A submission to an international competition for a new theatre for Perth in the Northbridge district, CentreStage was seen as the last chance to reconcile the 80's 'Monoliths' of the Perth Cultural Centre precinct with the small scale urban texture of Northbridge. Focusing on the creation of a

ph recently collaborated with a large Perth firm, Jones Coulter Young and subsequently won an open design competition for an 86 unit environmentally sustainable apartment block accommodating single youth, families and the aged.

This State Government initiative brings leading edge sustainable design to the neglected field of Public Housing. There are few examples of ESD apartment buildings in warm temperate climates worldwide and as such extensive research was necessary to develop design strategies and appropriate solutions. The team used sophisticated computer thermal modeling as a design tool to predict the thermal performance of the units and modified the spaces and construction techniques accordingly.

The apartments are sited on a recessed glazed plinth of commercial tenancies and are wrapped one unit deep around three sides of a secluded private garden. This garden space provides a focus for each apartment and is visually linked to the public streets by passive resting and active circulation spaces. A white concrete ribbon folds to frame each side the eight storey south slab, the three storey eastern wing and the seven story northwest tower. Screened and shuttered balconies provide all units with flexible outdoor living areas. Artwork is integrated into the concrete skin of the building to articulate the dominant facades to the streetscape.

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