1-3 Railway Place, Cremorne

Richmond Icon

9 storeys, 38 dwellings

Armsby Architects

GIW Environmental Solutions (ESD Engineering)

John Patrick Landscape Architects

MacCormacks Services Engineering

Coenstino Structural Engineering

2016

9 star NatHERS. Certified 4-Star Green Star Design.

Green Edge is adjacent to the Richmond Railway lines in close proximity to vibrant Swan Street. The development comprised 38 dwellings over 9 storeys plus. A 9 Star average energy rating was achieved, as was a Certified 4-Star Green Star Design rating through the Green Building Council of Australia.

The design thoughtfully integrated fenestration and highly insulated thermal envelope. Post occupancy assessments of energy meter data has validated a 70% reduction in energy demand for heating and cooling relative to a 6 Star average energy rated building.

Indoor environment quality

The apartment’s floor plan depth ranges from 5-8m enabling excellent daylight penetration. All windows are clear glazed which allows for maximum daylight transmission.

The majority of apartments have two facades which effectively enable occupants to cross ventilate; the most efficient way to naturally ventilate. All internal doors are provided with door latches and openable windows are equipped with flyscreens and rain and intrusion protection which complements the natural ventilation strategy and enables occupants to safely night purge.

The orientation of the site was such that extensive screening to the eastern and western façade was required to prevent overlooking of neighbouring properties. The design team responded with an alternate approach, designing protruding wing walls with glazed areas facing North and South. This solution not only maximised natural daylight and passive solar heat gains in the apartments but also provided an additional connection to the outside.

Energy efficiency

Each apartment achieved a NatHERS energy rating of 9 Stars through a highly insulated thermal envelope and the use of passive design strategies.

All apartments have exposed thermal mass, such as concrete ceilings, to stabilise internal temperatures throughout the year and store solar heat gains through colder months.

Ceiling fans are provided to each bedroom and living room. Due to the building’s sensible external shading strategy, exposed thermal mass and high performance thermal envelope it is expected that this will keep apartments at comfortable temperatures throughout summer.

The majority of north-facing windows are protected by 1.5m balcony overhangs, representing the 45% rule of thumb for north-facing shading.

Eastern and western windows are all screened from direct western and eastern sun by protective wing walls or protective privacy screens filtering the sunlight.

A dwelling shutdown switch near the entrance operates all lighting, air-conditioning and heating.

The car parking area in the basement, ground floor and mezzanine area is fully naturally ventilated.

Hot water is provided by electric heat pumps, connected to the 3.7kW solar photovoltaic system on the roof. The electric heat pumps are four times more efficient than instantaneous electric hot water.

Water efficiency

Apartments have individual cold and hot water meters, which allow occupants to monitor and reduce their water consumption.

The centralised hot water system allows ongoing monitoring of not only the buildings water use but hot water use and the energy associated with the hot water generation.

Stormwater management

A 12,000L rainwater tank in the basement harvests and stores rainwater from the roof and provides water for the café’s toilet flushing, the bin wash area and landscape irrigation. Total expected mains water savings will be greater than 100,000l/annum.

Transport

38 secure bicycle parking spaces are provided for the residents of 38 apartments. Another 5 visitor bicycle parking spaces are located within the front setback.

Waste management

The project targeted the reuse or recycling of at least 80% of construction waste by weight.

The apartment kitchens are equipped with 3 bins to provide for garbage, recycling and green/food waste.

Urban ecology

A landscaped roof area provides low maintenance roof garden including a veggie garden, a compost bed and paved areas for communal gatherings. The roof area also includes communal clothes drying facilities.

Importantly, the roof terrace introduces native flora in order to assist in replenishing the local native habitat for insects.

Innovation

The natural ventilation strategy has been carefully design to take into account Melbourne’s prevailing wind directions. External windows and internal sliding doors are positioned and operated to catch the common ‘cool change’ (wind from the South) during summer months.

A centrally located monitor displays useful tips for general energy and water saving decision-making within apartments.

The development has not connected to gas which means it can achieve carbon neutrality through the use of green power.

The use of wintergardens to all southern oriented apartments create large triple glazed acoustic protection zones as well as large triple glazed units assisting energy efficiency.

Construction and building management

An Owners Operation Manual is provided to all residents.