Bates Smart ™

Rhodes Waterside
Rhodes, Sydney

This project forms part of the ‘architecturally inspired’ waterside community at Rhodes Peninsula, where every design has been selected by competition. The waterfront site slopes toward Homebush Bay with views across the water and mangroves to the Olympic Stadium.

The concept evolved from a desire to offer north facing water views with solar access and cross ventilation to the maximum number of apartments. The design consists of two finger-like buildings with a courtyard open to the waterfront. The north finger step-downs from 7 to 4 storeys as well as stepping back from the street alignment to create special corner apartments. The southern finger steps up as it approaches the water, gaining views over the northern finger as well as solar access. A generous internal courtyard opens onto the waterfront promenade allowing shared waterfront views forapartments and creating a glimpse from the public promenade.

Each building has a combination of single level apartments and two storey crossover apartments with corridors at every two floors. This apartment typology ensures all apartments enjoy natural cross ventilation and receive good solar penetration to living areas. The material palette contrasts natural materials, such as dry stacked sandstone and copper, with crisp planar forms. The folded roof planes of oxidised copper emphasise the building geometry.