BASIC APPROACH

BASIC APPROACH
Each housing unit should comprise:
an appropriate built form
an appropriate private external space, and

an appropriate relationship to the public realm.

The provision of spaces or zones with changing
degrees of privacy and control.
The transition from the public realm (usually a
street) to the private territory of the dwelling and
its spaces.

ACESS

Access for visitors (who have come from the public or shared realm) to the
front door of the dwelling should neither be through the private external space
of the dwelling nor diminish the visual privacy of that space.
It is important that private external space be as private as possible.
This approach can also improve security

INSIDE - OUTSIDE

A direct inside/outside connection is a central

requirement. In good weather, it significantly expands the
living space easily available.
It ensures a reasonable aspect from the living areas to
other areas under the control of the resident.
It can facilitate cross-ventilation.
It increases the sense of space in tightly planned
housing.

STREET

It is normal for houses to face the street.

It is usually less attractive and thereby
unacceptable to present a side or back of a
dwelling to the street.
Facing the public realm encourages and
allows neighborhood watch'.
Back to back relationships, which do not
'expose' backyards, may improve security
while improving privacy.

In all projects, housing adjacent to the street or public realm should

face' it, both functionally and visually.
Housing should always present well visually to the public realm and
overlook it.
Where a project abuts another public place, such as a local park,
the adjacent housing should also face that place. The detailed
design of the dwelling should therefore respond to this principle.
In general, the approach should be front to front and back to back.

CLIMATIC DESIGN

The climatic response should be reflected in characteristics

such as the:

the plan shape and orientation of the dwelling

location of particular rooms

materials used for construction

location and shape of openings

location of internal walls with respect to cross-ventilation

roof form

ceiling heights

landscaping of adjacent ground to provide shading

protection of openings against excessive solar access and

rain penetration, and

insulation.

PRIVACY

PRIVACY

The location and design of dwellings should not unreasonably

impair the privacy of neighbouring properties.
The housing project should try to be a 'good neighbour'.
Existing landscaping may help, but the tree next door that now
screens the view may die. Next door may in time be redeveloped.
What is now a nice green back yard to look down on may turn into a
bland or reflective wall of a new building. The project should be
designed 'defensively' with an eye to the future.

PRIVACY

The privacy of the external space of one dwelling should not be impaired by the
location and design of other dwellings in the housing group.
Careful consideration should be given to the location, design and screening of
an upstairs balcony or significant windows in relation to ground level courtyards, and
an upstairs balcony or significant windows in relation to other upstairs apartments or
balconies.
For example, too close and direct a view is unacceptable.
When designing to prevent overlooking, it is not acceptable to enclose balconies or
screen windows to such an extent that there is little aspect from the apartments
main living space.
Equally, residents using shared spaces within the development (such as paths or car
parks) should not unreasonably diminish the level of privacy of ground floor
dwellings.
Private space needs to be reasonably private.

PRIVACY

The control of external spaces by immediately adjacent

households (or the provision of shared space) should be
unambiguously indicated by clear definitions of territory'.
This might be achieved by landscape or built devices such
as walls, fences, kerbs, level changes, paths or mowing
strips.
Reasons:
Defined territories can avoid disputes over 'whose patch it
is'.
It should encourage commitment and responsibility for
maintaining the patch.
Clear definition is consistent with peoples experience of
traditional suburban living, which may be familiar and
desirable.
It assists in issues of home and neighbourhood security.

TERROTARILITY

The design of each dwelling in a group should help

create the feeling that each household got a fair
go' or is a little special'.
While different residents may have different views
about what makes good housing, the design should
seek to avoid anyone feeling that some units are
better than others.

In example A:
Dwelling 4 has less private space and potentially
poorer cross-ventilation than the others. What can
be done to help the residents of the dwelling feel
they got a fair go?
In example B:
Household 1 might feel they have too much front
garden and too little back yard, compared with their
'twin' neighbors. How does the design respond?
What could make household 1 feel special?

TERROTARILITY

Housing should fit in' to the neighborhood and not unduly

draw attention to itself.

A thoughtful balance between the housing 'being like the

rest' and 'being itself' in order to meet the departments brief.

how, if possible, to meet the departments needs within the

'pattern' of the neighborhood, where such a pattern is clear.

demonstrate by fundamental design issues such as form,

scale, variety, attention to detail, appearance, setbacks and
general relationship to the public realm.

This principle does not require stylistic imitation of adjoining

houses, nor does it require an 'in your face' assertion of a
different style, particularly if it is just for the sake of
difference.

The street design of housing should not be dominated by car parking areas or
structures.
Group parking areas should not be in the front of the site, between the housing
and the public realm or street.
Similarly, carports and garages should not dominate the street elevation (and
should be set back further from the street than the front of the housing).
The entries to dwellings that are further into the site should also not be hidden
from important access paths by parking structures.
Properly located car parking
improves the street
appearance of the housing and
may better preserve the
pattern and amenity of the
neighborhood streetscape.
It improves potential
surveillance of the street.
It helps improve security for
residents' cars

Housing should not be expressed externally in a standardised way, where it

is demeaning for low-income housing or out of context or scale with its
neighbourhood.
For example, artful and affordable variations in form, colour and detailing
should be used to avoid a 'one design repeated many times' impression.
Similarly, dwellings that are much smaller than existing neighbours might be
designed into groups that are neither too large nor too small. This should fit
more comfortably in the neighbourhood context.

It is important to acknowledge that housing is a symbol of self' for

residents, and their individuality should be respected and have some
expression.
Variations within a street or group development may aid in its
legibility.
External variations in the appearance of houses or apartments may
reduce the apparent scale of a large or dense project. This in turn
may increase community acceptance of the project.

Housing, especially in its detailing, must allow for the personal expression
of tenants in ways that do not create long-term maintenance issues for the
department.
For example, the design of balconies and verandahs should facilitate the
hanging of pot plants by residents.
A household's personalisation of their dwelling reflects their individuality
and may encourage a sense of commitment and responsibility, with benefits
to the individual, the landlord and the community.
The use of pot plants on balconies or landscaping in front courtyards or
gardens usually improves the appearance and community acceptance of
the housing.