Highett Common

Highett Common is a sanctuary, sensitive to the established woodlands through the creation of integrated spaces, layered landscapes, and a strong sense of place to the site. Stage 1 proposes the delivery of apartment buildings referred to as buildings ‘G’ and ‘J’. These buildings are located in the ‘Central Mews’ precinct of the site which intends to present the most ‘European’ character within the development. With medium scale apartments facing into a pedestrian priority landscaped street and an adjacent public park, the emphasis is on community connections and shared play and recreation. Diverse architecture including human scaled materials and a variety of balcony treatments are proposed, with balconies providing opportunities for passive surveillance of abutting public space. The upper levels are recessed to reduce their visibility from the mews and maintain access to daylight and sky views. Soft landscape treatments provide opportunities for trees over the car park below, areas for gathering and rest as well as providing subtle visual cues between the private realm of the ground floor apartments and the public realm. Layered plantings and a paved ground plane, together with the highly textured architecture, encourages a ‘slow zone’ where human activity is encouraged. The apartment buildings and northern-most townhouse rows will be located adjacent the proposed public park to be delivered within the site. These buildings will provide positive outcomes of activation of the park interfaces and passive surveillance opportunities. The park will also support the integration of the proposed Stage 1 buildings and allow future residents to benefit from the natural amenity.