Awards
The subdivision model is no longer sufficient when creating places to live, work and play.
With housing affordability, transport oriented developments, oil prices and decentralisation needs all putting pressure on the market, flexibility and community are the keys to successful residential developments.
Flexibility is one of the most important considerations – you’ve got to be thinking 10, 20, even 30 years down the track. Although infrastructure such as transport may not currently exist, planning for its eventuality means looking both into the future and the present. A residential development must be self sustaining without the proposed infrastructure, but must also cater for changes that will occur in the future.
Along with flexibility, communities are now more important than ever. Residential developments can no longer be just rows of houses. Those who call the area home want collective facilities, job opportunities close to where they live, access to public transport and to reduce their ecological footprint. We’ve got to take a helicopter view of our living environments and provide a more holistic, master planned solution for residential developments.
Understanding how people live, work and play was crucial for the success of the Avoca Lakes project. In order to bring to life the vision for the project, creating a high-quality development with a natural spring as the focal point, we had to look at how design could influence the behaviours of the residents.
In order to bring about the level of densification required to make the project viable, THG were charged with demonstrating the value of bringing forward the construction of a railway station ahead of time.
The protected salt marsh environment on this site represented a highly sensitive ecological challenge for THG. Representing the interface between tidal and terrestrial environments, this inter-tidal fish nursery area required a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan to mitigate against environmental damage.
Rehabilitation Management Plans are fast becoming a standard requirement for Councils approving development applications.
For this project, THG put together a park and drainage rehabilitation management plan for a new residential development.
THG were commissioned to design a residential pool concept that would become a flagship project for the client’s builder, Nathonic Constructions
“We want to set the standard for the region” was the brief given to THG when creating the residential development to be known as ‘The Ridge Urban Village’.
Creating a high quality urban infill master planned community on a site located on the fringe of the Guragunba flood plain on Queensland’s Gold Coast was no mean feat for THG. After obtaining approval for the first stages of the 73ha site, THG’s next challenge was to negotiate with the Gold Coast City Council to allow a mixed use development comprising residential, tourist resort, small scale commercial and retail uses.
THG were commissioned to create a master planning concept for the Coomera CBD area incorporating New Urbanism design principles. Theories on pedestrian cities were put in to practice, augmenting a mix of uses including education, retail, health and residential accommodation. THG created a space that reduced reliance on cars, promoted healthier living by encouraging regular exercise and promoted cycling and walking as the primary mode of transport
