The redeveloped ‘walk up’ buildings on Elizabeth Street, Richmond, Victoria are the first completed part in a series of upgrades from Williams Boag Architects (WBa) which promise to transform the district’s housing estate into a benchmark affordable housing facility.
A series of archway entrances to the walk-ups are highly noticeable against the rectangular geometry of the buildings and declares 'entry' from the long distance approach.
For Peter Williams of Williams Boag, the archway is “way finding on a macro-scale.”
“Arches have been used as portals since Roman times and have been progressively evolved over the centuries by architects and engineers. In this instance the strength of the arched form is highly noticeable against the rectangular geometry of the buildings and declares 'entry' from the long distance approach,” explained Williams.
Spotted gum sticks in machined tongue and groove profile were provided by Woodform Architectural to form the entrance archways and to create a dramatic and enduring entrance for residents.
Expression Cladding is a natural timber cladding system which comprises precision machined tongue and groove profiles, which allow concealed screw fixing, proprietary corner stops and end trims.
Woodform’s concealed tongue and groove fixing system means it can be used in most applications, interior and exterior. Woodform range includes a choice of six timber species in four board sizes and also offer a recyclable timber option.
Williams is notably happy with his choice of product and the finish of his Elizabeth Street ‘walk-up’s’ archways.
“Arrival at the entry the experience is grand consistent with it being shared by many but material richness, form, integrated skylight and graphics personalise it,” he explains.
