Green Square | affordable housing with green communal spaces

Green Square---Citicene-(6)

Green Square is an affordable housing project that has already gained international recognition being shortlisted at the prestigious 2014 World Architecture Festival (WAF) awards.

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This project is one of 15 top examples of affordable housing in the world. Developed by BHC – Creating Liveable Communities, Citicene designed and delivered the landscape component of this innovative project located in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia.

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Green Square was designed to provide affordable housing options predominately for single people and couple households, many of who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. Much thought was given to community integration in the design of Green Square. This was achieved by incorporating a number of recreational areas throughout the building which aided in fostering congenial relationships between the building’s residents.

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The development has also already received a 2013 Australian Institute of Architects National award and a commendation for sustainable architecture.
Green Square has a central atrium space with individual communal areas on each level. The intention of the central communal areas is to create green atriums with landscape that extends between levels and throughout the internal entries of each apartment.

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Each of the eight levels contains 10 individual studio one-bedroom apartments. The ends of the central space were kept open and the central roof also has elements open to the sky which enhances natural light, breeze and a feeling of the outdoor environment.

Communal areas include typical facilities for cooking and laundry surrounded by vertical gardens and creepers.
Specifically, the landscape includes:
– a central atrium green communal space on each level;
– footpath streetscape works including pavements, street trees, street furniture and planting;
– lower level commercial outdoor spaces which include overhead trellis for shade and softening of built form;
– a plant selection tolerant of indoor environments;
– a giant tank for the rainwater harvested irrigation system.

Green Square---Citicene-(8)

Green Square---Citicene-(9)

Citicene delivered landscape architectural services from Schematic Design through to Certification and approval with the local Council – Brisbane City Council.

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Green Square---Citicene-(1)

Green Square | Brisbane, Queensland | Australia

Landscape Architect | 
Citicene
Architect | 
Cox Architecture
Builder |
Walton Construction Queensland
Town Planner | 
Humphreys Reynolds Perkins
Engineers 
|
Lambert & Rehbein – Structural
DMA Professional Engineers – Electrical & Mechanical
Wood and Grieve – Hydraulic

Developer | 
BHC – Creating Liveable Communities

About Damian Holmes 3404 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/