The Woodhead designed residential development ‘Cevue’ in Scarborough, Perth, has won the Commonwealth Bank Award for High Density Residential award at the PCA WA Awards ceremony held on 4 March 2011.
Cevue is the first new mixed-use development project on the Scarborough Beach foreshore in 17 years. As such it was important to design a building which best presents the increased density and cosmopolitan mix that will characterise the revitalised Scarborough Beachfront.
Our design philosophy pays respect mixture of modernist and post modernist design architectural palette of Scarborough that has evolved over the past 60 years, by the use of a similar eclectic aesthetic to connect this new development to the old Scarborough. The key imperative was to design a mixed-use development which capitalized on the quality of the site and made a positive contribution to the revitalization of the Scarborough beachfront.
Woodhead challenged council and the status-quo, resulting in new regulations which changed the shape of Cevue and will now guide future development of the precinct. That Cevue was built at all is testament to the commitment of the City of Stirling and the developer to the revitalization of Scarborough.
The urban design relationship of any development to the public realm relies heavily on a successful interface between the building edge and the street reservation.. The “perimeter block” nature of the building form and its height also provides definition to the street and a greater sense of place. The external treatment of balconies and glazing has been to create a dynamic façade to the major roads elevations creating interest and movement and a variety of finishes and textures.
The Brighton Road Apartments with views to the south west have the triangulated balconies to focus to the outlook towards the ocean view- the use of floor to ceiling vertical louvers allows privacy between apartments but does not impede direct views. The Balconies element create a distinctive rhythm down Brighton Road
The Main Entry is off Brighton Road and has a deep set back for protection and a wind lobby which leads onto an expansive lobby which allows access to the various lift towers
The on site communal facilities for the apartments include a 12 m pool with surrounding sun deck, Club Room, BBQ area and shaded tables which are located in the internal protected part of the site which has a sunny north orientation surrounded by formal planting beds and covered walkways featuring tensile roof membrane
The residential apartments are designed to be adaptable to the weather. Most of the apartments are designed to have two balconies facing in opposite directions. This allows residents to have access to a sheltered outdoor area even when the afternoon sea-breezes which frequent the beachfront make the ocean facing main balcony uncomfortable.
Given the coastal location robust building materials have been employed in order to minimise ongoing maintenance of external materials and areas. Items such as commercial grade powder coated doors, windows, awnings, louvres and balustrading, ModWood decking, tiling, concrete (exposed aggregate and polished) and textured painted finishes have been employed.
The open internal design also allows owners to enjoy and experience the different lighting conditions experienced during the day through all the living areas.
