WestWyck is an eco-village that demonstrates sustainable development is well and truly achievable and compatible with high quality design.
The eco-village site includes communal and private open space, landscaped with attention to water sensitivity through use of local native and productive plants. The townhouses to be built on the former playgrounds and the apartments now built within the Victorian-era former school building are of quality architect design based on a brief which emphasises innovative environmental criteria.
All Stage 1 dwellings - apartments and townhouses - have been sold and are now occupied
Now available to view on this website:
The first stage of this residential development covers the southern area of the WestWyck site. It involves the construction of twelve dwellings; seven warehouse-style apartments within the southern half of the existing school building and five terrace houses on the Hunter St frontage.
All six Stage One apartments and the five townhouses have been completed, sold and are now occupied. The northern section of the school building is currently devoted to communal rental accommodation.
The design minimises reliance on power sourced from the electricity grid and potable water drawn from the mains supply, seizes opportunities to re-use and recycle materials and waste water and only utilises materials and finishes which take into account 'healthy building' criteria.
The apartments have been created over three levels by ingenious re-engineering of the ceiling space. The design has aimed to retain the classroom 'feel' and any remnant heritage features, but there is strong emphasis on accessing north light through double-glazed roof penetrations. The insulation and double-glazing regime provides efficient thermal and acoustic properties. Private external living areas have been designed by a landscape artist and feature stone slabs, weathered steel and water-sensitive plantings. All apartments share rainwater tanks, grey and blackwater recycling and solar hot water.
The common style of all apartments is polished mountain ash floors, using the original where possible and second hand where it is available. The heating system is solar-heated, gas boosted hydronic. The hot water service uses rainwater with a capacity for mains top-up and is a communal system gaining in efficiency by using shared panels and storage tank. All cooking in the apartments is gas and the most appropriate energy efficient lighting has been selected for each application.
The architect-designed townhouses are integrated into the historic site focussed upon the former school buildings to achieve an eco-village in an urban context with a brief similar to that of the apartments. The close connection with the original building is enforced through examples like the use of original oregon timber reclaimed from the school building being reapplied as a feature.
The townhouses have the north-south orientation advantage that enables them to maximise passive solar design opportunities with main living areas benefiting from the northern aspect for light and warmth in winter and with utility areas such as the laundry and bathroom located further to the south. Slab on ground construction, together with internal masonry party walls provide thermal mass. Add in the impressive insulation and double-glazing regime and prudent residents should be assured of low energy and water bills.
Northern living areas open onto external decks which also include storage facilities. All townhouses will include a below ground rainwater tank, grey and blackwater recycling, solar hot water and a small photovoltaic array.
It is true to say that each dwelling, apartment and townhouse, is a 'one-off' design, trying to capitalise on its particular contribution to the WestWyck site. WestWyck has assembled a wonderful team of builders for this unique project.
Apartment 1 was a large lofty classroom that was part of the 1880s building. It has been designed to maximise the curtain wall expanse of double-glazed eastern windows, four concertina 'French' doors and the generous landscaped private courtyard garden. The dwelling has been created over three levels and takes maximum advantage of the vaulted space through the use of soaring voids and a 'floating' mezzanine and a spectacular staircase. The mezzanine floor includes a generous glassed-in bedroom and a study area. The feature staircase, with generous under-stair storage at ground level, accesses all three levels.
An attic has been built into the ceiling space through the use of trusses crafted on site to reduce the amount of steel to be applied to the design. The attic is a stunning feature of this apartment with its sloping walls, loft-like rooftop studio or bedroom, eyrie bathroom and toilet and semi-covered balcony with 180-degree views to the city the Dandenongs and to the north.
In the mornings the sun floods into the kitchen and dining area and later in the day a series of double-glazed roof windows becomes the main light source. The kitchen is of open plan design with stainless steel commercial-style sinks and a recycled spotted gum central bench area. A pantry is attached.
Architect's Plans
Apartment 2 was the southeastern classroom that was part of the 1912 Edwardian addition to the school building. It incorporates one of the original entrances that has been highlighted as a versatile, glassed-in 'conservatory' area to serve as a sun trap in the mornings. The dwelling has been designed to maximise the eastern aspect including the landscaped transpiration bed. The apartment has been created over three levels with a feature stair extends into the void up to the mezzanine floor which includes a glassed-in bedroom, a utility cum study area and a spectacular glazed bathroom. The attic in this apartment has special charm being squeezed into the ceiling space under the eastern slope of the roof; it includes storage 'lockers' slotted in under the eaves.
The apartment is built for open plan living and one theme of the design is flexibility; the conservatory could be put to multiple uses (study, dining, studio, bedroom), there is a multitude of spaces suitable for a desk and shelves and the mezzanine includes a versatile well-lit utility room. The design boldly exhibits the classroom character and ceiling-height internal doors accentuate the roominess. The old fireplace was discovered hiding behind the wainscoting and was re-built. A chimney was re-created from old photographs.
The design is striking at so many levels; solar tubes draw light into the bathrooms reducing the need for constant switching on and off of lights, the open plan kitchen includes stainless steel (commercial-style) workbenches and appliances including Qasair rangehoods, folding concertina doors open on to a landscaped courtyard and cross-flow ventilation is created sub floor, then throughout the living space with the aid of openable roof and hopper windows and by the device of a ceiling fan in the void. There are touches of clever integration, none better than the treads of recycled spotted gum on the handcrafted steel staircase that match the recycled spotted gum kitchen bench top and shelving.
Apartment 3 is centrally placed on the Edwardian southern face of the 1912 addition to the school building and one of the benefits is that being in between other apartments will make it easier to keep heated in winter and cool in summer. A surprise feature of the dwelling is the expansive attic room (a rooftop studio bedroom?) tucked high into the roof space and running the entire width of the apartment; it actually has a permit for two rooms! Another unique feature is the dedication of most of the floor space of the original classroom as a huge open space living area with a void extending over two levels. In this home the ample kitchen, with stainless steel commercial-style workbenches and appliances including Qasair rangehood and lit by a northern double-glazed skylight, is built into the original wide passageway and connects easily into the living area. The remainder of the passage houses the bathroom / laundry. The mezzanine floor includes a glassed-in bedroom, a study or utility area and a spectacular glazed bathroom.
The apartment has been created over three levels and the spectacular steel stair which extends through the void up to the mezzanine floor sets the scene for bold use of stunning space with design features emphasising spaciousness, both lateral and vertical. This includes ceiling-height internal doors, restored chest-high jarrah wainscoting and the cavernous fireplace which has been re-instated to house a gas firebox to provide a cosy nook. The large courtyard features rock and weathered steel walls already overlooked by red-flowering Eucalyptus Caesias.
The design is striking at so many levels; solar tubes draw light into the bathrooms reducing the need for constant switching on and off of lights, the kitchen configuration includes, folding concertina type doors open on to landscaped courtyard and ventilation is created as cross-flow sub floor, through the living space with the aid of openable roof and hopper windows and a by the device of a ceiling fan in the void. There are touches of clever integration, none better than the treads of recycled spotted gum on the handcrafted steel staircase that match the recycled spotted gum bench tops.
Townhouse 1 has been designed to take advantage of the morning eastern light into the kitchen and dining area. It features open plan living to the north including an uninterrupted northern aspect beyond the courtyard through to the eastern evapotranspiration bed. Window seats have been incorporated into the casement windows in the north and south living rooms opening on to the garden. At 9.5 metres, this block is the widest of the five townhouses fronting Hunter St.
This dwelling includes two living areas on the ground floor separated by a central staircase and void allowing daylight into the centre of the house for winter heat gain and light. Further storage is included under the staircase and is accessible from the living and family rooms. The kitchen configuration includes a large square island bench, stainless steel work areas and additional storage cupboards and open shelves. The first floor features a large master bedroom with a northern aspect and a 2nd bedroom separated by the stairwell and bathroom. The townhouses have been built with flexibility in mind and this includes an option to incorporate a study into the first floor if this is desired. Townhouse 1 also includes a mezzanine space with dormer windows and storage area within the roof space. There is approval for a generous northern balcony opening from the master bedroom which is available as an optional item.
Townhouse 2 has a wide (8.5 metre) frontage to Hunter St with an entrance set back from the street providing a delightful courtyard entrance. On the ground floor it features open plan living to the north, with views beyond to the southern façade of the school building, together with another living area facing Hunter St. The living areas are separated by a central core that includes a staircase and a void allowing daylight into the centre of the house for winter heat gain and light. This dwelling enjoys additional western light and has been designed to minimise the heat gain from the western façade through careful sizing and placement of western double-glazing, particularly to the ground floor. Window seats have been incorporated into the casement windows in the north and south living rooms opening on to the garden. The kitchen configuration includes a large square island bench, stainless steel work areas and additional storage cupboards and open shelves. The first floor features a large master bedroom with a northern aspect and a 2nd bedroom separated by the stairwell and bathroom.
Storage has been designed into the first floor through the linen cupboard and a pull-out unit within the bathroom. This dwelling includes a separate second toilet. Further storage is included under the staircase and is accessible from the living and family rooms. The townhouses have been built with flexibility in mind and this includes an option to incorporate a study into the first floor master bedroom space if this is desired. Townhouse 2 also includes a mezzanine with dormer windows and storage area within the roof space. There is approval for a generous northern balcony opening from the master bedroom which is available as an optional item.
Townhouse 3 is special because it derives eastern light and has been designed to take advantage of the morning sun through carefully placed windows into the bedrooms, kitchen and dining area and into the separate ground floor living area. It features open plan living to the north with glimpses of the historic school building beyond together with a separate living area on the ground floor. Between the living areas is a central light well with a staircase, allowing daylight into the centre of the house for winter heat gain and light. Further storage is included under the staircase and is accessible from the living and family rooms. The kitchen configuration includes a large central island bench, stainless steel work areas and additional storage cupboards and open shelves.
The first floor features a master bedroom with a northern aspect and a 2nd bedroom separated by the stairwell and bathroom. Storage has been designed into the first floor through a linen cupboard and a pull-out storage unit within the bathroom. The townhouses have been built with flexibility in mind and this includes an option to incorporate a study into the first floor if this is desired. Townhouse 3 also includes a mezzanine space with dormer windows and storage area within the roof space. Window seats have been incorporated into the casement windows in the north and south living rooms opening on to the garden. There is approval for a northern balcony opening from the master bedroom which is available as an optional item.
Having neighbours on each side, townhouse 4 will provide all the energy advantages of a traditional terrace house. It features open plan living to the north with glimpses of the historic school building beyond together with a separate living area on the ground floor. Between the living areas is a central light well with a staircase, allowing daylight into the centre of the house for winter heat gain and light. Further storage is included under the staircase and is accessible from the living and family rooms. Window seats have been incorporated into the casement windows in the north and south living rooms opening onto the garden. The kitchen configuration includes a large central island bench, stainless steel work areas and additional storage cupboards and open shelves.
The first floor features a master bedroom with a northern aspect and a 2nd bedroom separated by the stairwell and bathroom. Storage has been designed into the first floor through a linen cupboard and a pull out storage unit within the bathroom. The townhouses have been built with flexibility in mind and this includes an option to incorporate a study into the first floor if this is desired. Townhouse 4 also includes a mezzanine space with dormer windows and storage area within the roof space. There is approval for a northern balcony opening from the master bedroom which is available as an optional item.
Townhouse 5 is the widest of these three townhouses with a freestanding wall on the west providing pedestrian access from Hunter St through to the rear garden. It is located adjacent to the communal productive garden, clothes drying and recreation space. It benefits from western light and has been designed to minimise western heat gain through careful sizing and placement of double-glazing. It features open plan living to the north including an uninterrupted northern aspect beyond the courtyard through to the western food garden. Window seats have been incorporated into the casement windows in the north and south living rooms opening on to the garden. This dwelling includes two living areas on the ground floor separated by a central staircase and void allowing daylight into the centre of the house for winter heat gain and light. Further storage is included under the staircase and is accessible from the living and family rooms. The kitchen configuration includes a large central island bench, stainless steel work areas and additional storage cupboards and open shelves.
The first floor features a large north-facing master bedroom with views over the communal space and a 2nd bedroom separated by the stairwell and bathroom. Storage has been designed into the first floor through a linen cupboard and a pull out storage unit within the bathroom. The townhouses have been built with flexibility in mind and this includes an option to incorporate a study into the first floor if this is desired. Townhouse five also includes a mezzanine space with dormer windows and storage area within the roof space. There is approval for a northern balcony opening from the master bedroom which is available as an optional item.
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