Troppo Architects have won a Northern Territory Government competition to design a future tropical city in Australia.

The Northern Territory-founded firm won the Weddell New-Town Urban Design Competition.

Another local architecture company, Build Up Design, were joint winners with Troppo Architects in the Weddell Tropical Housing Design Competition.

Minister for Lands and Planning, Gerry McCarthy said: “Weddell will be a tropical, sustainable and liveable city for the future and be home to up to 50,000 Territorians.

“These designs are based on what Territorians told us they want in their new city - feedback from Territorians through an Ideas Competition and an Enquiry by Design Forum has helped shape the city of Weddell.

“The Judging panel determined there was one stand out entry for the Urban Design Competition from Troppo Architects with an entry that has captured the spirit of Darwin’s landscape and culture.

“The winners of the Tropical Housing Design Competition have also given us a series of housing design options that deliver energy and water efficiency, and affordable housing styles."

The winner of the New-Town Urban Design Competition to design concepts for five new neighbourhoods and a community centre is:

• Troppo Architects Pty Ltd: Grand prize $50,000

The winners of the Tropical Housing Design Competition to design a series of housing typologies are:

• Joint first place winners: Build Up Design and Troppo Architects Pty Ltd: $25 000each

• Kart Projects Pty Ltdwith MORQ: Third place $12 000

Troppo Architects has released images of its plans, including a natural swimming hole and tropical, eco-friendly housing.

Plans for the new NT city of Weddell

Weddell will be situated south of Humpty Doo and will be built up in the wetlands and bush area, which is surrounded by creeks leading to the harbour.

Phil Harris of Troppo told the ABC that they were keen to work with the nature of that site to make it a place of its own: "I think everyone's had their mind boggled with the notion of building a new city in the bush,” he said.

The Troppo Architects plans adopt the strategy, or theory, of building a city from small villages for Weddell.

The design strategy includes minimising the need for air-conditioning, using rainwater harvesting during the wet season, and allowing buildings to span five levels at most, to be cyclone proof, and to withstand humid conditions and mildew.

Meanwhile, the NT Times reported that the tender win marked a poignant occasion for the architecture firm, after the tragic loss of Greg McNamara and Lena Yali, 43, and Kevin Taylor in a recent car accident.

Housing designs planned for the new NT city of Weddell

Building designs for the planned future NT city of Weddell

Images: courtesy ABC

David Wheeldon

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