The Brief

A private developer engaged Novus Projects to deliver three new residences on Topeka Place in Nollamara. The homes were drafted by Mark Anthony Design, with Novus Projects engaged as the construction contractor. 

At 150m² each, the three residences are being delivered under a $1.4M contract with a full turnkey scope. The brief goes beyond the construction of the buildings, including the internal finishes and external works necessary to satisfy the specified standard. 

The project is currently in pre-construction, with the build expected to take 12 months. 

Design & Materials

The specification for the Topeka Units places emphasis on the finishes across both the homes and wider site. Feature face brick is used across the elevations, with concrete brick paving throughout the external areas and landscaping included within the scope. 

Inside, the three homes take a more individual approach. Novus Projects selected the internal finishes for each residence, allocating a different colour scheme to each home. 

For a three-residence development, that creates a balance between consistency and personality. The face brick, paving and landscaping provide a common material language across the site, while the internal selections give each dwelling its own character. 

Managing the Sloping Site

The Topeka Place site presents an additional construction challenge, with the block sloping and retaining required as part of the development. 

Instead of treating the site like a level building platform, the retaining requirements form part of the work needed to deliver the development. This is especially relevant to the external works like paving and landscaping, as these areas need to follow the levels established across the site. 

Identifying site requirements during pre-construction allows the retaining works to be considered alongside the three homes and their finished external areas, keeping them under the construction scope instead of separating them from the delivery of the development.