The Henderson

Architecture

Thinking from the ground up in Alexandria

Challenge

The small and constrained nature of this urban site precluded the provision of open space. Therefore, the key objective was to create a landscape feature via a rooftop open space and communal garden area. As one of the last developments in this inner city block, the scale of form was consistent with Council controls and existing developments within the area. Resources and infrastructure were optimised by the density increase for this site, closely located to existing inner city facilities and amenities. With the aim to respond to the activity and built condition of Alexandria by sculpturally defining the street edge; the design outcome was a considered response to the entire site’s challenging constraints and opportunities, balancing dwelling layout and amenity, with urban design imperatives.

Insight

Positioned on the corner of Henderson Road and Garden Street, The Henderson sits between the neighbourhood urban scale of Alexandria to the South and the larger city scale towards the East and North. The corner site’s dual frontages provided the opportunity to individually reflect the patterns of scale, width and height established by both immediate and distant neighbours as a way to transition from smaller neighbourhood scale to a denser and larger city scale.

Solution

The generally unobstructed northern aspect towards the city provided enhanced amenity above the busy frontage to Henderson Road; which was further enhanced through the activation of street frontages with living areas, balconies and entries. An express access corridor vertically divided the public facade into two distinct forms, with a glazed recessed facade. Balconies and private courtyards address the two street frontages to the west and south, providing a modulation to the corner site that successfully added to the neighbourhood diversity.