the right place
‘ The idea of treetop living came from seeing nest boxes and fallen tree hollows, and translating that to apartments and houses, most of them with a view of the forest.’
ANDREW LA
Design Director, Mirvac Design
Standing alone in the forest, Andrew La let his architect’s mind drift, allowing the peace and tranquillity to wash over him. In the stillness and silence, he came to realise that he was not alone at all, and the forest was in fact teeming with life. All around him insects, birds and small animals were going about their daily life, feeding and chattering, tending to their young.
In his quest to find inspiration for the houses and apartments he would later design at Highforest, the Mirvac Design Director had entered a well-established community that already called the forest home. Here, unaided by human hand, every creature had found or made a home appropriate to their needs, suitable for nesting and raising their young, protected from predators and close to the best sources of food for foraging.
Taking nature as his guide, Andrew sketched out an early concept for Highforest, with apartments playing to the idea of a treehouse, up high in the canopy, and houses referencing the tree hollows that offer a warm, protective place on the forest floor.
All the sights, sounds and scents of the forest, he wove into the design; the way the sun filters through the trees piercing darkness with light; the changing colour of leaves depending on the weather, the time of day and the seasons; the distinctly Australian tang of eucalypts; and musky sweet smell of leaf litter after rain.
Surrounded by such beauty, the architect felt bound, and inspired, to honour Mirvac’s commitment - to leave this special place better than it was before.
Working within the existing footprint of previous development, a streetscape following the natural contours of the land began to take shape, with houses at a respectful distance from the forest while connected visually and via green habitat corridors.
“Our vision was to capture the natural character of the forest, reflecting the muted colours and patterns and utilising the beautiful sandstone salvaged from the former IBM campus,” says Andrew, whose 28-year tenure at Mirvac Design has produced some of the group’s most iconic places.
‘When you push the boundaries to raise the benchmark for regenerative living, as we have done at Highforest, there is a real sense of satisfaction to see our vision shared by our customers.’
WARWICK BIBLE
Mirvac General Manager
Residential Development NSW & QLD
“Highforest shares a boundary with the only metropolitan native forest in Australia and that presented us with a challenge and an opportunity to create a community that exists in harmony with the natural environment.”
Mirvac has returned more than 10 hectares of endangered Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest within the site to public ownership, securing its protection through conservation status. Endangered species such as the resident Powerful Owls are being monitored and habitat for Dural Land Snails retained.
To date, more than 4,000 tadpoles, frogs, possums, lizards, snakes and snails have been successfully relocated. Mirvac has set an ambitious goal to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating, which would establish Highforest as a world leader in sustainable development and innovation.
To secure the rating Highforest must demonstrate a responsible approach to the consumption of energy, water and resources aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, along with the conservation and protection of the natural environment. Liveability and community building also factor high in assessing eligibility for Green Star recognition.
“This is an amazing and beautiful environment where we can leave a legacy for the future by respecting its ecological significance.
“The idea of treetop living came from seeing nest boxes and fallen tree hollows, and translating that to apartments and houses, most of them with a view of the forest. The balustrading on balconies is textured to reflect the natural elements and when you sit outdoors, the light will play on it just as it does in the forest.”
The forest is home to hundreds of species of birds and bats, mammals and molluscs, insects and reptiles, all with different habitat needs. As with fauna, diversity of housing is essential for humans.
West Pennant Hills is dominated by large executive homes offering few options for those hoping to buy their first home or a less labour intensive lifestyle to raise a family or wind down from a working life.
The pent-up demand for a more diverse range of dwelling types was evident from the moment the first houses and apartments were released to the market, says Mirvac’s General Manager – Residential Development, NSW & QLD, Warwick Bible.
“When you push the boundaries to raise the benchmark for regenerative living, as we have done at Highforest, there’s a real sense of satisfaction to see our vision shared by our customers,” says Mr Bible.
“As much as they were seeking a beautiful house or apartment suited to their lifestyle and life stage, our focus upon protecting and enhancing the natural environment, factored into their decision making.
The first step in building community involves creating shared spaces that are both beautiful and inviting, where people can meet their neighbours and genuinely feel they belong.
All residents will enjoy access to the proposed Highforest Club with an indoor swimming pool, with connected bookable dining and multi-purpose space alongside an outdoor gym, playground and a multi-use court and lawn planned.
There are luxuriously large standalone houses on lots up to 500sqm, semi-detached and terrace homes with an average lot size of over 250sqm. They come in 3, 4 and 5 bedroom layouts, some with a multi-purpose room that can be a home office, teenager’s retreat, guest bedroom or for grandparents in a multi-generational household.
Apartments offer the same diversity with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom layouts and resident amenity featuring a bookable private dining room, co-working spaces and an outdoor terrace.
‘What I’ve loved about creating these colour palettes is exploring the forest, seeing how it changes depending on the season, the weather and the time of day.’
LISA JAMES
Sustainability Manager, Design
The architectural character of the nature-inspired homes finds its way into interiors, picking up on the muted tones of the forest and the play of light and shade.
Mirvac Sustainability Manager, Design, Lisa James says connecting to the forest and nature was the defining motif that guided the selection of materials and colour palettes.
“What I’ve loved about creating these colour palettes is exploring the forest, seeing how it changes depending on the season, the weather and the time of day,” says Lisa.
“We’ve created a Summer and Autumn range combining the natural tones of timber, sandstone and the forest.
“In the bathrooms our imagination was fired by the concept of forest bathing, introducing that sense of pure peace and calm that comes from being in nature.”
Family and community were important considerations in the design, with the kitchen as the focal point for bringing the household together while also setting the aesthetic for the living space. It had to be functional and beautiful in equal measure.
Living spaces that flow to balconies and backyards play to the Australian ideal of an indoor-outdoor lifestyle and the opportunity to create a home that reflects its natural environment and provides tranquil living in a forest.
*The article is intended as a guide only to provide general information. Mirvac is not a provider of financial or investment advice and this information should not be relied on as such. Before acting on any information in this publication, purchasers should fully consider the appropriateness of the information, having regard to their objectives, and financial and tax situation and needs, and seek their own advice from appropriately qualified advisers. Mirvac has made all reasonable efforts and inquiries it believes necessary in preparing the publication but is not responsible for confirming the completeness or accuracy of such data and information. Purchasers must rely on their own continuing enquiries about purchasing decisions. Mirvac expressly excludes any and all liability relating to, or resulting from, the use of or reliance on, any information contained in this brochure by any person.
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