TURNER
Search
Bookmarks
  • Vision
  • People
  • Projects
  • Studio
  • Journal
  • Contact
Suggested searches
  • Hospitality
  • Mixed-Use
  • Build-to-Rent
  • Residential
  • Workplace
  • Place Branding
  • Interiors
  • Masterplan
  • Public Art
  • Urban Renewal
1/10

Essential workers set to benefit from new Sydney apartments

The Meridian Development

The housing crisis and increasing development funding difficulties have seen the essential worker housing sector gain popularity amongst institutional developers in Australia, offering them a unique potential for strong long-term investment.

The Meridian Miranda development, owned by Aware Real Estate and developed in partnership with Altis Property Partners, creates housing for essential workers at significantly reduced rents, allowing essential workers to live close to their place of employment.

The residential project, designed by Turner, reserves 50% of its 102 apartments for workers in essential industries such as aged care, health care, education, emergency services, police and childcare. The remaining apartments have been sold as private residential housing.

Delivering high amenity and security of tenure...

Turner Director James McCarthy says successful essential worker housing is about delivering high amenity and security of tenure to attract and retain tenants.

“Essential worker apartments need to work well from an operational point of view, but they also need to be beautiful and appeal to the needs of their target demographics,” he says.

“If a development is, for example, targeting specifically health workers, an ideal site would be in the vicinity of a hospital. Meanwhile, amenities should support a shift worker’s lifestyle, and could include ease of access to key infrastructure and transport options and an onsite gymnasium. These factors are considered deeply during the design process, alongside planning regulations.”

Meridian Miranda’s allowance for essential workers activated floor space ratio concessions from the NSW State Government. The apartments vary in size from 62 square metres (one-bedroom apartment) to a generous 135 square metres for three-bedroom apartments. Meanwhile, the rooftops create a community space for ample entertainment and leisure.

Altis Property Partners Project Director Joseph Ajaka says essential worker housing shouldn’t compromise on design, and this quality of design was a driving factor on the Meridian Miranda project.

“Essential worker apartments need to work well from an operational point of view, but they also need to be beautiful and appeal to the needs of their target demographics”

More essential key-worker housing in the pipeline...

Turner is also currently delivering the Illoura Place Liverpool project for Aware Real Estate and Altis Property Partners, which has recently been granted Development Approval. Illoura Place comprises 312 apartments, of which a significant number are reserved for essential workers, and is in close proximity to Greater Western Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital.

James says Aware Real Estate and Altis Property Partners’ extensive research process with future residents of their projects means apartments are tailored to their users.

“Research informs our apartment design, including what residents want from their shared amenities. This results in projects that are highly in tune with the market’s needs.”
He says there are many learnings the practice applied to Meridian Miranda from its extensive portfolio of multi-residential projects.

“Creating community, attracting tenants and designing buildings that are easy to maintain in the long-term is paramount. It’s incredibly important for architects to understand the requirements from an operational perspective. And of course, essential worker housing should be well designed – seamlessly blending high amenity and function. Our design must draw tenants to the building in the first instance, but serve their needs and keep them happy there for many years to come.”

ArchitectureInteriorsPlace Branding

Explore other stories

How well-designed affordable housing improves lives
September 5, 2023

Stephen and Dan discuss how design shapes the quality of life for affordable housing residents, as seen in award-winning projects Blackwattle and Bigge Street.

AIA NSW Awards 2023 – Bigge Street
June 26, 2023

Bigge Street social housing has received two Australian Institute of Architects NSW awards - Premier's Prize & Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing.

National Reconciliation Week
June 2, 2023

As practitioners of space-making and the built environment working on Country, we are committed to our reconciliation journey.

Developers who design ‘experiences’ reap rewards
April 28, 2023

Experiential Design is the thoughtful design of a person's experience within a space.

Paid Parental Leave Policy
April 20, 2023

We are proud to introduce our new policy, offering up to 18 weeks of parental leave, including super, depending on years of service, to any parent, regardless of gender.

After the Fires – Habitus Issue #55
March 8, 2023

Nick Turner was able to save his house during the devastating Black Summer fires in 2020, but he lost the garden he had worked on for years.

Meet the team

James McCarthy
LinkedInEmail
James Lauman
LinkedInEmail

Share this article

LinkedIn Facebook

Studio locations

Sydney

L7 ONE Oxford Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Australia

View map

T +61 2 8668 0000
F +61 2 8668 0088

office@turnerstudio.com.au
media@turnerstudio.com.au

London

Mappin House
4 Winsley Street
London W1W 8HF
United Kingdom

View map

T +44 (0)20 3950 1575

design@turner.studio

Stay connected

Keep up to date with TURNER’s news via our quarterly newsletter



Vision

People

Projects

Studio

Journal

Contact

Careers

Current opportunities

Information

Terms and conditions

Media

Press releases
Awards

Privacy

© 2023 TURNER. All Rights Reserved.

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram