Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people.
Queensland
Brisbane
Inala Infill Apartments is a Queensland Government Demonstration Project under the Density and Diversity Done Well housing initiative, consisting of 14 dwellings. Suburban and environmental contexts informed a sensitive design response.
Variations in scale and building mass create spaces that naturally foster human connection. Opportunities for engagement between residents are maximised through comfortable thoroughfares and carefully gradated layers of privacy to units.
Nature based relationships to the site are offered through thoughtfully integrated landscape and architectural elements. Visible structural timber in the building provide benefits of biophilia, and combined with significant and integral planting, enhance everyday wellbeing through a close sensory experience of nature.
The project demonstrates how utilising Cross Laminated Timber in social housing can positively impact construction timelines in addition to its known advantages of carbon sequestration and Biophilic health benefits. Using mass timber construction in this project saved approximately 170 Tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
This social housing project delivers a thoughtful, climate-responsive residential environment through careful site planning and material efficiency. The well-considered layout minimises cut and fill while providing appropriate building separation, privacy and optimal orientation for all dwellings. A substantial rainwater tank captures roof runoff to support centrally located community gardens, strengthening social connection and resilience.
The building incorporates prefabricated cross-laminated timber, manufactured off site to deliver a high-quality finish while reducing construction time, on-site labour and embodied emissions. Open access corridors facilitate effective front-to-back and side-to-side natural ventilation to all homes, while dropped-level walkways maintain privacy to screened balconies. Integrated vertical landscaping across the two-storey height balances built form and greenery, complemented by bio-retention basins that manage onsite stormwater. Louvres and shade structures minimise heat gain, enhance comfort and provide privacy, resulting in a breathable, sustainable and people-centred housing outcome
Inala Infill Apartments demonstrates how considered planning can create meaningful connection to place, landscape, and community, without sacrificing the privacy of individual dwellings. A commitment to Modern Methods of Construction drives the use of CLT structure, reducing the building's carbon footprint while grounding the project in natural elements and bringing warmth to everyday living. Locally sourced brick and careful planning of site, tie the project to its surrounding built fabric, demonstrating that social housing can be genuinely rooted in place.
Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Inala Infill Apartments reframes social housing as an influential typology in conversations on healthy living, connected communities and sustainable systems. The apartments offer a connected contribution to an existing community, with friendly street frontages, gardens and balconies placed on the street, and cars tucked to the rear. The building offers a scale that bridges the local centre and neighbouring residential dwellings, as local brick melds the building to the neighbouring vernacular.
The notion of Healthy Homes drove many decisions in the project, with dignified access to light, landscape, and healthy materials. A central landscaped court forms the communal heart of the site, for essential landscape amenity and integrated site stormwater. Apartment and site planning ensures apartments offer residents flexibility in how indoor and outdoor spaces are used, with options for connected or private retreats. Planning prioritises passive cooling with true cross flow ventilation. Structural innovation includes the use of low carbon CLT floor and roof structures.
Commendation For The Lord Mayor’s Buildings That Breathe Architecture Prize
This social housing project delivers a thoughtful, climate-responsive residential environment through careful site planning and material efficiency. The well-considered layout minimises cut and fill while providing appropriate building separation, privacy and optimal orientation for all dwellings. A substantial rainwater tank captures roof runoff to support centrally located community gardens, strengthening social connection and resilience.
The building incorporates prefabricated cross-laminated timber, manufactured off site to deliver a high-quality finish while reducing construction time, on-site labour and embodied emissions. Open access corridors facilitate effective front-to-back and side-to-side natural ventilation to all homes, while dropped-level walkways maintain privacy to screened balconies. Integrated vertical landscaping across the two-storey height balances built form and greenery, complemented by bio-retention basins that manage onsite stormwater. Louvres and shade structures minimise heat gain, enhance comfort and provide privacy, resulting in a breathable, sustainable and people-centred housing outcome
Commendation for The Lord Mayor's Buildings That Breathe Architecture Prize
This social housing project delivers a thoughtful, climate-responsive residential environment through careful site planning and material efficiency. The well-considered layout minimises cut and fill while providing appropriate building separation, privacy and optimal orientation for all dwellings. A substantial rainwater tank captures roof runoff to support centrally located community gardens, strengthening social connection and resilience.
The building incorporates prefabricated cross-laminated timber, manufactured off site to deliver a high-quality finish while reducing construction time, on-site labour and embodied emissions. Open access corridors facilitate effective front-to-back and side-to-side natural ventilation to all homes, while dropped-level walkways maintain privacy to screened balconies. Integrated vertical landscaping across the two-storey height balances built form and greenery, complemented by bio-retention basins that manage onsite stormwater. Louvres and shade structures minimise heat gain, enhance comfort and provide privacy, resulting in a breathable, sustainable and people-centred housing outcome
Commendation for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing
Inala Infill Apartments demonstrates how considered planning can create meaningful connection to place, landscape, and community, without sacrificing the privacy of individual dwellings. A commitment to Modern Methods of Construction drives the use of CLT structure, reducing the building's carbon footprint while grounding the project in natural elements and bringing warmth to everyday living. Locally sourced brick and careful planning of site, tie the project to its surrounding built fabric, demonstrating that social housing can be genuinely rooted in place.
Sustainability shortlist
Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing
Inala Infill Apartments reframes social housing as an influential typology in conversations on healthy living, connected communities and sustainable systems. The apartments offer a connected contribution to an existing community, with friendly street frontages, gardens and balconies placed on the street, and cars tucked to the rear. The building offers a scale that bridges the local centre and neighbouring residential dwellings, as local brick melds the building to the neighbouring vernacular.
The notion of Healthy Homes drove many decisions in the project, with dignified access to light, landscape, and healthy materials. A central landscaped court forms the communal heart of the site, for essential landscape amenity and integrated site stormwater. Apartment and site planning ensures apartments offer residents flexibility in how indoor and outdoor spaces are used, with options for connected or private retreats. Planning prioritises passive cooling with true cross flow ventilation. Structural innovation includes the use of low carbon CLT floor and roof structures.
Commendation For The Lord Mayor's Buildings That Breathe Architecture Prize
This social housing project delivers a thoughtful, climate-responsive residential environment through careful site planning and material efficiency. The well-considered layout minimises cut and fill while providing appropriate building separation, privacy and optimal orientation for all dwellings. A substantial rainwater tank captures roof runoff to support centrally located community gardens, strengthening social connection and resilience.
The building incorporates prefabricated cross-laminated timber, manufactured off site to deliver a high-quality finish while reducing construction time, on-site labour and embodied emissions. Open access corridors facilitate effective front-to-back and side-to-side natural ventilation to all homes, while dropped-level walkways maintain privacy to screened balconies. Integrated vertical landscaping across the two-storey height balances built form and greenery, complemented by bio-retention basins that manage onsite stormwater. Louvres and shade structures minimise heat gain, enhance comfort and provide privacy, resulting in a breathable, sustainable and people-centred housing outcome
“ The objective was to create enjoyment, and support people through life’s challenges”
- Peter Nelson, Advisor, Office of the Queensland Government Architect
“Social Housing Project at Inala is a forward-thinking project exemplifying planning principles and innovative design to address community wellbeing, diversity and sustainability… the development integrates high-quality, accessible housing with thoughtful urban design.”
- Queensland Government Department of Housing and Public Works
Kim Baber, Project Architect
Thomas Webster, Graduate of Architecture
Lachlan Whitaker, Engineer and Graduate of Architecture
Ben Blumenroder, Graduate of Architecture
Daniel Foote, Graduate of Architecture
Jing Wang, Graduate of Architecture
Leonie Barrett, Graduate of Architecture
Aecom, Stage 1 Architectural Design and Documentation
Arup, Stage 1 Structural Engineer
Tonkin, Stage 2 Structural Engineer
Walker Bai, Electrical Consultant
Walker Bai, Hydraulic Consultant
Westera Ptnrs, Civil Consultant
Holmes Fire, Fire Engineer
Certis, Building Surveyor
Tree Science, Arborist
Wood Solutions, CLT Advisory
XLam, CLT Advisory
Free-Range Landscape Architects, Landscape Consultant