The subtropical row house was explored as housing typology in a research workshop for the Centre for Subtropical Design. Deicke Richards led one of four multi-disciplinary teams preparing designs for specific sites at Springfield to be developed by Lend Lease. Each site faced challenging topography and orientation issues.
As a housing type, the subtropical row house responds to the need to create denser forms of housing to accommodate diverse household and family types. It can be developed by the house building industry, meets affordability requirements and fits contextually with suburban detached houses.
Deicke Richards sought to address the challenges of cross and front-to-back falling sites with a western aspect. The designs attempted to maximise cross ventilation, light and shade, while providing a commercially realistic density.
The research result was three typologies – a four-bed home office, two-bed home office and three-bed home – which could be arranged together. Outdoor terrace and garden spaces directly related to the living areas at ground level. The plans also provided outdoor areas above ground, most of which included a roof structure for shade and garden space.
This work was completed in 2008 and has continued to inform further housing typology research and practice.
