project - park st, mona vale
project team - tone wheeler, jan o'connor, rohan little, flavia melo, hilary whattam, hong xu, gavin gillett,
builder - nazzero corporation
structural engineer - o'hearn consulting

these two low-rise multi-unit developments increase housing density (replacing a single house on a large inter-war subdivision with six dwellings), thereby dramatically increasing the sustainability of the site.  the two projects have similar approaches with a highly functional underground car parking “box” with low-rise residences above, sometimes in two storey town houses, and more often in single level apartments serviced by a lift from the basement.  all the dwellings feature passive systems for winter warmth and summer coolth.  the living areas open onto large terraces at both ground and upper levels and all rooms take advantage of the corner locations to ensure cross-ventilation, not only to living areas, but to all bedrooms.  environa studio has developed an innovative construction system for these apartments, utilising a mixture of prefabricated and cast in situ concrete wall panels which are covered externally with a high insulation layer to ensure maximum thermal mass in a minimum fixture wall structure.  the apartments feature large water stores which provide water detention (slowing down water flow) as well as retention for water uses on site and also feature innovative lighting solutions, using t5 electronic ballasted linear fittings in pelmets over windows in living areas that simulate the day time lighting arrangements in the reflected pattern of light to ceilings during the evening.