We spoke with Jessica Lee, Principal at Fender Katsalidis about her experience living and working in the Build to Rent sector, community-centric design, and how the industry can become more sustainable.
What is meant by community-centric design when it comes to Build to Rent?
As the housing crisis across Australia continues, many are looking to the growth of the Build to Rent sector to provide a possible solution to ease the shortage of homes. In fact, Build to Rent is set to become the most significant asset class in new property development by 2030. But it’s not only the commercial opportunity that makes Build to Rent so exciting. Still in its relative infancy in Australia, this sector offers the opportunity to redefine renting lifestyle as we know it. Fender Katsalidis has numerous Build to Rent projects across the country and it’s a really exciting time to be pioneering new developments in this space.
When we talk about community-centric Build to Rent, we’re focussing on creating spaces that nurture a sense of community and facilitate social interaction – which is key to tenant retention and the long-term success of Build to Rent projects. Build to Rent projects often feature a high volume of apartments – take our project in South Yarra Melbourne in partnership with Greystar, which is introducing more than 300 apartments. These projects often quickly introduce many people from diverse backgrounds – students, retirees, families and professionals – as the absorbency rates of Build to Rent projects are typically high.
Fostering a real sense of community within a Build to Rent development not only enables a better experience for residents, but it means they’ll stick around longer. For Build to Rent projects to succeed, architects and designers must centre their work around creating spaces where residents can connect with their neighbours.
It is not just about cultivating community within the developments. Good Build to Rent design will complement established neighbourhoods and invite the wider community to enjoy the spaces that come with Build to Rent projects, such as parks and cafes, while facilitating easy access to existing amenities in the area.
How has your personal experience of living in Build to Rent accommodation shaped your professional work?
When moving interstate, Build to Rent accommodation alleviated a significant proportion of the stress for me. Knowing that the apartment would be fully equipped with the whitegoods I’d need and furnished for maximum comfort, meant I was free to focus on the other demands which come with a big move. Having the convenience of one operator across all apartments enables efficient maintenance and repairs in the inevitable situation when things break. For example, when I discovered my dryer wasn’t working, it was fixed within a day while I was at work with no long approval times.
For me, pet friendliness was a non-negotiable. My cat is a part of my family but so often rentals are non-welcoming of pets. To design homes with longevity, we must support the way people really want to live, paws and all, which is why we incorporate facilities such as pet wash stations and dedicated dog parks into our Build to Rent designs.
Like many, the pandemic left me reflecting on the importance of social interaction when it was no longer an option. With the health benefits of social connectedness repeatedly proven, I was left wondering how we can better design our buildings to embed social engagement into the fabric of their being. As designers and architects, we occupy an incredible position of influence when it comes to the way people live, and I’m passionate about incorporating the benefits and touchpoints that have enhanced my own experience of Build to Rent living to create neighbourhoods where people want to stick around.
What design elements make great Build to Rent?
Having variety and options are important factors, which is why FK’s Build to Rent developments include a range of residences, from studios to multiple-bedroom apartments, enabling people to stay within their Build to Rent communities as their lives evolve.
As the popularity of Build to Rent projects continues, the reality is that many new developments will likely feature the same sorts of amenities — gyms, wellness facilities, coworking spaces and the like — but what really enables differentiation is designing to encourage residents to use communal areas and build bonds with existing neighbourhoods.
You can’t force a neighbourhood, but moments of social interaction can be meticulously incorporated into the design of the building – from something as simple as the benches that can be found by the lifts and considered communal seating, to specifically designed activity spaces and shared gardens. There are numerous ways through which you can encourage community engagement through design.
Our Build to Rent project with Brookfield in Hamilton, Brisbane, which we’re thrilled has just received development approval, will include amenities such as BBQ areas, theatre rooms and a games room, and landscaped communal gardens to encourage residents to embrace the alfresco lifestyle of Brisbane.
Considering the experience of pedestrians and commuters is also key. Set to be the largest Build to Rent project in Australia, the design of our South Yarra project focuses on enhancing the pedestrian journey for the community with ground-level retail offerings and inviting laneways.
How can Build to Rent support more sustainable living?
Sustainability is at the forefront of the minds of architects and designers, not only to allow more sustainable building solutions but to also empower residents to live more sustainably. With a growing awareness among renters about their environmental impact, there is a rising demand for energy efficient lifestyles that are kinder to the planet.
The location of Build to Rent sites is fundamental in supporting more sustainable living. Access to public transport, safe pedestrian routes, and cycle paths enable residents to live without dependence on a car and can support their ability to live greenly.
Build to Rent developments also have a fantastic opportunity for exponential energy savings. Apartments tend to have uniform appliances, so by installing five star energy-rating appliances that use minimal water and energy across large-scale Build to Rent projects that house hundreds of apartments, the efficiencies can have an impactful cumulative effect.
In pursuit of our net zero carbon targets, our Hamilton Build to Rent project has been designed with the ambition to be a carbon-neutral operational building. The project will be home to 560 fossil fuel-free and 100% electric apartments, a car share scheme, electric vehicle charging facilities, and dedicated solar panel zones on the rooftop to supply common areas with electricity.
As the Build to Rent sector continues to evolve, so will the standards for excellence in sustainable design and supporting greener living.
Jessica Lee is a Principal at the multi-disciplinary international design firm Fender Katsalidis and studio lead of FK’s Brisbane team.
