensive finishes and extravagant materials. In fact, good design should realise comfortable, practical and beautiful places with the clever use of economical and practical materials. Even though we are an experienced and established practice, we believe there is great value in a researching and learning. Our design thinking is founded upon ongoing empirical research and our design decisions are informed by evaluated post occupancy outcomes. Wilson Architects have won over 100 Industry Awards and Commendations for our architectural and landscape design.
Our capabilities
Wilson Architects has a substantial portfolio of accommodation projects including student accommodation, seniors living and single houses. We also have experience in the design of support services facilities for mental health care, addition support and primary health care. We have the skills and experience to undertake the design and documentation of the following inclusive housing projects types.
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Social and Affordable Housing
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Short Stay & Crisis Accommodation
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Culturally Sensitive Accommodation
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Youth Foyers and Housing
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SDA
Our housing portfolio includes projects for low income tenants including aged care accommodation and housing for students and young people.
Many of our student accommodation projects are designed for term-long stays and have communal areas that encourage connection while in residence.
Our indigenous college accommodation work has given us direct experience in collaborating with Indigenous Australians.
Our portfolio includes many residential accommodation projects that support young people in their transition to adulthood.
Our practice has accredited Specialist Disability Accommodation assessors and Liveable Housing Australia Guideline Assessors in house, so we are able to quickly and seamlessly integrate NDIS requirements into our design, early in the design process, avoiding costly adjustments at audit times.
John Grey Hall of Residence Cairns, Queensland
Freedom on Taylor 1 & 2 Toowoomba, Queensland
John Grey Hall of Residence Cairns, Queensland
John Grey Hall of Residence Cairns, Queensland
Our portfolio
St Catherine’s College Indigenous Accommodation
Extending our neighbourhoods within a wider community accommodation model to promote connection and kinship, this project provides XX accommodation units in single accommodation units with personal or shared bathroom facilities and shared laundry. The outdoor spaces are designed to promote connection to landscape, ceremony and culture. Location: Perth WA Completion: 2019 Project Value: $10 million
Scarborough Multi Residential Development
XX accommodation units Multi-residential design incorporating passive ventilation and climate responsive design. It draws architectural references from the local vernacular and native planting. Location: Sarborough, Qld Project Value: $18 million
UQ Student Residences Wilson Architects + Partners Hill, Architects in Association
New quality living and learning residences with accommodation options including single rooms with en suites with apartment style living and self-contained studio apartments. Development accommodates 1,300 students. Location: University of Queensland Completion: unbuilt, 2018
John Grey Hall of Residence
400 Bed Range of accommodation as individual studios or smaller living groups organised around a central shared courtyard Location: James Cook University, Cairns Qld Completion: 2018
The Henley on Broadwater
New entry, community living, dining, gardens and landscapes along with refurbishment of living units for high-rise beach side seniors living community. Location: Gold Coast, Qld Completion: 2016 Project Value: $$$
Kings College Wensley Wing
New accommodation wing for 29 studio accommodation units with small living and learning units within the greater college of 326 students. Location: Brisbane, Qld Completion: 2016 Project Value: $6.5 million
Freedom on Taylor 1
Redesign and refurbishment of 1990s seniors living community including unit refurbishments, redesign of community areas, design of additional units and creation redefined ‘front door’ to the village. Location: Toowoomba, Qld Completion: 2012 Project Value: $$$
Freedom on Taylor 2
Redesign and refurbishment of community outdoor spaces including community gardens, chook pens, patios and bars Location: Toowoomba Qld Completion 2012 Project Value: $$$
Kings College Centenary Building
New accommodation wing for XX units organised in to small living and learning communities within the broader college accommodation. Refurbishment of community dining hall and creation of outdoor lawn. Location: The University of Queensland,
Completion: Project Value:
2010 $7 million
River House
New two level + parking single dwelling home in a neighbourhood with strong traditional character aesthetics prompted an innovative interpretation of timber screening and blending of landscape and living orchestrated to take full advantage of this home’s stunning cliff-top location. Location: Brisbane Qld Completion 2020
Sunrise Beach House
New beach house in a simple palette of pristine concrete, glass and timber, carefully realised to hug the site boundaries and maximise views to the sea. Location: Sunshine Coast, Qld Size: 447m2 Project Value: $2.375 million Completion: 2006
Sunshine Beach House
Alterations and additions to original house designed by renowned Queensland architect, Gabrielle Pool. Location: Sunshine Coast, Qld Project Value: $660,000 Completion: 2012
Gundu-Pa Community Health Centre
This community health centre delivers a range of Queensland Health services including mental health, drug and alcohol services, physio and density Location: Wynnum, Brisbane, Qld Project Value: $9.7 million Completion: 2017
St Catherine’s College Indigenous Accommodation Perth, Western Australia
Kings College Wensley Wing Brisbane, Queensland
St Catherine’s College Indigenous Accommodation Perth, Western Australia
Design Principles and Considerations 1
Product Mix
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Affordable Construction
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Safety and Security
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Unlike developer projects, inclusive housing projects may have a higher number of studio or one bedroom accommodation units, many with special design features to support residents with disabilities. There may be less en-suites and individual laundries and more space for community and shared facilities.
In our affordable inclusive housing projects we prioritise modest, simple robust designs. We use practical affordable materials and clever design, rather than expensive finishes, to create great places to live.
Feeling safe at home is essential. We put community building and passive surveillance at the centre of our inclusive accommodation projects because we know that communities, not cameras, make our residents feel safe and cared for.
Energy Efficiency through Passive Measures
Many of our inclusive accommodation residents have low incomes and don’t work full-time. They may often be at home during the day. This means that resident comfort and the cost of heating and cooling their space are very important considerations. So we put good solar passive design and cross ventilation principles at the heart of our affordable housing work.
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Design that says ‘you’re valued & worthy’ We aim for more than ‘adequate’. Lovely spaces demonstrate to residents that they are valued and worthy, and we believe this inspires great things!
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From individuals to households
Many of the residents in our accommodation projects are isolated from family and friends. Loneliness, disconnection and isolation can be a big part of their lived experience. We have developed and tested an accommodation model that clusters say 3 to 6 individual living units into small household communities. These might have some shared common areas, like gardens, kitchen space or laundries which allow for interaction and sharing over household tasks. This provides a sense of belonging and helps our residents build skills and connections to help them transition to life in private accommodation.
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Build communities not housing
Many of our inclusive accommodation projects include community areas. Sometimes these are bookable spaces, and other times, they are places for the whole community to come together to meet and share information, or for special occasions. These spaces, which are often not provided in private developer projects, provide an opportunity for residents to participate and contribute to their living community.
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Robust and durable materials
Most of our accommodation are facilities that represent long term holdings for our clients. They need to stand up to 30 or 40 years of day to day living. We believe a palette of durable and robust materials can help our clients manage maintenance and replacement costs and, while they may cost a little more upfront, they represent value over the life of the building.
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Gardens at the heart of the community
As a multi-disciplinary landscape and architecture practice, the integration of gardens and living spaces is in an essential part of what we do. But we acknowledge that gardens are not just for the ‘gardeners’ amongst us. Well designed gardens can provide a variety of experiences for users . They provide places to exercise, eat and entertain outdoors, sit or connect with community. Gardens can provide shade and privacy, focal points for outlook and there is good evidence that connection to gardens and landscape can positively effect mental health.
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Inclusive facilities and support spaces
We understand our residents accessing affordable and inclusive housing might have a range of support needs ranging from support around study and employment, mental health care or higher physical care needs to support independent living for clients with a disability. We feel an important consideration in accommodation projects are support spaces and facilities to include a wide range of clients and acknowledges their physical, mental and cultural special needs.
Why work with us? Co-design and collaboration
We work closely and collaboratively with our clients and stakeholders. Our clients tell us they value our ability to listen to their needs and interpret their requirements.
More than ‘adequate’, we exceed expectations
We listen to what makes your project successful for you and we bring our experience, knowledge and creativity to your project. We aim for more than ‘acceptable’. We aim to deliver something exceeds your expectations.
Documentation excellence
We understand that clear, thorough documentation is essential to the smooth running of a successful project. We think through and document the construction of your project thoroughly because we know that this saves time and money on site and minimises variations. We are very proud of reputation for excellent construction documents and see this as a point of pride and difference in what we have to offer.
Integrated landscape architecture practice
We are a multi-disciplinary practice of landscape architects and architects. We are able to develop our building design and landscape design side-by-side so that these two aspects of your project really talk to each other.
Established practice with long-standing consultant relationships
We are an experienced practice with a large portfolio of built work, at scales ranging from individual houses to developments accommodating hundreds of people. We have established working relationships with engineers and specialist consultants and can quickly access the advice and input for projects at many scales.
Services to suit your project procurement needs We work with project managers and clients procuring projects using traditional lump sum contracts, D&C, early contractor involvement, cost plus. We are able to tailor our services to suit your procurement model. We are able to provide services over all project phases, from feasibility to contract administration. We are also able to offer services as contract super-intendant and peer reviewers.
Proven track record
We over 136 years of continuous architectural practice. We have a proven track record in delivering well-designed spaces for education, science-based research, residential and community purposes. We understand heritage values and how to creatively adapt places for re-use in a way that is sympathetic to their existing characteristics. All our projects incorporate a thorough knowledge of materials and methods, strong technical capability and environmental best practice.
564 Boundary Street, Spring Hill Q 4000 +61 7 3831 2755 wa@wilsonarchitects.com.au www.wilsonarchitetcs.com.au