Kennedy Nolan Architects

Housing Choices Australia Dandenon

Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell

HOUSING CHOICES AUSTRALIA DANDENON

Kennedy Nolan

PHOTOGRAPHS
Derek Swalwell

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Patrick Kennedy and Rachel Nolan

ENGINEERING
Webb Consult, BRT Consulting, Adams Consulting, Sustainability House

LANDSCAPE
Simon Ellis

DESIGN TEAM
Victoria Reeves, Susan Syer, Michael Macleod, Jacky Oro, Jack Lawrence, Dominic Wells

COLLABORATORS
Overend Constructions

CLIENTS
Housing Choices Australia 

AREA
2820 m²

ARCHITECTS
Kennedy Nolan

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

CATEGORY
SOCIAL HOUSING, SUSTAINABILITY, RESIDENTIAL

Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell

Text description provided by architect.

Housing Choices Australia (HCA) is a national, not-for-profit housing association that creates safe, quality, affordable housing for people who are struggling to find a home in Australia’s challenging private rental market.

Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell

In 2015 Kennedy Nolan was engaged by Housing Choices Australia (HCA) to undertake a schematic design & feasibility study for three existing HCA sites in Melbourne.

Each project was required to maximise yield while maintaining amenity, and conforming with the Liveable Design Guidelines, Housing Choices own design, construction and maintenance standards as well as all other authority requirements.

Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell

HCA are an organisation who hold on to their assets, so longevity and maintenance are of great concern.

These projects are an exercise in the delivery of rational, robust and economical apartments that still deliver the warmth and delight of good housing.

Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell

Within these constraints and obvious socially responsible design outcomes, it was also important to Kennedy Nolan and HCA to achieve exemplary environmentally sustainable homes. Initiatives include.

  • Minimum 6-star NatHERS rating.
  • Dual aspect to most apartments and all town houses for optimum passive cooling and solar access.
  • Allowance for renewable energy only in operation.
  • Electric boosted solar hot water supply.
  • Water collection & storage for on site use.
  • Electric induction cooking.
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
  • Lighting, fixtures and materials specification to maximize thermal, water and energy efficiency
  • Water efficient tapware, appliances and sanitary fixtures
  • Building envelope and material selection for effective thermal mass
  • Natural air-drying of clothes in lieu of energy-intensive driers (Newport)
  • Secure & accessible bike parking at building entry (Dandenong)
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
© Derek Swalwell


Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
South elevation
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
East elevation


Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
Plan - Ground floor
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
Plan - 1st floor
Housing Choices Australia Dandenon
Plan - 4th floor

Kennedy Nolan Architects
T +61 3 94158971
Kennedy Nolan Architects
61 Victoria St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia