Wellington on the Park, Waterloo

With uninterrupted views to Waterloo Park to the east and north, this site in Waterloo benefits from its distinctive corner position, north eastern orientation, and close proximity to adjacent green open space parkland.

In response, we designed a series of slender building volumes wrapping around the eastern and northern boundary – fronting onto a series of rear garden spaces.

Building volumes are oriented to ensure that all perimeter apartments face onto the park enjoying its sunny aspect and outlook. Building performance is high with 85% of apartments cross ventilated, and 91% achieving good solar access.

The building facade has been carefully articulated to provide visual variety and reduce its scale. Sculptural metal clad roof forms in particular provide a distinct response – sensitively modulated to open up to the north and allow sunshine into all parkside apartments.

Lobby and walkway breezeways, sliding sun shades, balconies and awnings create a cohesive response to the localized environment of the site. This in turn creates a highly articulated facade with a depth of patterning and shading.

Terrace and expansive rooftop gardens also enhance the sense of being connected to the park and outdoors, while providing sheltered and welcoming places to rest and relax, and grow vegetables.

Each of the 85 apartment layouts was individually designed, providing seamless indoor / outdoor spaces, generous living spaces and functional layouts.

A complimentary palette of natural and new materials with the use of screening elements, masonry, brick and clear glazing is also in keeping with the concept of responding to the local environmental conditions. Depth and definition in the facade is enhanced by the permeability of the apartments and with the introduction of balconies looking out to district views and oriented for sunlight.

Integrated sustainability measures have been pivotal in the design process ensuring the longevity and overall running cost of the building over time is reduced. The overall masterplan has been carefully considered, achieving a high building performance with 85% of apartments cross-ventilated (92% under the Sepp 65 criteria it was designed under), and 91% achieving good solar access.

In addition to this all apartments have living spaces located on the northern side and there are no south facing apartments.
Other sustainable measures include passive solar and ventilation design through orientation, heat recovered air conditioning systems, solar array system for lighting and A/C, rainwater collection tanks and bicycle storage.