Arkadia

Breathe, DKO and Oculus for Defence Housing Australia

Project description

At its heart Arkadia is about ecological sustainability and social sustainability. Breathe, DKO Architecture and Oculus began the design process by researching a series of considerations that questioned the nature of multi-residential development in Australia. The project is founded on three key design pillars: Community, Environment and Architecture. Community: Arkadia is the result of considered community engagement and a holistic approach to creating a meaningful and accessible space for Alexandria locals. Environment:  Sustainability has been incorporated into every aspect of Arkadia, from extensive bike storage in the basement – far exceeding traditional requirements – to the vegetable gardens on the rooftop. The project has been designed to minimise CO2 emissions from the outset, by harnessing solar heat gain in the winter with a high thermally efficient envelope of half a million recycled bricks. Importantly, Arkadia is 100% fossil fuel free. Architecture: DKO + Breathe felt strongly about creating a sense of place within Arkadia. The design focuses on creating shared experiences with an integration of green space via communal areas within the building.