Boutique Mount Lawley density wins

A neglected Mount Lawley site transformed into a mixed-use community has won the Boutique category of the AAA National Apartment Awards for Excellence despite intense competition from projects in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Clifton and Central, a sustainable 15-apartment, six-commercial tenancy project within the Mt Lawley heritage precinct retains the Art Deco corner deli and sets a benchmark for others wanting to offer delicate density in an area dominated by standalone heritage homes.

Australian Apartment Advocacy (AAA) CEO and founder Samantha Reece says the project demonstrates the positive impact of good design in making the case for more diverse housing.

“MJA Studio and Willing Property incorporated red bricks and stained glass perfectly, reflecting the local neighbourhood, most of it standalone homes in a heritage precinct,” she says.

“For an area that typically does not offer apartments, this development has set a benchmark for a greater appreciation of this housing choice.”

AAA is a national organisation started in Western Australia that advocates for better consumer protection for apartment buyers and owners and accountability and transparency for builders and developers.

AAA’s National Apartment Awards for Excellence are designed to encourage quality, innovation and longevity in the residential apartment sector, with apartments rapidly overtaking standalone homes as the preferred housing choice of Australians.

Victorian innovation projects won seven of the 14 awards, with another four won by NSW projects, two going to Queensland and one to WA.

Architect Jimmy Thompson from MJA Studio has previously said of Clifton & Central that good mixed-use, multi-residential development should be polite to neighbours, kind to residents and welcoming to locals.

Other WA projects and people recognised for excellence but not the ultimate winners were: Freshwater Apartments, Myvista Mirrabooka, OneSubiaco by Blackburne, former City of Subiaco Mayor Penny Taylor, Henley Street by Fini Developments, St Quentins by Colliere Architects, The Switch by MJA Studio, Marina Edge by Richardsons, Nightingale Fremantle by Fini Sustainability and Montario Quarter by DevelopmentWA.