The Regent is a transit-oriented project offering 50 residential apartments (including 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments). The project utilises a sloping site to provide housing which prioritises amenity to residents while contributing a robust, stepped form to the streetscape. Surrounded by 1-3 storey brick apartment buildings and bounded by two arterial roads, the Regent supports the urban renewal objectives of the local council by increasing supply in an area lacking housing diversity while reducing car dependency through proximity to services and transport.

Apartments are orientated to maximise natural light and ventilation through thoughtfully placed angled windows which are sensitive to adjoining properties and security. Naturally ventilated accessways and corridors within the building reduce ongoing operational costs and provide strong connections between covered walkways and the outdoors. The project offers a communal rooftop terrace, an outdoor BBQ and shared dining facilities to encourage relaxed interaction amongst residents.

The building frontage contributes a rhythm to the street reminiscent of the pattern of development of 19th century housing frontages characteristic to the area. The façade is defined by traditional masonry, crafted brickwork and off-form concrete – a repetition of elements woven together creating a pattern of solid and void. The façade articulation and variable, generous setbacks, with a rich palette of materials, street edge planting and landscaping, assist in reducing the notion of bulk and mass.

The built form also utilises these strategies to ameliorate noise pollution from New Canterbury Road, and in doing so, also provide resident amenity, visual interest and durability. The project’s southern boundary of New Canterbury Road offers a robust articulated façade responsive to acoustic impacts ensuring good amenity.

The roof top garden and landscaping incorporate native plants indigenous to the district which in turn support local fauna particularly local birds. The plantings have been designed to be hardy and require little maintenance including being drought resistant. The garden also contributes to a natural cooling effect for the building benefiting from the shading and insulation properties of the planter beds.

The Regent was delivered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in numerous challenges to the budget and timeline for delivery. Regardless, the project was a financial success due to careful management by key stakeholders in the construction process. A key feature in the delivery was the collaboration between project architect and allied principals including landscape architects and structural engineers to ensure the project incorporated innovation, sustainability and durability to the highest level of construction quality while minimising the impact of cost variations.

The project’s scale and density aim to balance the requirement for increasing housing in urban areas, while also respecting the surrounding context and future desired character. The Regent’s housing diversity enables those seeking to purchase property in the area an alternative to established more expensive terraces. It provides well-crafted, environmentally sensitive housing in proximity to the station and Petersham town centre.

Photography: Brett Boardman