Turramurra Apartments | Seniors Living

Turramurra apartments is a contemporary building massing nestled into a complex triangular sloping site. This seniors living project in Turramurra demonstrates how a constrained site can be transformed into a highly viable and well-resolved development through strategic architectural design.

Zoning
The site is zoned R2 Low Density Residential, requiring a carefully considered approach to achieve an appropriate scale and density outcome while remaining compliant with planning controls.

Constraints & Opportunities
The site presented several challenges, including a sloping topography, triangular geometry and prominent corner position. However, these constraints also created opportunities to optimise access, orientation and built form. With north to the rear, the design was able to maximise solar access and amenity to the proposed dwellings.

Design Strategy
The architectural design responds directly to the site conditions, utilising the natural fall to incorporate a basement garage at street level. This allowed for two residential buildings to be positioned above a shared podium, improving efficiency while maintaining a residential scale. The scheme accommodates six seniors living units, each designed to provide generous internal areas, strong natural light and a high level of amenity suited to downsizers.

Approval Pathway
The project was approved by the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel (KLPP) under the Seniors Housing SEPP (now incorporated within the Housing SEPP), demonstrating a clear and compliant planning strategy for increased density within a low-density zone.

Outcome / Value Proposition
The project highlights how good architectural design, combined with a knowledgeable consultant team, can unlock the development potential of complex sites. The result is a commercially appealing and planning-compliant scheme that delivers both strong market appeal and long-term value.

Architectural Services
Our engaged services extended from preparing the conceptual design through to Class 2 construction documentation where we were the nominated Architectural Design Practitioner under the Design Building Practitioners Act 2020.

Architect | McCullum Ashby Architects

Seniors Housing | Ku-ring-gai Council

Site Area = ~1,780m² | 6 dwellings | 9 car spaces

Keywords | Turramurra, multi-dwelling, RFB, seniors living, KLPP.