Tommy Nguyen

This project stems from a study of the 6-pack apartment typology, often found in suburban areas of Melbourne. Over three storeys, and housing eight units total, this project builds upon the 6-pack design, exploring the middle ground between standardisation and innovation.

The shared garden, expanding the entire width and quarter-ish in length of the site, is situated on the short end of the plot, furthest from the street. The garden is defined by a large central tree where rocks and stones circle the trunk within an expansive patch of grass. A smaller tree sits in the top left corner, where a trail of shorter grass and exposed soil formed by vehicles runs in between the two trees beginning from the driveway and looping around the central tree.

An open plan, an interior floor with no obstructing walls or structural elements. It is a room where the furniture dictates the division of spatial conditions and programmatic zones. Separated by an invisible grid, the various programmes such as the kitchen and living room provide their own distinct spatial conditions complimented by 'things'. Without physical barriers dividing the space, the room features and encourages a dynamic and self-conscious
aesthetic performance life style for the occupant.

The ground floor of the building consists of two units of varying sizes, one occupying two-thirds of the floor area, while the other takes up the remaining third adjacent to the garden. The building has a trapezoidal shape in plan view, with each unit having a single hinged entrance door along the longer edge. There is also a sunroom with glass panels, operable windows, and folding doors within each unit. Furniture is organised in a grid layout, dividing the space into four sectors, allowing flexibility while maintaining distinct spatial configurations.

The frontality of the structure exhibits the partially covered walkway, accessed by the cranked stairs on the right end. An array of columns are positioned by each of the entrance doors, and windows, with furniture defining various spatial conditions along the walkway. The sunroom windows are orientated towards the north and can be opened, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor. The cranked staircase further blurs the frontality and sidedness of the building with its angles wrapping around the balustrades and wall edges. Ultimately, the frontality is defined in its great amount of openings, including the shared balcony and windows, as well as entry doors that cover the facade.

The side-ness is emphasised in its lack of entrance doors and few openings. An assemblage of five windows on its facade, two of which are sunrooms, almost floor-to-ceiling, in comparison to the other three. The facade sits almost directly against the right boundary, leaving a generous space on the left that spans the entire length of the site, leading to a private garden. To the left of the building, are an array of staircases, cranked at an angle to allow walking space, leading to the upper levels. A public communal patio sits between the building, the park and the street, with an awning, angled down towards the street.