By One Design Office
The design process began with an observation of the need to provide a sense of privacy and retreat to apartment typologies. Changing the status quo, observers are able to peer through most building façades and gain a glimpse into the personal lives of the building’s occupants, compromising the notion of home as a sanctuary.
As a critique, Podium looks to turn the façade of the building inside out. The design presents a fortified treatment to the street, thus preserving the sense of retreat. The layout of each dwelling wraps around a courtyard presented as a cantilevering pod. The pods provide an outlook from bedrooms and living areas, multiplying the functionality of a typical balcony.
The suspended pods are arranged to form a chequered collage of podiums that in turn become a longitudinal articulation of elements in its overall composition. The placement of podiums and enlarged horizontal bands erode the scale and height of the building and was viewed favourably from a planning perspective.
Photographer: ODO
Founded in 2014, One Design Office (ODO) exists to bring together specialists in their fields to create meaningful design and enduring influence. From our studio in Richmond, ODO provides a comprehensive range of design services including commercial and residential architecture, interior design, and project management while incorporating environmentally sustainable practices throughout our design process.