Cross Street Residences by Aphora Architecture

Comprising two contemporary residences designed for Queensland conditions, Cross Street Residences by Aphora Architecture offer flexible living that appeals equally to young families and empty nesters.

Crafted side-by-side in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm, Cross Street Residences form fresh additions to the built environment. “New Farm is a unique suburb in that it’s surrounded by the Brisbane River,” says Andrew Forsyth, director at Aphora Architecture. “It’s a beautiful, leafy suburb, full of Queenslanders and heritage buildings, so this is quite a unique project in being two brand-new houses.”

To settle the project in its site and energise the interiors, Aphora fosters relationships between spaces in the floor plan. While the lowest level includes parking, services and the entrance, the middle floor is designed to connect living areas to the natural ground level. This allows spaces to run from the rear of the home and provide a vista of New Farm to the south. The top floor is the private bedroom wing, which is clearly distinct from the social-focused living areas below. Brisbane’s balmy climate is considered in the timber batten screens, which not only provide privacy but promote cross-ventilation in summer.

Accessibility was a key consideration in the residences. “One of the big issues that’s facing Australia in the coming years is managing an ageing population,” says Forsyth. “It’s something that’s becoming more common in our work – to be thinking about people growing old in a building.” Accessibility is boosted through hallways that are wider than average, bathrooms which – while usable by all – present as bright and modern, and discreetly positioned lifts.

Accessibility is boosted through hallways that are wider than average, bathrooms which, while usable by all, present as bright and modern, and discreetly positioned lifts.

The materiality of the residences contributes to their timeless, sustainable character. Polished concrete floors, sandblasted stainless-steel balustrades and concrete blocks imbue the houses with a sense of permanence while requiring little to no maintenance. “The use of GB Porcelain blocks in this project was something that came naturally,” says Forsyth. “There are heaps of benefits in terms of low maintenance and thermal mass, and one of the extra bonuses is that they’re locally sourced from the factory in Gympie [165 kilometres north of Brisbane].” Featured throughout the project, the blocks signify the beginning of the property and ease the transition to the front door, entrance corridor, stairwell and fireplace. As the blocks are face-finished, they are left untreated and enhance the expressive quality of the restrained material palette.

Though the strategies employed in the making of Cross Street are simple, combined they create a highly liveable outcome. Taking care in its approach to layout, materials, access and the environment, Aphora produces homes that can complement lifestyles for years to come.

Architecture by Aphora Architecture. Build by Rise Constructions. Landscape design by Larc. Engineering by Westera Partners. Bricks by Brickworks. Joinery by LJR Projects.

Polished concrete floors, sandblasted stainless-steel balustrades and concrete blocks imbue the houses with a sense of permanence while requiring little to no maintenance.