Stylish ‘habitat’ for humans lauded at LUDA

Published: 29th March 2023

‘Habitat on Juers’ – a community housing development with a difference – was awarded the overall and the architecture award at last night’s ceremony at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct.

Judges said the striking suite of homes, comprised of lightweight, cross-laminated timber and exposed brickwork, had turned heads for more than its unusual, appealing design.

The Juers Street development – designed by the Refresh Studio for Architecture – was praised for its smart use of space, while maintaining a focus on comfort, social inclusion, accessibility and energy efficiency.

Key features of the project included the north-south orientation of the homes – considered optimal for breeze and sunlight – the arranging of the dwellings around communal spaces and ample vehicle parking kept to one side.

Logan City Council’s Economic Development Chair Councillor Jon Raven, who hosted last night’s awards ceremony, said the development was a timely example of how innovative urban design could provide more housing choices for local families.

“Great design doesn’t have to be edgy or controversial, it can be simple and elegant – which is what we have found right here in Kingston,” Cr Raven said.

“Clever, community-focused developments like this one are exactly what we’d like to see more from developers and home buyers as our city expands.

“The quality of this year’s awards shows how many talented local designers we have working with Council to create neighbourhoods that add to the appeal and character of our communities while remaining affordable.”

Other winners were:

Master Planning Award: Everleigh (at Greenbank) Landscape Architecture and Urban Infrastructure Award: Pebble Creek Parklands (South Maclean), by SLR Consulting and the Orchard Property Group Business, Programs and Events Award: Area 51 BNE & the Alien Night Market (Underwood), by the Four Season Indoor PlayCentre

Highly commended projects included:

Architecture Award

Logan Hospital (Meadowbrook) multi-level carpark facade design, by Metro South Health and Mode Design The York (Beenleigh), by the Conrad Gargett Group

Business, Programs and Events Award

Wheelnutz Garage (Meadowbrook), by Wheelnuts Garage Papua New Guinea 47th Independence (two-day celebration) 2022, by the Papua New Guinea Federation Queensland Sugar Creek Smokehouse and Trucks & Tunes Events, by Distillery Road Market (Eagleby)

The judging panel included Peter Nelson (Office of the Queensland Government Architect), Stephanie Wyeth (University of Queensland) and Dominic Powell (Archipelago).

The Logan Urban Design Awards were delivered with the support of gold sponsor EPOCA Constructions, program sponsor Lendlease and category sponsors Archipelago, Brick N Pave, Bligh Tanner and CBP Lawyers.

More information on the Logan Urban Design Awards is available at Logan Urban Design Awards – Logan City Council.