Tallowood Affordable Housing—Landscape
Creating places to gather and grow
Nguluway Designinc worked with City West Housing Corporation and AJ+C to design the landscape for an affordable housing development in Rockdale.
Applying ‘Designing from Country’ methodologies to this urban site resulted in a series of surprising spaces where residents and visitors can connect with each other and their environment to gather, grow, reflect and thrive.
Values of family, community and the natural environment—which underpin Indigenous cultures—are key drivers of the design:
Family
There are numerous places for meeting, playing and eating, including a multi-purpose meeting area, fire pit, grassed area and an outdoor bbq zone with a table and seating.
Nature play features encourage children to explore and engage with the landscape.
Community
Chance encounters are encouraged through circulation pathways, stepped seating areas and meeting spaces. People are pulled through the spaces.
Key pathways and spaces are accessible.
Natural Environment
A soft and circular layout mirrors the natural environment.
Food production is embedded into the design through the vegetable garden and use of edible perennial species throughout the garden.
Existing trees are retained, and the design connects with features in the surrounding landscape such as footpaths, trees and verges.
Native and endemic species are integrated into the planting plan.
Locally sourced Hawkesbury Sandstone is integrated into walls, paving and seating areas.
