Chipperfield and Assemble are passionate about supporting the Canberra ‘maker’ community.
This will provide people with a wide range of options for how they want to work, whether that be in a traditional office setting or in a more relaxed environment.
David Chipperfield Architects and Assemble, practices based in the UK, have submitted plans to expand a neighbourhood of makers and creatives on the outskirts of Australia's capital city Canberra. The proposed Dairy Road scheme, put forward by developer Molonglo, will see the addition of new homes and warehouses that are adaptable to changing needs, set within the 14ha site which is currently home to light industry operations next to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands.
This farm-turned-precinct is now home to a brewery, distilleries, coffee roasters, chocolate makers, creative co-working spaces, a gallery, a climbing wall, an indoor ski slope. and an industrial design studio - all thanks to the careful adaptive reuse by Melbourne's Craig Tan Architects with new public spaces and artwork designed by Chilean art and architecture practice Pezo von Ellrichshausen.
The developer is working with Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture to create a blueprint for the next stages of development that takes the landscape into account. They hope to reintroduce wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands to the area while still providing space for local enterprises. They believe that this will create an economy that is cleaner, fairer, and more responsible.
The masterplan for the Dairy Road redevelopment will feature a new public square, picnic areas, and 10 new flexible ‘warehouse’ buildings to support activities ranging from live-work studios to community centers, along with ‘a wide variety of ways of working, from the messy to the virtual.
The developer said: ‘Housing at Dairy Road will be arranged around a new wetlands ecosystem. It will manifest an intentional community of residents who support the philosophy of the place; those that want to be immersed in the landscape, live modestly and ecologically, and value kindness.
The overall architecture will provide a framework for ecology, with gardens between buildings, and even down in basements and up into people's homes. There will be shared and private verandahs on both sides of the buildings, which will help to ventilate the homes naturally, allow for sunlight from multiple directions, and provide dual-aspect views. As well as circulation decks and stairs, the homes will share amenities such as laundries, libraries, and barbecue areas.

The developer added that the success of Dairy Road will be measured by its ability to improve health over time. This includes the physical and mental health and happiness of residents and workers, the health of the soil, natural ecologies and water bodies, the abundance of wildlife and biodiversity, and local economic prosperity.
This is David Chipperfield's second major job in Australia, having landed his first - a part-office, part-residential scheme within Sydney's huge Barangaroo development - last year following a series of near-misses.
Popular Articles
Popular articles from the community
Takeshi Hosaka Architects Suspends a Concrete Cross Above a Yokohama Cemetery
A 28-square-meter burial renovation in Yokohama lifts the symbol of resurrection into the sky so mourners see it against heaven.
RDTH architekti Rips Out Nearly Every Wall in a Prague Apartment and Replaces Them with Furniture
A 101-square-meter post-war flat in Prague trades rigid partitions for a single rotated furniture block, curtains, and glass concrete.
Fausto Terán and Toro Fuse Japanese Craft with Mexican Tradition in a Lakeside Retreat
Nakamura House pairs Shou-Sugi-Ban charred pine with handmade clay tile at the foot of Atlangatepec Lagoon in Mexico.
Rojkind Arquitectos and Think Parametric Build a Glueless Pavilion from 67 Interlocking Panels
A serpentine fiber-cement installation in Chapultepec Park celebrates a decade of architectural media in Mexico City.
Similar Reads
You might also enjoy these articles
317studio Turns an 87 m² Classroom into a Forest Clearing for Scouts in New Taipei City
A rope canopy, student-made specimens, and campfire geometry replace rows of desks in this Scouting classroom in Xizhi District.
24 7 Arquitetura Builds a Timber Pavilion as a Family's First Act on a 5,000 m² Brazilian Plot
In Jaguariúna, a prefabricated glulam house nestles among mature trees as the opening move of a larger residential masterplan.
1+1>2 Architects Build a School from 900 Blocks of Hmong Stone on Vietnam's Rocky Plateau
On a barren valley in Ha Giang province, a community quarried its own stone to raise a kindergarten and primary school rooted in Hmong identity.
100A Associates Builds a Volcanic Stone Retreat on Jeju Island Rooted in Ritual and Restraint
Watarstay [Wa:Tar] in Bongseong-ri channels Jeju's basalt, reed, and hemp into a 150 m² hospitality space shaped by contemplation.
Explore Architecture Competitions
Discover active competitions in this discipline
The International Standard for Design Portfolios
The Global Benchmark for Architecture Dissertation Awards
The Global Benchmark for Graduation Excellence
Challenge to re-imagine a department store in present times




Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to add comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!