Knowledge

Residential

Where and how we live is often determined by the spaces that create our home, the environmental elements that influence where and how these spaces are formed and the community in which it is part. The design of residential buildings is important at all scales – for our cities, towns, suburbs and neighbourhoods.

Hames Sharley’s approach to residential projects is informed, responsive, place-based design that aspires to create exemplar places to live and belong. Place-based design ensures a contextual response to often complex and challenging sites. Understanding the local context is critical in creating residential design that responds to social, economic and environmental factors as well as the physical nature of the site and its surroundings. We believe in enhancing the way people live by capturing the spirit of the surroundings and incorporating it into a final product where quality and output is at the forefront. By taking this approach, the buildings we design maximise the most positive attributes of the context and challenge its constraints, creating an outcome that intends to deliver beyond the brief.

Thumbnail for the article 'Electric vehicles in higher-density residential developments' by Research & Development, Residential Thought Leadership Group

Electric vehicles in higher-density residential developments

Optimising shared carparking facilities through planning, design, and early engagement

Research & Development, Residential Thought Leadership Group

The number of EVs linked into the grid will grow significantly over the next decade, which presents several key global challenges including meeting overall energy and power demands, developing ‘smart charging’ or vehicle-to-grid service from linked cars, and for designers; developing spaces designed with sufficient forethought surrounding flexibility and systems integration.

Thumbnail for the article 'Design-led solutions for curbing crime' by Talia Uylaki

Design-led solutions for curbing crime

Talia Uylaki

Purposeful design elements in an urban or residential area that encourage community interaction and engagement can lead to a symbolic ‘sense of place’. The community takes pride and care in their environment and so wish to see it protected.

Thumbnail for the article 'Ritual in apartment design – the interstice' by By Iain Stewart & Tzu-Mei Stewart

Ritual in apartment design – the interstice

By Iain Stewart & Tzu-Mei Stewart

The way people interact with a building and move within its spaces, finding shelter and comfort, is essential to architecture’s concerns. The considered accommodation of our day-to-day rituals within residential settings – arriving home, the reception of guests, the family meal, conversations around the coffee table, bathing, going to bed, waking up – is what humanises a space, makes a home and shapes our identity.

Thumbnail for the article 'Rethinking design: will our homes change for the better?'

Rethinking design: will our homes change for the better?

It’s times like these we reset the clock. The Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to take stock; to determine what’s important and what’s disposable in our lives.

Thumbnail for the article 'How Covid-19 is Shaping the Future of Seniors Living'

How Covid-19 is Shaping the Future of Seniors Living

Gary Mackintosh, Associate Director / Seniors Living Leader at Hames Sharley, looks at how the design of aged-care facilities must change in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Thumbnail for the article 'We’re gonna need a bigger Allen key'

We’re gonna need a bigger Allen key

There’s no denying that flat-packed, modular furniture is well-established feature of the modern design landscape. Well, get ready, because plans are afoot for flat-packed, modular design to become part of the actual landscape, too.

Thumbnail for the article 'Residential campaign' by Jacinta Houzer

Residential campaign

Jacinta Houzer

The way we fund and build apartments in Australia is just one of the factors contributing to the country’s housing-affordability crisis, however, an emerging financial model known as Baugruppen might help to solve the problem.

Thumbnail for the article 'Artificial constructs' by Michael Cooper

Artificial constructs

Michael Cooper

In the 21st century, automation is a fact of life, with robots having a metallic hand in the production of everything from cars to toys, but when it comes to the construction industry, the automated workforce is conspicuous by its absence. In a recent address to Consult Australia, Valentina Sansbury asked why construction has been so slow to build on automated assistance, and offered a vision of how robotics can be an asset to increase productivity within the industry.

Thumbnail for the article 'What’s new in home automation' by Vanessa McDaid

What’s new in home automation

Vanessa McDaid

Home automation is getting a whole lot closer to the average family. Currently the domain of top-end residential builds and the tech-savvy, the Internet of Things (IoT) is coming soon to a neighbourhood near you…

Thumbnail for the article 'The price ain’t right' by Pete Kempshall

The price ain’t right

Pete Kempshall

Affordable housing has become a major issue in recent years. Last week’s budget did little to alleviate the problem for first-home buyers, amounting to not much more than tinkering to provide the illusion of change…

Thumbnail for the article 'From off grid homes to high-rises' by Kate Fuller

From off grid homes to high-rises

Kate Fuller

Move over driverless cars, Tesla is ready to make an even bigger impact on our lives, our cities and our homes, with their recently announced off-grid solar technology offer. But how will this accessible new solar technology impact our lives, economy, environment and our architecture?