First designs have been released for Mandurah Common Ground – a 50-apartment facility designed for members of the community who are sleeping rough, experiencing chronic homelessness or who suffer from financial instability.
The concept design, led by local architect Gresley Abas, has been informed by feedback following targeted stakeholder engagement. Funded by the state government, the $28.1 million facility will provide housing alongside intensive wrap-around supports to assist in sustaining user tenancies and building independence.
Mandurah is located on the southwest coast of Western Australia, and the city has been recognized as an area with a relatively high number of the population experiencing precarious living situations.
Mandurah Common Ground will be situated at 81-87A Allnutt Street, and comprise self-contained apartments with indoor and outdoor communal areas and onsite support services. Evidence from previous Common Ground sites across Australia has shown that proximity to public transport, local amenity and a range of public services is imperative to the success of the initiatives. The Allnutt Street site was selected as the most suitable location based on these factors.
The proposed facility is designed to be environmentally sustainable and culturally safe, with considered access for people with disability.
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Gresley Abas
The proposed facility is designed to be environmentally sustainable and culturally safe, with considered access for people with disability. Homelessness Minister John Carey said the contemporary facility delivers a high priority project and key initiative supporting the state’s dedicated strategy for targeting homelessness.
“The Common Ground facilities are a key pillar of our long-term response to addressing homelessness in Western Australia, and it’s fantastic to be able to unveil the first concept design for the Mandurah facility,” Carey said.
“The design itself looks fantastic and I know the architects have been working with key stakeholders in the development, including those with lived experience of homelessness.”
The state government is investing $2.4 billion in social housing and homelessness services over the next four years. Construction on the Mandurah Common Ground facility is expected to begin in the first half of 2023, with the site ready to welcome residents in 2024.
For more information visit the Western Australian government’s website.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
