everybody deserves good design: caboolture social housing

Social housing is one of the building types we’re incredibly passionate about as a practice. Over the years we have completed concept and schematic design on several social housing buildings, and it’s important to us that we approach each one with the same level of care and attention to detail we bring to any project.

Our most recent project of this type is a social housing building in Caboolture. At its core, the brief was to create homes that improve the daily lives of the people who will live there, while also sitting well in its context. The constraints are real—budget, site, programme—but we've always believed that constraints are where good design begins.

We received feedback from the City of Moreton Bay recently that noted several specific elements of the design that have made the greatest impact. The numbered image below corresponds to each of these points.

1. The identifiable pedestrian entry creates an intuitive place to sit and wait for transport.

2. The building's height transitions to a more human scale as it approaches the street.

3. The mix and variety of materials gives the building a grounded, homely feel.

4. Generous landscaping and communal areas throughout the property give residents spaces to gather and enjoy.

5. The balustrade design adds a visually interesting layer that provides privacy without feeling heavy.

6. The retention of a significant existing tree near the street offers additional shade and a stronger connection to place.

These might not seem like grand gestures, but they are considered moves, made carefully within the constraints of a social housing budget, that add up to a building where people can feel at home. It’s a commitment that shapes how we approach every project, regardless of scale or budget.