Short description
A high-quality medium‑density community offering choice, diversity, livability and connection
Location
Denman Prospect, ACT
Country
Ngunnawal
Status
Year
Project start date
2020
Project completed date
2023
Client
Elevated Living
Project Team
Elevated Living (Builder & Developer)
Harris Hobbs (Landscape)
Photography
Reusable Blocks Top
Content
A thoughtful medium‑density neighbourhood where stepped buildings, natural light and landscape work together to elevate everyday living.
HighGround makes the most of its steep Denman Prospect site by arranging a series of human‑scaled buildings that step up the natural slope, giving each home access to northern light and open views without compromising privacy. The buildings are positioned to capture outlooks across the Molonglo Valley while maintaining a comfortable sense of separation between neighbours. Landscaped communal spaces are woven between the blocks, creating places to meet, pause and connect within a setting that feels green, welcoming and thoughtfully planned
Content
Across three tiers, a mix of townhouses and apartments to offer genuine choice, from compact one-bedroom homes to generous three-bedroom family dwellings. Every residence is planned for comfort and efficiency, with full northern orientation bringing warmth and natural light into living spaces. Balconies and terraces extend daily life outdoors, offering views over the Molonglo Valley. Cross ventilation is built into the planning to support natural cooling, while multi-purpose spaces and study nooks respond to contemporary work-from-home needs. A pale warm exterior palette provides a calm backdrop to the landscaping, and the interiors draw on earthy tones and natural textures to create a sense of understated, approachable luxury
Content
“The design of the HighGround development created a high-quality medium density development that used the slope of the land to make the most of the solar orientation and the views to the North. This combined with simple, yet effective use of internal and external materials has resulted in high praise from the residents who now live there. The use of robust materials such as the Colorbond cladding creates a visually striking building that will age gracefully at a low maintenance cost to the residents, something that is vitally important in the present climate.”
Author
Client
Image
Reusable Blocks
Block Title
Gallery
Gallery item
Image
Image caption
Photography by Tim Shaw
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Content
A smarter planning approach that increases housing supply while protecting everyday comfort and quality.
Working with Capital Estates, the design team modified the Crown Lease to incorporate an additional nineteen dwellings above the original zoning allowance, increasing supply without altering the Territory Plan. Elevating Blocks B and C allowed basement parking to be integrated beneath the buildings, with Block B townhouses gaining private garages and direct home access, and Block C apartments approached via open-air communal stairs. These strategies enable more homes on the same footprint while maintaining amenity, reinforcing HighGround’s commitment to providing diverse and attainable housing within a carefully planned medium-density neighbourhood
Content
The interiors are curated to bring warmth, texture and a sense of approachable luxury to everyday living. Natural materials and earthy tones feature throughout, inspired by references such as raw cotton, leather and charred timber, creating a calm and tactile backdrop for residents. Variation across the schemes provides depth and richness while maintaining a cohesive design language. Robust, low‑maintenance finishes were selected to support long‑term durability, ensuring the homes age gracefully for residents.
Title
SUSTAINABILITY OUTCOMES
Blocks
Content
HighGround’s sustainability is achieved through a combination of passive design, efficient site planning and long‑life materials. The stepped arrangement and consistent northern orientation improve thermal comfort and reduce reliance on mechanical heating, while cross ventilation supports natural cooling across all dwellings. Durable, low‑maintenance external finishes also help the buildings age gracefully over time, reducing lifecycle impacts for residents and owners.
- Consistent northern orientation across all dwellings to improve warmth and natural light
- Cross ventilation strategies to support natural cooling breezes
- Compact, efficient site planning that delivers more homes on less land
- Landscaped communal green spaces and planting areas between buildings to strengthen connection
- Robust, low‑maintenance cladding and detailing designed for longevity
Title
APPROACH TO MATERIALS
Blocks
Content
Material selections at HighGround balance durability with warmth and texture. Externally, brick and Colorbond steel create a robust, low‑maintenance envelope with clean lines and warm tones that complement the landscaping. Internally, finishes draw on natural textures and earthy undertones to create calm, approachable homes that feel considered and comfortable
- Brick podium elements at ground level
- Colorbond steel cladding and soffit lining
- steel window hoods providing solar shading
- Terrazzo look tiling & benchtops
- Timber grained cabinetry
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
