Iglu UNSW

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Working with Bates Smart on Bedegal Country, Arcadia has developed a landscape concept for student accommodation provider, Iglu, for a UNSW precinct. “Kensington Village” will deliver a vibrant campus village, with an urban campus living experience that accommodates student’s needs, celebrates diversity and inclusivity, while offering retail and events. Through a co-design process, the design team will work to develop an Indigenous design strategy to guide the development and enrich the design.

Key opportunities for the site include creating a civic gesture that will enhance the arrival experience and greet people as they arrive at the site; extending the University Mall into the site to enhance the main sight line; a ground floor activated with dining, cafe and retail experience and amenity that suits campus urban living for students to gather after classes and during break times.

With a civic lawn that opens to the streetscape and entices urban dwellers to gather, the Arrival Forecourt provides public an area to dwell, mingle and meet. At the heart of the development, The Village Eat Street will offer a fine grain dining experience. The dining pods are designed as a social canopy for users to experience outdoor dining in an urban laneway setting.

The University Courtyard provides a space for dwellers to collaborate and recharge in between the academic hours. The space will be provided with collaborative pods and discussion table. The western edge of the site is activated in a unique way with The Green Lane and Sensory Garden, an active edge providing a linear recreational activity while Sensory Garden is for more relaxed environment. Three communal rooftops will each offer a distinct character and amenity.