Student Castle

Behind the screened façades raised above street level, three to four levels of apartments are oriented toward the easterly views, the city and Botany Bay. A random pattern forms the primary street walls, while providing shade and privacy to generous private open space and interiors beyond. The orientation of the apartments and avoidance of overlooking is a direct result of building form and internal planning initiatives. In particular, the overlooking of primary living areas and external private open spaces, as well as the number of apartments facing each other across Pine Avenue, is minimised. External shading systems and staggered vertical blades further augment the performance of the buildings.

In the context of budget-constrained floor area, apartments are designed to maximise efficiency. The majority of plans provide media areas, minimise circulation space and maximise liveable space. They are positioned to take advantage of prevailing breezes and promote cross ventilation, including single-oriented apartments, which are augmented with solar stacks. Each living space aligns with a generous private open space, which together with garden terraces and communal landscaped areas create amenity for residents, as well as attractive foregrounds to views.

Foyers, dispersed along the buildings’ primary address, are clearly marked by dramatic awning structures and lightboxes featuring interpretive heritage imagery provided by the adjacent Nursing and Medical Museum. They create a site-specific experience for residents and visitors, affirming Prince Henry’s past at its most public interface.