Project Details

The Challenge

Sydney’s successful bid to host the 2000 Olympics games had a commitment to ESD that was significant in securing the win. As a part of this commitment environment was included as the third dimension in the Olympic charter with sport and culture.

The commitment towards ESD can be seen throughout the Olympics co-ordination Environmental Guidelines, a document establishing the criteria for a green Olympics facilities and infrastructure.

Unlike sports facilities, Newington village was perceived to be an ideal demonstration of the commitment to Green Olympics because it was to have an ongoing purpose as a medium density residential suburb. The challenge further intensified due to the fact that this model village inducing a permanent change in the housing industry required application of integrated principles in order to attain a merging of conflicting goals-

• How the application of basic energy and water saving principles can be applied on a large scale for a mainstream market and
• How a bunch of bottle line oriented property developers can find way to green and still make a buck

OCA’s determination, that the village would be a ‘model’ urban and ecologically sustainable development, implied a degree of public and industry education and information provision, an aspect under-explored in this development to date.

The challenge for architects was to reconcile the innovative and green design ideas with the ‘mainstream’ marketing needs. The fact was recognized that the market is more likely to be open to environmental design if it brought comfort and lifestyle improvements as well as environmental and cost benefits.

The huge task of building the largest-ever Olympic residential development and with a commitment towards ESD required drawing together of many strands of construction industry; from detailed planning and co-ordination through to environmental management system and all of this within a non-negotiable time schedule.

Project details

Buildings Type: Medium Density residential development

Building Areas:

Large 3 Bedroom: 164 SQM

Large 4 bedroom: 187 SQM

Medium 3 Bedroom: 150 SQM

Small 3 Bedroom: 140 SQM

Number of occupants:

Nature of occupancy:

Number of storeys:

Year of completion: Stage one of the development was (Precinct 3) completed October 1998

Post games stages are due for completion to suit market demand (envisaged 2003)

Building cost: Estimated selling price of the houses will start at $355000 for a 3 bed courtyard homes to $540000 for 4 bedroom executive homes

The entire village is estimated to cost nearly $600 million- including state and federal government contributions.