The Ivy housing development is located adjacent to New Farm Park and a Council library, on a ‘brown field’ site previously utilised as a warehouse building. The private and articulated three storey terrace houses sitting over the basement car park rely on a distinct character for each house to convey a sense of identity within the larger contemporary subtropical expression. The exterior form and detail of the houses feature a subtle diversity of colours and materials to balconies and screens which give shade and privacy to the outdoor living areas and interiors. All glazed areas are either deeply recessed or screen shaded. A higher degree of natural ventilation is achieved by both the plan configuration and the generous openings to all bedrooms and living areas enabling dwellings to take maximum advantage of the outlook to the external parkland landscape.

Although planning arrangements are similar for all houses, each house is designed with a particular character to create a high level of diversity and to assist in differentiation.

Concern for energy efficient design recognises the need for shelter for prevailing winds, the capturing of cooling breezes, preferred north-south orientation and opportunities for natural ventilation. Orienting the buildings to achieve a north-south axis also offers best passive solar benefit. Building services systems have been chosen to achieve the highest quality energy efficiencies and return on capital and life-cycle costing.