Glyde st is the first Mixed use development to be completed in Mosman Park’s town centre since new planning controls were adopted in 2018. The client and design team’s aspiration since project inception has been to create a strong benchmark that positively influences adjacent local development as well as providing a case study for transit orientated development in the State context of future Metronet precincts.

Despite Mosman Park having 3.5x the state average percentage of multiple dwellings the vast majority of them are smaller scale 1 and 2 bedroom dwellings in buildings aged 40‐50 years. After a failed attempt by another group to develop the site the design team for Glyde st was challenged by the client to deliver a project that catered for local downsizers and their young professional children, providing them with work from building opportunities and the convenience of Ground floor retail and food and beverage amenity.

Reviewing the previously failed proposal the design team assessed a number of issues related to residential amenity and its failure to meet the intent of DesignWA. The design approach to address these issues, whilst anticipating adjacent future development and intertwining the story of the previous use onsite can be summarised by the following;

• Split the building envelope in two to prioritise access to Northern light for the majority of apartments and allowing a single core.
• Carve away mass from the North envelope and rotate the inside face of the southern envelope to create sightlines North out to the Norfolk Pines of Cottesloe
• Sculpt and articulate the street and laneway facades to mitigate bulk for the pedestrian
• Re‐insert the Nursery…… carved voids with cascading vines, mature trees to the inner courtyard and a parklet to the street.
• Soften the sharp edges so its not another white box

This first principles design approach has led to a 100% dual aspect apartment project with real street and laneway engagement and no cross views between apartments. A collaborative design process from the start with our landscape partners, CAPA, has brought about an intertwined Landscape Architecture response with mature trees installed to the street, courtyard and roof terrace and structured planting equating to 25% of the sites area. This dual aspect apartment approach minimizes the end users reliance on mechanical cooling systems through optimized natural ventilation and combined with 86% of apartments receiving North light reliance on mechanical heating is also minimised. The lack of enclosed corridors and lobby spaces also means there is no need to artificially light and condition these zones. The provision of 25kw of PV combined with the first principles approach, efficient fixtures and fitting and behavioral change programs sees a reduction in lifecycle carbon of 50%.

Containing 29 apartments overall with a diversity of sizes and provision of 1‐4 bedrooms, 266m2 of high street commercial space and a co‐working space of 154m2 Glyde st is a considered example of medium scale infill for established neighbourhoods.