Design excellence competition winner revealed for Sydney residential building

Panov Scott Architects with Land and Form have been named the winners of a City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition that invited participants to design a mid-rise residential building for an urban infill site in Green Square.

The competition brief was to redevelop an existing infill site to house a shared residential building, accommodating build-t0-rent apartments. It also encouraged design submissions that transformed the existing suburb into one that is lively, pedestrian-friendly and within close proximity to amenities such as public transport and open spaces.

The jury described Panov Scott's winning scheme - named Village Green - as one that prioritised social interaction and connection to place in an "integrated urban, landscape and built form proposal."

"In ordering space within the proposal from public to private and by carefully considering each interface along the way, the scheme genuinely and comfortably promotes social interaction. An enticing balance of compression and expansion of various program components results in a series of environments promising generosity, flexibility and resilience," said jury.

The proposed build-to-rent development contains micro-apartments of approximately 30 square metres. Other features within the building include a communal verandah, open stairs and a roof terrace. Well-defined areas within the building will be able to be adjusted to ensure moments of seclusion and opportunities for neighbourly interactions.

The facade, to be made of precast concrete, has been designed to resemble natural rock formations, evoking a sense of place. At the street level, retail and commercial establishments line the building front.