The Turanga and Matavai Towers stand as beacons of their place and people, a home for some of societies most disadvantaged who in the face of LAHC’s development plans for the Waterloo Estate to meet Sydneys growing housing demands, are left uncertain about their future. Our adaptive re-use proposal explores an alternative solution to retain these ageing residents in their community and facilitate a socially, environmental and economicly conscious development for the site that improves their lives and the surrounding community.
Our tower transformation seeks to provide simple solutions with great impact to the lives of residents, addressing their individual needs through a variety of adaptive modular additions that infill the existing tower mass. A new adaptive facade system shrouds the existing tower to improve resident comfort and express the identity and architectural heritage of the iconic towers. By involving residents into the process of the towers adaptive reuse they are ultimately shaping their new homes, providing this group of residents with a sense of self determination. The new residential apartments addresses the growing need for affordable housing, increasing density surrounding the towers. Under utilised land is provided as leasehold titles for development with variations of alternative housing models explored in Europe. The new development facilitates for the future by providing flexible apartments that can adapt to changing resident needs and market demands. A ‘Common Ground’ activates the ground plane, linking all resident groups and the neighbourhood to foster an intergenerational community. A place to support natural and meaningful social interactions through support services and greater amenity.
The strategies proposed aim to facilitate a diverse and socially cohesive community, one that can adapt over time securing the development as a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable solution,