The proposed Oxford Youth FOYER is a joint partnership between Foundation Housing, Anglicare WA and Central Institute of Technology. The project brings together Chindarsi Architects (Design Architects), GHD Pty Ltd (Project Manager and Engineering Services) and GHD Woodhead (Project Architects). The proposal is consistent with the intentions of the City of Vincent Leederville Town Centre Masterplan & Built Form Guidelines and the Oxford Centre Study, and has been warmly received by the City of Vincent Council. We were also incredibly proud to receive a UDIA Award for Excellence in 2014 for this design, in the Sustainable Urban Development category.

Located on Oxford Street in Leederville within the Central Institute of Technology campus, the FOYER currently provides vital housing and support services for young people. As part of the lively Leederville entertainment precinct, it also offers new spaces for a café, a retail outlet and offices. It is a sizeable project, comprising 98 studio and one-bedroom apartments for up to 74 young people and 24 young parents and their children (aged below 3 years). It also offers on-site support and case worker services, coordinated with education, training facilities and other essential services.

The building is designed to wrap around the south-east corner of the site in a ‘C’ shape. This gives every occupant a view while shielding the west-facing aspect from the worst of the sun. It also creates a large private courtyard for residents to make social connections and enjoy their own ‘backyard’, a crucial part of creating a sense of home for them. The public forecourt also houses the iconic heritage-listed Oxford Street Lemon Scented Gum.

Jointly with