A Verdant, Community Spirit – Clarence Apartments by Architects EAT

Designed for the lifestyle apartment dweller, Clarence Apartments by Architects EAT is a building that emphasises opportunities for social interaction and connections to nature within a brick structure that relates to its residential neighbourhood surroundings.

Red bricks give the new building a sense of history and resilience, connecting it to the architecture of its location. More broadly, long-held associations of brick with the typical freestanding house connect the multi-residential building to traditional conceptions of home. Creatively laid, with both soldier and stretcher courses, corbelling and arches, brick’s inherent texture, warmth and versatility are all brought to the fore.

Creatively laid, with both soldier and stretcher courses, corbelling and arches, brick’s inherent texture, warmth and versatility are all brought to the fore.

In the initial planning of the building, a carriageway easement at the end of the site was at first seen as a problem but soon presented itself as an opportunity. Without the possibility to build there, Architects EAT saw that it could be used as a communal space, inspiring connections for residents. The result is an indoor-outdoor foyer area, creating an entry that is inviting and community driven.

By doing away with the usual foyer – typically a sterile, underutilised area – there is instead a dedicated parcel room, along with storage for up to 46 bicycles and an under-cover outdoor room with a generous landscaped seating area. This provides a welcoming zone for residents to stop and chat amongst the greenery. With space for prams to be parked and wheelchairs to easily turn, all inhabitants – from children to older residents – have been taken into consideration in the topography of apartment living. Furthering this sense of connection, the ground floor retail space is mandated as a grocery store, providing additional opportunities for spontaneous meetings.

With space for prams to be parked and wheelchairs to easily turn, all inhabitants – from children to older residents – have been taken into consideration in the topography of apartment living.

Landscaping is integral to the design of Clarence Apartments. On the balconies, vegetation cools the interior spaces, attracts wildlife and softens the built mass from the street. A rooftop garden is a potential food source for residents and enables occupation of this space for celebrations and gatherings, while also attracting and feeding bees and birds. Over time, climbing plants will grow over sections of the façade, framing key views and creating a vibrant, verdant aesthetic that will further elevate residents’ experiences and enmesh this building within the fabric of the neighbourhood.