The 17-storey UNO Apartments in Waymouth Street, Adelaide has lived up to its name by blitzing a national field to take home the top prize in the High Density Housing category at last night’s Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) 2013 National Awards for Excellence.
UNO Apartments is a mixed use development project, managed by Housing SA, and was one of nine awards presented at the March 7 gala dinner to conclude the UDIA’s week-long National Congress at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium.
UDIA (SA) Executive Director Terry Walsh applauded the award as “a significant achievement for South Australian development”, particularly given the competition from across the country and the exceptionally high calibre of national entrants.
“UNO Apartments presented the judges with a compelling case as it highlights how a judicious mixed use development with appeal to a range of buyers and budgets can transform a location, provide unique features and stimulate the industry,” Mr Walsh said
“The national judging panel complimented UNO Apartments for introducing cross flow ventilation and garden nooks on each level while maintaining privacy and security for residents. And with cafes on the ground floor and commercial tenants on Levels 1 and 2, the end result is an agreeable vertical village of multiple uses in a single building.
“Although 2012 was a difficult year for many developers, characterised by slow sales and slim margins, the Housing SA project was able to utilise Commonwealth and State Government funds and develop a project to attract a range of buyers.
“With one, two and three-bedroom apartment types priced from affordable entry level options to penthouse suites for established buyers and investors, street level retail space and generous car parking, UNO Apartments has enhanced the area within the inner west of the city.”
Externally, UNO’s striking black and white colour scheme provides a unique identity for the building, while green and blue balustrade glazing and colour highlights provide further individuality to each apartment.
The project addressed numerous challenges, including its design relationship to the oldest surviving heritage listed theatre building in Australia and the need to accommodate commercial vehicle movement to and from the backstage area of the theatre.
Several other UDIA projects that won UDIA (SA) Awards in October 2012 were also strong candidates for national awards. South Australian projects continually gain national recognition for their innovation and multi-market segment appeal.
UDIA National Awards for Excellence 2013 Winners – Nine Categories
Masterplanned Development
Highlands – Stockland, Victoria
Residential Development
Capricorn Yanchep – Capricorn Village JV, Western Australia
Medium Density Development
Kings Apartments – Hone Construction Group & Benson McCormack Architects, NSW
High Density Development
UNO Apartments – Housing SA, South Australia
Urban Renewal
East – IPM, NSW
Environmental Excellence
Austin Lakes – Satterley Property Group, Western Australia
Affordable Housing
Hill Close – Urban Land Development Authority, Queensland
Seniors Living
The Village at Yeronga – The Village Retirement Group, Queensland
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