Bunya | Curtin University

There is increasing demand for the affordable housing sector, where multiple age groups of people and diverse family compositions stay together in Perth.

The Bunya housing can accommodate families and students while fulfilling the user's needs and providing a sustainable living environment. The design will specifically focus on versatile needs, gathering opportunities and interaction in the space. The design showcases the strategically planned ground level for communal spaces, cafés, and services, while the first, second, and third floors are dedicated explicitly to residential units and communal spaces. Integrating residential living space with mixed-use facilities allows for practicality, innovation and versatility, traits that would benefit future projects at Curtin University. The development will highlight the influence of local materials and the history of Curtin University while acknowledging an Indigenous perspective. As a part of sustainable architecture, design, planning, innovative technology, and materials will be used to construct the modular apartments, which will help reduce the project's carbon footprint. This modular construction will follow a stacking system with a recycled steel frame grid to support the modules. The design of the modules serves a specific purpose and will be transported to the site from the manufacturing factory. Moreover, if needed in the future, the apartment extension is possible, where the module types need to be reordered from the fabrication site. This technique will reduce construction waste and optimise the use of the resources.