Project Overview

Not simply a new development but an entirely new suburb. At less than 30 minutes south-west of the CBD with quick and easy access to the M5 Motorway or rail, Washington Park is widely considered by experts to be one of Sydney’s next property hotspots.

The development sold out in six weeks across three stages (539 apartments in total).

Organisation

PAYCE

Team

Developer: PAYCE
Architect: Turner
Interior Designer: Koichi Takada Architects
Landscaper Architects: Turf Studio
Builder: Dasco Constructions
Project Manager: M Projects
Community Consultant: Brooks Community Consultants
Sales & Marketing: LINK Marketing

Project Brief

Riverwood North was an ageing Public Housing Estate and Payce have created a new suburb called Washington Park. This name came from the history of the site, which was a World War II American Army Hospital.

The project brief was to establish a revitalised urban area where people want to live, which exudes a strong sense of place and belonging, and ensure appropriate social infrastructure to support the renewal and to build the capacity of disadvantaged members of the community, and arrest the risk of ongoing social deterioration (through learning, employment, recreation, community facilities and social programs). Leading to a higher proportion of families into the area.

In designing Washington Park we looked closely at the way Washington Park residents might live and interact, and tried to anticipate exactly what they would desire in a home and surrounding infrastructure.

Project Innovation/Need

We have provided new facilities including a Library, cafe, retail, community centre and senior citizens centre.

Washington Park’s distinctive parkland setting within an urban environment is fundamental to the urban design. We’ve accentuated the connection between the streetscapes, the communal open spaces and the surrounding public parkland itself. The buildings each have central, landscaped, open space for residents only and, thanks to the abundance of parkland, within and surrounding Washington Park, many of the apartments enjoy green views.

Each building has its own identity, yet they are familial – they have very clear, strong forms with continuity achieved through chosen materials and colour palettes. The buildings are designed to look good for years to come and work as a cohesive part of the greater masterplan for urban renewal.

We’ve worked hard to deliver a refined level of product. They are definitely something special for the area.

Design Challenge

The buildings have been planned to maximise the number of apartments that enjoy views of either Central Park or the buildings’ own landscaped outdoor spaces. Colours and materiality have been drawn out of the site’s landscapes, carefully selecting materials such as stone and brick, and using highlighted accents, to respond to these landscapes and develop the buildings’ character.

At ground level are stone infill panels with white window frames, derived from classical architecture. Above this, contrasting high-quality brickwork, with dark window frames to provide an interesting counterpoint. At the top, the buildings are painted white, giving the development an essential lightness year round. Privacy screens dotted throughout provide flashes of colour.

Sustainability

Environmental sustainability was crucial to the vision of Washington Park. The team went to great lengths to reduce the energy consumption, energy costs and environmental impact of the development.

Washington Park aims to reduce each resident’s carbon footprint and energy consumption by utilising LED down light lamps; a typical apartment at Washington Park will save approximately 4,300kgs of C02 per annum which is the equivalent of taking one car of the road per apartment.

Washington Park has 11 parks within a one km radius. In keeping the connection to the surrounding area, the masterplan provides a carefully selected richness in texture, colour and seasonal variation including magnolias, jacarandas, flame trees, silky oaks and pear trees. Washington Park has been designed to blend harmoniously with the adjoining landscaped wetlands and around 190 trees and 14,000 plants will be planted throughout the extensive public areas.

Being strategically connected to an extensive road and public transport network, Washington Park is only 700m from Riverwood Station and closer to several major bus lines.