TWO BLOCKS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

TYPE: RESIDENTIAL

SITE: DARLINGTON, AUSTRALIA

PARTNER: MARTINA FU

User Types

•Staff working on-campus with children

•Mature students aged 18+ balancing university study with children

•Single student mothers with young children

Design Intention

Versatile, secure accomodation for studying and working women with children. Convenient on-campus location allows parents to supervise children with Flexibility during teaching and class hours, minimising need to travel long distances.

ANNUAL ILLUMINANCE DAYLIGHTING (LUX)

Around 75% of living and main community area are well-lit year round above the minimum level of lux. Internal blinds and tinted double-glazing glass will be used to mitigate the effect. Higher lux levels during winter were ideal to maintain heat in the building.

Ventilation

Cross ventilation through operable louvre shutters and windows and upward ventilation through skylights. Warm air rises to escape the building.

Operable window louvres on north, east and west openings allow for sunlight throughout the day to the comfort

Thermal Mass

Concrete slabs and precast concrete panels on apartment and community block absorb heat radiated from the sun and will reradiate the heat in the winter night. Operable louvres on north, east and west openings allow for adjustable shading to the comfort of users.

Insulation

Double-glazed glass has a low Uvalue 1.1 W/m2K to better retain thermal insulation. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation with high Rvalue insulates walls to prevent heat loss. Cool southerly breezes enter through operable awning windows and cross-ventilate the building. Cool air circulates and hot air rises out of roof skylights.