The final tower in a group of five student accommodation towers to be built along Anzac Parade in Sydney’s Kensington and Kingsford has received development approval.
It follows the earlier approval of another four towers to be built by the student accommodation developer Scape in June. Plus Architecture is the architect of the Kensigton tower, as well as one of the Kingsford towers.
Plus Architecture director Rido Pin said the final project to obtain development approval would play a key role in representing the vision for Anzac Parade.
“Scape Kensington sits at the heart of Randwick’s light rail corridor and combined with its future opposite neighbours will define Todman Plaza, a key intersection supported by great community infrastructure, retail and commercial opportunities connected to the network of new public open space,” he said.
“Scape Kensington has its own unique architectural expression in which the brick base embraces community and a dynamic interplay of uses, while the simple but elegant tower form will create a place to live supported by great communal internal and external spaces driven by amenity, sustainability and well-being. The tower façade concept draws inspiration from the sky and its soft forms to respond to the urban scale.”
The five towers will range in height from 6 to 18 storeys, and are intended to meet a projected growth in demand for accommodation around the University of New South Wales precinct. The Kensington and Kingsford projects will together deliver more than 1,500 bedrooms, and 8,000 square metres of retail and commercial spaces.
Pin said Scape Kensington would act a gateway along Anzac Parade, marking the transition to the existing eastern neighbourhood character.
“The podium and tower form […] respond to this contrast through [their] expression and materiality,” he said. “The podium design concept is based on the gesture of welcoming the public into the building, creating a dynamic and vibrant place where outside space effortlessly connects to the internal spaces connected to the character of its place.”
Construction is expected to start later in 2021.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
