Guide drives coastal vibe in apartment design

Sunshine Coast Council architects have produced a design guide for apartments and townhouses focussed on coastal living.

Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Tim Burns said apartments and townhouses were expected to play a greater role as the region looked to accommodate an increasing number of people.

Cr Burns said the new guide would encourage development of quality homes for residents and attractive, shady and safe streets for the community.

He said it encouraged climate-responsive design that reflected the region’s unique character, ensuring that new developments enhanced, rather than detracted from, the local identity.

“Our new guide is a valuable tool for anyone involved in medium-density residential development.

“This includes designers and architects, planners, developers, local government and investors.”

Cr Burns said the guide included tips and photos to support the design process with consideration of:

• Site location, orientation and surrounding environment.
• Orientation to maximise sunlight and breeze and merge indoor-outdoor spaces.
• Maximising natural light, greenery, landscape and trees.
• Enhancing street appeal.
• Using sustainable building materials.
• Creating useable and welcoming communal areas.
• Designing for accessibility and inclusion.

He said future housing should be aesthetically pleasing, functional, promote an indoor-outdoor lifestyle and work with the climate.

“As our population increases, it is crucial that all new housing benefits residents, the neighbourhood, the environment and the broader community.”

Access Apartments and Townhouses: Designing for People and Place.

Sunshine Coast Design Principles:

1. Work with the local climate.
2. Create places that respect and incorporate landscape.
3. Bring cultures, arts and heritage to life.
4. Capture and frame views and create vistas.
5. Strengthen and extend a network of green corridors.
6. Be inspired by the natural and built environment.
7. Create shady streets that put people first.
8. Create welcoming places that can be enjoyed by everyone.
9. Design places to be resilient and ready for change.
10. Create and add value.