Higher density multi-unit residential developments, such as townhouses and apartment buildings (henceforth ‘higher density housing’), have become an increasingly common feature of Australian cities. Across the country, 2016 marked the first time when construction began on more higher density housing than detached houses. New South Wales (NSW) already passed this milestone some years ago, and...

The NSW Government is using codification to encourage housing supply in Sydney. The codification is designed to override local housing design, volume and location controls, where these are perceived to obstruct higher residential density. The codification replaces local design rules with statewide standards, and merit assessment by council with approval by accredited third parties. Codification...

The NSW Government is seeking feedback on the draft Medium Density Design Guide. The Design Guide is intended to assist in achieving better design and planning outcomes for low-rise, medium-density housing. It provides guidance and criteria for designing and assessing these developments. The Design Guide has been prepared to: assist developers, planners, urban designers, architects...

The paper discusses the Sirius apartments located in Sydney’s historic Rocks precinct. It is informed by personal communication with the building’s architect, Tao (Theodorus) Gofers. The paper situates the building in the context of the 1970s redevelopment plans for the Rocks, its critical reception as an urban eyesore and its re-evaluation as an iconic Brutalist...

This paper develops a model to test the feasibility of the renewal of existing multi-unit housing across the Sydney Metropolitan Region and aims to demonstrate the practical outcome that would be required for redevelopment to occur under ‘business as usual’ scenarios.