SHAKESPEARE APARTMENTS

Salvation Army commissioned the building to accommodate vulnerable woman (primarily victims of domestic violence) and their children for up to one year. The building comprises 5 apartments (2x SDA accessible two bedroom units, 2x SDA robust two bedroom units, 1x SDA robust three bedroom unit) over two floors, with associated parking, a central management office and gardens. Much consideration went into providing an anonymous safe haven for occupants, protected against intrusion, with ample shared recreational spaces to entertain children.

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The site is situated in a Medium Density Residential Zone, with primarily single lot dwellings adjacent to it. Care was therefore taken to minimise its visual bulk through façade fragmentation  to improve integration into the existing fabric. Located in a cyclone zone, value engineering centred primarily around the most cost-effective structural solutions. Originally the building consisted of a combination of masonry, concrete and steel framed construction, but was changed to an all-masonry and concrete construction through the course of 2022.     

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Architects Dovey & Associates served as lead consultant during the concept and design development stages of the project (2020-2021), and as subconsultant to project managers Link Project Solutions from tender stage to completion (2022-2023). Chapman Leijenaar headed up the ADA team throughout. 

  

Preliminary Sketch Designs were first delivered in early 2020, with the majority of design development and consultant coordination occurring during the course of 2021. Fergus Builders were contracted in 2022, with value engineering conducted throughout the course of that year. Construction commenced early 2023 and the completed building was handed over in December of that year.